How to Get into the Kelley School of Business MBA Program?

Established in 1920, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business is one of the eminent public B-schools in the USA. Its campuses are in Bloomington and Indianapolis. The B-school is among the elite 25% of international business programs accredited by the AACSB (Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business).

The small class size is perfect for building lifelong friendships and networks.

Moreover, Kelley School of Business’s diverse pool of faculty expertise is reflected in its strong research activities.

Kelley School of Business MBA Ranking

Kelley MBA Class Profile

The class profile of a business school is the best tool an applicant has to assess whether the individual’s application is strong enough to get into that B-school successfully. Looking at the latest Kelley MBA class profile can give you a fair idea of how your profile looks on paper compared to that of a typical IU Kelley MBA student.

IU Kelley Acceptance Rate

Like most B-schools, Kelly School of Business doesn’t reveal official statistics on the number of applicants or the acceptance rate. However, according to Fortune, the Kelley MBA acceptance rate for 2020 was 43%.

But note that this was during the pandemic, and the figures should be taken with a pinch of salt as the applications were at a record low. With applications steadily rising across all b-schools, you can expect the IU Kelley acceptance rate to hover around 30-35% for this b-school.

Kelley MBA Program Types

Applicants should be well aware of the following major Kelley MBA programs.

Full-Time MBA Program

The residential full-time Indiana Kelley MBA program is designed to help you take a giant leap toward your professional goals. The course is offered at Kelly’s Bloomington campus and is designed to encourage a culture of collaboration among students.

Evening MBA Program

Offered at Indiana Kelley’s Indianapolis campus, the evening MBA program is ranked best for academic quality by Bloomberg Businessweek. The 24-month part-time program combines online and on-campus classes. The course is ideal for individuals who want to study MBA while working full-time.

Apart from the above two courses, IU Kelley also conducts Kelley Direct Online MBA at its Bloomington campus and Business of Medicine MBA at its Indianapolis campus. However, we’ll largely discuss the full-time MBA program, a popular choice among international applicants.

Kelley School of Business MBA Fees

Before delving deeper into the admission process, let’s first have an idea of the Kelley MBA fees for international students based on its 2022-23 MBA annual expense budget.

Disclaimer:- The above figures are to give you a round idea. Consult the official website for the latest Kelley MBA fees for the upcoming class.

Remember, Indiana Kelley School of Business fees remain unchanged for the entire course duration. So, the amount you’ll pay in the consecutive year will be the same amount you paid in your first year. There wouldn’t be any raises in the fees.

Kelley School of Business Scholarships

Indiana University Kelley School of Business offers a wide range of merit aid to more than half of its students. From cash awards of $10,000 to full tuition, these scholarship opportunities can significantly bring down the cost of your MBA. Students don’t require to apply separately for such financial aid. All the admitted students are automatically considered for Kelley MBA scholarships (merit-based) during admission.

Such awards are considered based on the following criteria.

• Strong academic performance
• Good GMAT score
• Outstanding professional experience
• Overall quality of the application

Some of the important awards are

• Dean’s fellowships
• Forté fellowship (Women)
• Kelly School of Business merit fellowship
• ROMBA (LGBTQ community)

Kelley MBA Application Process

Before starting your application filing process for Indiana Kelley MBA, ensure that you fulfill all the eligibility criteria as follows.

• A four-year US Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Refer to the FAQs if you have a 3-year degree.
• A valid GMAT score
• A valid TOEFL/IELTS score

Now, let’s delve deeper into the Indiana Kelley MBA application filing process with the following steps.

1. Create an Account at CAS

Create an account with a username and password in the Indiana University Graduate Centralized Application System. Fill up the common sections like Personal Information, Academic History, etc. Under the Add Program tab, search for “Kelly Full-Time MBA” and add the MBA program to your My Application tab.

2. Provide Standardized Test Scores

Email the scanned copies of your unofficial test GMAT score to iumba@indiana.edu. You can submit the official scores later.

3. Academic Transcripts

Scan and upload the copies of mark sheets and other academic documents of every college or university you have ever attended. Of course, you’ll have to submit the hard copies after you’re selected.

4. Resume

Upload an updated resume in the Supporting Information section detailing your professional achievements. Try limiting your resume to a single page or a maximum of 2 pages.

5. Essay Questions

You are required to submit two essay responses, one 500 words and another 300 words, followed by a brief 25-word response on the topics given. Additionally, it is recommended to undertake another 300-word optional essay.

Prepare these Kelly MBA essays with utmost sincerity as they are one of the most important components of the Kelley MBA application process. Your essays will help the admission committee get deeper insights into your personality, opinions, and objectives behind pursuing the MBA.

Remember, the admission committee is not looking for a sales pitch. You don’t have to be flowery. Instead, be honest, creative, informative, and concise in your replies. Come across as a person who can add value and diversity to the class.

6. Letter of Recommendation

Submitting a letter of recommendation is mandatory. Add your recommender’s information to the Online Recommendation System inside your online application. Your recommender can be your recent supervisor or anyone who is well aware of your professional achievements. Make sure you give ample time to your recommender to submit the letter.

7. Interview

Once you submit the completed application, the Indiana Kelley admission committee will thoroughly assess your application. If selected, you’ll be invited for the interview. The invitation for the interview can come at any point of the process until the decision date. You’ll have the option to take the interview through Skype or phone.

Indiana Kelley MBA Deadlines

Indiana University Kelley School of Business only offers fall admission. Following are the Indiana Kelley MBA deadlines for application for domestic and international students.

Disclaimer: The dates have been retrieved from the b-school website. Applicants are advised to check the school’s official site before applying as they are subject to change at the discretion of the admission committee. 

While there are 4 rounds of applications, overseas applicants such as Indians are advised to apply by Round 2 as most seats are booked by then.

Studying at IU Kelley School of Business

Indiana Kelley School of Business has this unique tradition of what they call the ‘Kelly Clap’ – clapping at the end of the class to celebrate the learning process. This shows the rich culture of bonding between the professors and the students. However, the University of Indiana MBA Degree is not just about friendships or Kelly Clap. The B-school has an impressive number of alumni in top MNCs.

Kelley School of Business career center is among the best in the world, helping students find relevant jobs or switch roles. The place can be the springboard for a lifelong career growth path.

FAQs related to MBA in Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business

1. Which application round is best to increase admission chances at the Indiana Kelley MBA program?

There are no such preferences. It is better to submit a strong application for pursuing Kelley MBA in later rounds than rushing to apply in the first round with a weaker application. However, if you need merit-based financial aid, try completing your application process by round 2.

International students should also aim for no later than round 2 as they require additional time to secure the student visa.

2. Who conducts interviews at Kelley School of Business for selected applicants?

Members of the Kelley MBA admission committee conduct the interviews.

3. Are three-year Bachelor’s degree programs from Indian universities accepted in Kelley School of Business?

IU Kelley requires students to have the equivalent of a US Bachelor’s degree that requires 16 years of education. However, a 3-year Bachelor’s degree in India takes 15 years (10+2+3).

Therefore, Indian students are expected to complete Part-1 exams of a university’s Master’s degree after their 3-year Bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission to the University of Indiana MBA programs.

4. Does Kelley School of Business offer admission without work experience?

While work experience is not compulsory, Kelley School of Business rarely offers admission without it. The current Kelly MBA class profile suggests that just 1% of the class is without work experience. So, having at least 4-5 years of work experience after your undergraduate is advisable.