MBAxMS Admissions FAQs

The August 2025 application is now open. Visit our online portal to start your application.

You will receive a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School and an Executive Master of Science in Engineering and Applied Science from Columbia Engineering.

The Executive MS program is designed to provide students with a broad set of skills related to the development of technical products and services and with in-depth coursework in a specific concentration of interest that may span multiple fields of engineering and applied science.  A traditional MS program focuses on a single field (e.g. Electrical Engineering).

Yes. Both the MBA and the Exec MS in Engineering and Applied Science are classified as STEM degrees.  As this is a STEM degree program, Foreign national students with F-1 visas are eligible for post-degree work authorization, with up to three years of Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Yes. Graduates will be full-fledged members of both alumni populations.

The dual degree program is designed to be completed in 20 months. Students enter in the fall, study during fall and spring semesters, use the summer term for entrepreneurship or internship, and study in the fall and spring semesters of the following year, whereupon they graduate.

Dual degree programs like this one require more credits to complete than a traditional MBA program. In the MBAxMS, students must complete 67.5 total credits, relative to 60 in the standalone MBA program. However, the program is designed so that students complete the two degrees in the same time period as in the traditional fall-entry MBA program.

Both Columbia Business School and Columbia Engineering are teaching fully in-person degree programs. Students should expect to take all classes in-person on our Morningside and Manhattanville campuses.

There are specific courses that fulfill both the engineering and business concentration requirements that must be taken in year two. A wider variety of electives in the MBA program can be found in the CBS course catalog. There are seven possible MS concentrations that can be completed to fulfill degree requirements (see here). It is possible that other concentrations could be added in the future, but these are the options currently available and should be anticipated for our initial student cohort.

Students may cross-register for electives in other parts of the University if time permits, but these courses will not provide credit towards fulfillment of the dual degree program.

All core courses in the dual degree program are required and students must fulfill concentration requirements and take the required number of elective credits. However, students with advanced academic/professional backgrounds may be eligible to take more advanced coursework.

Although it can be beneficial to have a background or understanding in the area of concentration, it is not mandatory. You can pivot to a new area with the approval from a faculty member in the area of concentration. A goal of the MBAxMS program is to support professionals changing their career trajectory.

The Executive MS program is designed to provide students with a broad set of skills related to the development of technical products and services and with in-depth coursework in a specific concentration of interest that may span multiple fields of engineering and applied science. The dual program gives you access to courses within both schools, meanwhile the stand alone MS Programs are more focused and specific and only give you access within the Engineering school.

The MBAxMS application is separate from the regular MBA application and can be found here.  Applicants should only apply to one program, as we will not admit students to multiple degree programs.

No.  This is a full-time program of study and not appropriate for anyone seeking to remain employed full-time while enrolling. 

Yes, submitting one of these test scores is a required step in the application process.

Two letters of recommendation are required. We strongly encourage applicants to submit one professional letter of recommendation and one academic letter of recommendation. If you are unable to secure a recommendation from your direct supervisor, please submit a statement of explanation in the Employment section of your application. Note, you are required to submit two letters of recommendation, regardless of the type.

This program has a minimum requirement of two years of professional work experience, with the expectation that most students will have between three and seven years of professional experience.

Applicants to this program must show that they are academically prepared to take graduate level courses in fields of engineering or computer science. While a STEM degree is not a strict requirement, it is perhaps the best way for applicants to demonstrate this preparation.

The dual degree application asks about previous mathematics coursework (Calculus I - IV, Linear Algebra, Probability, Statistics, Stochastic Calculus, Ordinary Differential Equations) and courses in computer science, data science, and machine learning. These are not all required for admission, but they provide the admissions committee with an understanding of your background and preparation in a broad spectrum of quantitative methods.

No. Applicants should only apply to one program at Columbia Engineering as they would not be granted admission to multiple programs. Prospective applicants should seek out information about each program and speak with the Columbia Engineering admissions office to make an informed choice.

Individuals admitted to the MBA Deferred Enrollment Program who are interested to enroll in the MBAxMS should apply through the normal MBAxMS application process. Since they have previously been evaluated for the MBA, their applications will be reviewed with an eye towards fit with the dual degree program goals and preparation for the Executive MS coursework.

In cases where an applicant is an outstanding candidate for one of the standalone programs but not a great fit with the dual degree, the admissions teams from the respective school will be in touch with regard to a streamlined reapplication process for applying to the standalone program.

No. Students who have already started the Columbia MBA program are ineligible to apply for the dual degree MBAxMS.

Current students in the school of Engineering are welcome to apply, but it is important to note that this program has a minimum requirement of two years of professional work experience, with the expectation that students will have between three and seven years of professional experience. Previous Columbia Engineering credits will not be applied to the requirements of the dual degree program, but may allow students to take higher level elective courses.

In order to receive both degrees in two years, MBAxMS students take more credits per term than in the standalone master’s programs. Students will also take specific courses with their cohort. Estimated cost of tuition is about $95,294 for 2024-2025 and tuition/fees typically increase in the second year to meet changes in the costs of instruction. Tuition is charged as a flat rate, not by credit, and is subject to Columbia Trustee approval.

Yes. Both merit-based and need-based aid will be available for admitted students. Instructions on how to apply for financial aid will be available after admission.

None of our master’s degree programs have a housing guarantee, but many of our students do live in university housing and applicants admitted to the dual degree program can apply for housing.