When, Where, and How MBA Pre-requisite Coursework is Completed: The Impact on MBA Success

Pre-requisite MBA courses are completed when a student is an undergraduate, while in an MBA program, or via online or classroom delivery at another four-year or two-year institution. Evaluation of pre-requisite courses is challenging for MBA admissions directors. This study examines the impact of when, where, and how pre-requisite courses impact MBA GPA. Using data from student transcripts, we found that where a student takes a pre-requisite has minimal impact on MBA upper-level course grades and MBA GPA. Surprisingly, a larger gap between when pre-requisites were taken and the start of an MBA program results in a higher MBA GPA.