Apply by December 1
Currently accepting applications for Fall 2027 cohort. Apply by December 1 for the second round deadline.
Apply to a Penn State Smeal Residential Master's
Thank you for your interest in a Penn State Smeal Residential Master's program! To be considered for admission, all components of the application must be received by the respective deadline. Once you have submitted your application to the Graduate School, the most accurate way to check the status of your application and confirm receipt of your materials is by contacting us.
Begin Your Application
Use the Penn State Graduate School Application portal to access the online application. Make sure to provide a valid email address that you can access throughout the application process. You can return to this portal anytime during the process.
Application Deadlines
Penn State Smeal residential master's programs have multiple application deadlines throughout the year. Applications are reviewed and decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Application Deadline Rounds:
1st Round: October 1
2nd Round: December 1
3rd Round: February 1 (Priority deadline for international applicants)
4th Round: April 1
Select Your Program and Review Requirements
Application Selections
Campus: University Park
Major: Accounting
Degree: Master of Accounting (MACC)
Semester: Fall 2027
Required Prerequisites
The following Penn State courses (or their equivalents at another institution) are prerequisites for the Penn State Smeal M.Acc. program:
ACCTG 211: Intro to Financial and Managerial Accounting
ACCTG 403w: Auditing
ACCTG 404: Managerial Accounting
ACCTG 405: Principles of Taxation
ACCTG 471: Intermediate Financial Accounting I
ACCTG 472: Intermediate Financial Accounting II
MIS 301: Business Analytics
If you do not have the required prerequisites for the program, contact us to learn how you can graduate with a Smeal M.Acc. degree in as little as 15 months by enrolling in Smeal's Accounting Foundations graduate certificate.
Application Selections
Campus: University Park
Major: Business Analytics
Degree: Master of Business Analytics (MBAN)
Semester: Fall 2027
Application Selections
Campus: University Park
Major: Finance
Degree: Master of Finance (MFIN)
Semester: Fall 2027
Application Selections
Campus: University Park
Major: Business Administration - M.B.A., D.B.A.
Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Semester: Fall 2027
Ensure you select "1 Year Resident MBA (University Park/full-time in-person)" when answering the delivery format questions.
Application Selections
Master of Real Estate (M.R.E.)
Campus: University Park
Major: Real Estate Analysis and Development
Degree: Master of Real Estate (MRE)
Semester: Fall 2027
Master of Science in Real Estate Analysis and Development (M.S.)
Campus: University Park
Major: Real Estate Analysis and Development
Degree: Master of Science (MS)
Semester: Summer 2027
Application Selections
Campus: University Park
Major: Supply Chain Management
Degree: Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM)
Semester: Fall 2027
Required Application Materials
Penn State Smeal College of Business residential master's programs have specific application requirements. During this process, you will be required to submit the following:
Part 1: Penn State Graduate School Online Application
Resume: Submit a current version of your resume including any work experience and secondary education until the date of application.
Copies of official educational transcripts (and degree certificate if applicable): The Penn State Graduate School application will ask you to upload copies of official educational transcripts/records and degree certificates, if applicable, from all institutions attended. All transcripts and academic records uploaded to the application are considered "unofficial." Official/original transcripts are required for any degree or diploma earned. If you are recommended for admission to a graduate degree program, you will be notified with detailed instructions on how to submit the official/original documents. If you attended Penn State for your undergraduate education, you will not need to submit transcripts as the Graduate School can obtain these from your student record.
Program-Specific Questions: Ensure that you respond to all questions requesting information, especially when it is marked as required.
Reference Contacts (3): Provide the names, titles, relationships, and contact information for three professional or academic references. A letter of recommendation will not be requested or required. In the event we need more information, we will reach out to your references.
Official English language proficiency exam scores (for )
Application fee
Part 2: Virtual Interview and Essay via Kira Talent
Within 24 hours of initiating your online application, you will receive a link to complete your virtual interview and essay via Kira Talent. Please check your spam folder or inbox filters for the invitation. Ensure completion of both your virtual interview and essay within seven business days of submitting your Graduate School Online Application.
Virtual interview: This is a one-way interview that will be recorded and sent to Smeal's admissions team upon submission. You will be asked to respond to three behavioral questions on video. For each question, you will have limited time to consider your response and a set amount of time to respond as the system records.
Essay: After completing the virtual interview in Kira, you will be asked to respond to an admissions essay question in written form during a timed session.
Note that your application will not be considered complete or evaluated by the committee until you have completed this part of the process, which is separate from the Penn State Graduate School online application.
What Happens Next & Key Application Policies
All applications will undergo a comprehensive review process conducted by both the Penn State Smeal graduate program admissions office (assessing requirements and admissions criteria) and the Penn State Graduate School (verifying educational documentation, credentials, and international visa requirements). You may receive communications from representatives of either department.
Admission is granted in two stages: first by Smeal and then by the Penn State Graduate School. The Graduate School requires a recommendation from the Smeal admissions office before taking action on your application. To confirm the receipt of your application materials and check the status of your application, it is recommended that you contact the Smeal admissions office.
The Penn State Smeal College of Business has a strong commitment to ethics and integrity as reflected in our . The admissions committee will not tolerate any form of plagiarism or appearance of impropriety in an applicant’s materials. To ensure academic integrity, all essays will be confirmed through iThenticate authenticity software.
View Penn State's Academic Integrity Resources for more information on academic integrity and plagiarism.
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a deny decision.
Continue Exploring Penn State Smeal One-Year Residential Master's Programs
Accounting
Emerge with the expertise to sit confidently for the CPA Exam
Business Analytics
Transform raw data into evidence-based decisions
One-Year MBA
Develop leadership skills for career advancement
Real Estate Analysis and Development
Master commercial real estate in just one year
Supply Chain Management
Drive efficient operations and strategic decision-making in supply chains