Admissions Information

Please note that applicants may only apply to one of our graduate business programs per admission cycle. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to attend an Information Session to learn more about our programs. 

General Admissions Process

  • Submit a Cal State Apply application before the deadline- use our helpful Cal State Apply Application Guides to the right of this page
  • Pay a non-refundable $70 fee
  • Submit your official transcripts electronically to ES-IDPTrans@csulb.edu

​Applicant Eligibility 

Meeting minimum and/or general requirements does not guarantee admission. ​

  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or greater   

Application Components

Please note the application components below are specific to the 2025 application cycle, which has now passed. The application requirements and prompts will be updated in August 2025 for the 2026 application cycle. 

  • Resumé
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Short Answer Essay Prompt (1 page maximum, 12PT font, double-spaced, 1-inch margins): Describe a time when you experienced a challenge or obstacle. How did you overcome the challenge or obstacle? What would you do differently if you could experience the challenge or obstacle over again?
  • Video Statement of Purpose (respond to ALL of these prompts):
    • Briefly introduce yourself and explain your educational and/or career background.
    • What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years?
    • What is your long-term dream job?
    • What are you doing to prepare yourself for graduate school?
  • The video should be 3-5 minutes total. We recommend spending about 1 minute per prompt. You may use any video platform (such as YouTube) as long as the video is public and viewable without having to log-in/create an account.

International Applicants

Please follow these additional instructions for submission of transcripts and other required materials.