Graduate Admissions
Accelerate your career with a proven education from UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School.
Our graduate business programs provide you with relevant real-world instruction and outstanding professional development. You will acquire knowledge and skills that will help you stand out and enable you to take the next step in your career.
We encourage you to explore our website to learn about our programs. If you would like more information, we invite you to attend an upcoming admissions event, or reach out to us so that we can assist to you one to one.
You can connect with us via email at gradbusiness@uic.edu or through Live Chat by clicking the red chat icon below. Live Chat is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Central Time. We are happy to schedule an appointment with you. Please contact us via email or at (312) 996-4573/(877) 622-8421 (toll free).
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Course Introduction From Selva Nadarajah, Associate Professor of Information and Decision Sciences Heading link
Summer 2024 Application Deadlines Heading link
Fall 2024 Application Deadlines Heading link
Spring 2025 Application Deadlines Heading link
Temporary GMAT/GRE Waivers Update Heading link
Please refer to your program of interest for GMAT/GRE test requirements. The GMAT and GRE are available at testing centers and have at-home versions. UIC Business does not have a preference of one exam over the other. Competitive GMAT/GRE scores may help your chances of admission and being awarded merit aid.
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Minimum Admissions Requirements
The application and all required materials must be submitted electronically through the UIC Apply system. Only complete files are reviewed for admission consideration. Admission requirements vary by program but the minimum criteria below apply to all. See Graduate Degree pages for additional admissions information.
- Academic Record: Undergraduate GPA of 3.0/4.0 or better (or equivalent). A business-related undergraduate degree is not required to be admitted to our master’s programs.
- Test Scores: GMAT or GRE scores are valid for up to five years. Applicants may qualify for a GMAT/GRE waiver. See your specific program page for more information on the waiver requirements.
- Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation (LOR) are required from professional references who can speak to your abilities and readiness for a graduate degree program (e.g., a current or former supervisor). Personal references are not acceptable. Specialized master’s degree programs also accept letters from previous professors who can speak to your academic abilities. Once you start an application, you will submit the recommenders’ names and contact information, and they will be notified via email to complete an electronic recommendation form.
- Personal Statement: The personal statement provides you with the opportunity to discuss your career goals and why you think the UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School program is a good fit. Questions and guidelines are provided in the online application.
- Work Experience: All applicants must upload a CV/resume. MBA applicants are expected to have at least two years of professional work experience after the completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree. Historically, students admitted to our program had more than this level of experience when applying to the UIC Business MBA program. Work experience is not required for the specialized master’s programs and can be waived for highly qualified applicants to the Accelerated MBA.
- $70 application fee: Fee waiver available for full or expected UIC alumni. This includes (1) Those students who have fully earned, or will earn, a UIC Bachelor’s degree by the proposed term of enrollment in a UIC graduate program and (2) UIC seniors who are seeking concurrent graduate enrollment for the final year of their undergraduate study. The waiver does not apply to those who have attended UIC, but not earned a degree; applicants to UIC professional programs; alumni of UIUC or UIS.
- $100 International Credential Evaluation fee for the evaluation of international coursework (if applicable).
- Interview: MBA applicants only. All completed applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee and qualified candidates will be invited for an interview.
- English Proficiency: Valid English proficiency test scores must be submitted if required, based on the country or territory in which you previously studied. TOEFL, IELTS, and their at-home solutions are acceptable. See campus English Proficiency requirements for more information.
International Applicants
Please visit the central UIC admissions website for more information on the application process and additional requirements.
The MS in Business Analytics, MS in Finance, MS in Management Information Systems and MS in Supply Chain and Operations Management are STEM designated.
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Graduate Assistantships
Students who enroll for eight or more credit hours during the fall and spring semesters are eligible to apply for a graduate assistantship. These on-campus job opportunities provide students with a partial tuition waiver and a stipend that varies in amount according to the time worked. Students are eligible to apply for assistantships across campus. Graduate hourly positions are also available. Some postions are posted to jobs.uic.edu.
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Scholarships and Tuition Waivers
Applicants are considered for merit aid opportunities after they have been admitted. Funding is limited and awards are based on the overall strength of the application. A separate application is not required. Award amounts vary and are applied directly to the student account. A limited number of UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School Scholar full tuition waivers are available, which also include partial fee waivers.
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Federal Funding
You may be eligible for up to $20,500 per year of federal loan funding whether you plan to study on a part-time or full-time basis and regardless of your economic status. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid helps students begin the process of determining how to pay for their program. The funds are government loans and are made available to domestic students who are interested in pursuing a degree from an accredited institution who are not in default of past student loans and have correctly submitted the FAFSA form. UIC Federal School Code: 001776
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The UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School participates in a number of programs designed specifically for U.S. Military Veterans.
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Illinois Veteran Grant
The Illinois Veteran Grant pays tuition and fees for either undergraduate or graduate study at all Illinois public colleges and universities. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to a maximum of 120 eligibility units. The IVG covers resident tuition and mandatory fees (this excludes refundable fees). The IVG does not cover university housing costs. Important: Students must submit a copy of their eligibility letter to the Office of Student Financial Aid prior to the term deadline established by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission in order for the funds to be applied to their student account.
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Illinois National Guard Grant
Illinois National Guard Grant supports enlisted officers or company grade officers of Illinois National Guard Units, with one or more years of service, may be eligible for payment of tuition at state universities and colleges in Illinois through the Illinois National Guard Grant. Other grants administered by Illinois Student Assistance Commission may be used in conjunction with the INGG, but may not replace the INGG. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to a maximum of 120 eligibility units. Applications must be submitted annually and are available from ISAC.
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Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act
The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 was signed into law in early January 2011. Depending on a veteran’s eligibility level, benefits include:
- Payment up to 100% public in-state tuition & fees
- A monthly basic allowance for housing at the E-5 with dependents level
- And an annual books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year
Veterans can estimate the benefits they may be entitled to using the New GI Bill website’s Benefits Calculator. The UIC Liautaud Graduate School of Business encourages veterans to contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for an official determination of their eligibility. For full details, visit the Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill website.
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MIA/POW Scholarship
The MIA/POW Scholarship is available to dependents of Illinois veterans who are/were prisoners of war, declared missing in action, deceased, or have 100% service connected disability. You may request more eligibility information or an application from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver
The Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver is a four-year consecutive in state waiver at the University of Illinois to natural or legally adopted children of service members who are veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the Southwest Asia Conflict, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The following are limitations to the Child of Veterans Waiver:
- One tuition wavier will be given per county, per war
- A candidate must be a permanent resident of the Illinois county from which he/she applies
- The tuition waiver covers in-state tuition for undergraduate, graduate and professional students at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Students must complete the application by March 1 proceeding the academic year for which they are applying.
Applications will become available each December 1. Applicants will be notified by April 1. Please be aware all application materials for UIC are all reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Aid in Urbana-Champaign and materials must be submitted accordingly.
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The Online MBA is a Full Cost Recovery program that is not eligible for tuition waivers by University of Illinois employees.