Apply

Degree:
Prior to the program start date, an applicant must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college in the United States or from an International Association of Universities accredited program.

GPA:
A minimum GPA of 2.5, on a 4-point U.S.A. scale, in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units is required to apply.

Meeting the minimum may not be sufficient to obtain admission. The program is competitive and most successful applicants will have a GPA above 3.0.

Coursework:
Prior to the program start date, applicants must have completed 4 quarter units (or 3 semester credits) in U.S. Federal income taxation and 8 quarter units (or 6-8 semester credits) in other accounting courses.¹

¹ Non-taxation accounting units may be replaced by units in other academic disciplines (such as Finance) at the discretion of the program director. Taxation and non-taxation units do not need to be completed as part of the applicant’s bachelor’s degree program but must be from an accredited college.

The application is completed and submitted via the Cal State Apply web site. A non-refundable fee of $70 (USD) is required.

On Cal State Apply you will submit each of the required items listed below:

Statement of purpose:
Summarize your career objectives, experience and reason for interest in this degree program

Resume:
A resume including education, employment, extracurricular/community activities, publications, if any, and memberships

Letter of recommendation:
Two (2) confidential letters from a professor or manager/supervisor

Test scores:
Graduate test scores are not required for this program.

Undergraduate transcript(s):
When to Submit Transcripts
Graduate applicants must send official transcripts (from degree granting institution), including work in progress course work by the application deadline. Transcripts must be sent directly from your former institution.

Once selected, Cal Poly will also need your final transcripts that includes your graduation date as soon as possible in order to certify your enrollment and allow you to register for classes.

How to Submit Transcripts
Cal Poly will accept electronic transcripts via the following:

• Parchment
• Docufide
• Naviance
• National Student Clearing House
• eScript-Safe
• Military Services

If your institution provides certified electronic transcripts through another service, have those transcripts sent directly from your institution to cptrans1@calpoly.edu.

You may also send official transcripts by mail to:
Cal Poly
Transcript Processing
MC 1001
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

Note: Official transcripts are not needed from students who received their undergraduate degree from Cal Poly and have not attended any other colleges or universities since their graduation from Cal Poly.

The table below outlines program costs for academic year 2024-2025, excluding books, room and board, laptop computers** and other personal expenses. Fees are estimates and are subject to change.

* Access to the Recreation Center and Health Center begins Fall Quarter.

** To support a portable learning environment, every Orfalea College of Business Graduate Students must bring a laptop to class. We recommend a laptop computer with these specifications. Note: Many graduate instructors at the Orfalea College of Business require students to run various Windows-based applications that do not have Mac equivalents.