Admission Requirements

To be considered for acceptance into Viterbo University’s M.B.A. program, an applicant must satisfy the following minimum criteria. These criteria are considered along with all items in the application submission packet in making the determination on acceptance.  Applicants may be granted full acceptance or conditional acceptance. 

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university (It is understood that students applying to the 4+1 MBA program will be seeking the bachelor degree);
• Minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a 3.0 for the last two years of the undergraduate degree. Exceptions may be made to this requirement if the applicant (1) submits a work experience portfolio describing significant organizational experience OR (2) has taken the GMAT examination OR (3) has successfully completed other graduate-level coursework.

An application submission packet is only considered complete upon receipt of the following items:  

• An official Viterbo University application for the Dahl School of Business M.B.A. program. The application form is available at https://www.viterbo.edu/apply. 

• An official transcript evidencing the baccalaureate degree sent directly from a regionally accredited, degree-granting institution. Transcripts must be requested and sent directly from the institution to Viterbo University, Enrollment Operations, 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601. Electronic transcripts from Parchment, National Clearinghouse, and Credentials Solutions are acceptable and are usually processed significantly faster than physical copies. Please select "Office of Admission - Traditional Programs" as your destination, if given more than one option when ordering electronic transcripts. Faxed, emailed, or hand-delivered transcripts are not acceptable.

• Sign the Student Financial Responsibility Agreement - The link will be available on your supplemental items list inside your application portal, after the application is submitted.

• One recommendation from an individual attesting to the applicant’s ability and potential for successfully completing graduate-level coursework. The recommendation shall be from a direct supervisor, if possible. Have your reference complete the online Graduate Degree Recommendation form located in your application portal. You will need their email address to request to have the form emailed to them.  
  • *MBA in Computer Science requires letters of recommendation from at least two previous instructors and one professional recommendation.

• A two to three-page personal essay setting forth:    

1) the reasons why you desire to attain an M.B.A. degree;

2) what you can add to Viterbo University’s M.B.A. program, and

 3) what you hope to get out of Viterbo University’s M.B.A. program.  

Admission to Other Graduate Programs: Admission to a specific degree or certificate program does not imply admission to any other degree or certificate program. A separate application must be submitted to apply for admission to another program. 

Applying to the 4+1 Program

Viterbo University’s 4+1 M.B.A. option offers achievement-oriented, highly motivated students the opportunity to obtain their bachelor degree and their M.B.A. in five years.   

Application to the 4+1 M.BA. program occurs during the junior or senior undergraduate year with an online application. Students are admitted on a provisional basis and will be advised during the remainder of the junior and senior years by their undergraduate advisor and an M.B.A. advisor. Provisional admittance will become full graduate admission if the student maintains a minimum grade point average of 3.0, receives no grade lower than a 'BC' on the graduate coursework taken, and earns the undergraduate degree.   

Students in the 4+1 M.B.A. program must meet all undergraduate degree requirements. This coursework is completed in the first four years of the program. Up to nine graduate credits of the graduate program are taken during the student’s fourth year (senior year) of undergraduate work (see undergraduate catalog criteria). A student concurrently enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate coursework in a semester may take no more than 18 credits in that semester. The remaining credits of the graduate program are taken during year five of the program, and the M.B.A. is generally earned after the fifth year. The work toward the M.B.A. degree may be pursued part-time over a longer period of time, not to exceed five years of graduate coursework. Non-continuous enrollment is subject to curriculum changes of the catalog currently in place. 

To be considered for acceptance into Viterbo University’s 4+1 M.B.A. program, an applicant must satisfy the same requirements as outlined above in the “Admission Requirements” section.

International Applicants

International applications are processed in conjunction with Kenneth Felts, Director of International Admission. Contact Kenneth at krfelts@viterbo.edu, or phone 1-888-VITERBO (1-888-848-3726) and 608-796-3171.

International applicants who are non-native English speakers will need to provide evidence of proficiency in the English language, showing a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 79 on the Internet-based exam. Alternatively, you may submit an International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) score of at least 6.5 or a Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of at least 53. English language (ESL) courses are also offered at Viterbo University and may be required as a condition to acceptance into the MBA program.

Viterbo University reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant it deems unfit to participate in its MBA program.

Internationally Educated but not an International Student

You are only considered an International Student if you will need an F-1 Visa to enroll at Viterbo University. However, if you obtained your undergraduate degree outside of the U.S. you may need to submit your transcripts for an official evaluation to an evaluation agency such as WES.org or ECE.org.  Please contact your admissions representative for guidance. 

Admission Requirements MBA/DNP Dual Degree Program

To apply, fill out the free online  application for admission.  

• For the post-BSN to MBA/DNP, choose the Graduate Nursing - Post BSN MBA/DNP Leadership option on the application.  
• For the post-MSN to MBA/DNP, choose the Graduate Nursing - Post MSN MBA/DNP Leadership option. 

BSN to MBA/DNP

To apply for the Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree, the applicant must have graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing from an NLNAC or CCNE accredited school and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or greater on a 4.0 scale. Recent professional practice is preferred and recommended. 

The following list of documents can be found with the Supplemental Items list once an application is started. Documents must be submitted to the School of Nursing Graduate Program Committee by either uploading them or mailing them:

• Transcripts from all degree granting programs (e.g. ADN, BSN, master's)  and any graduate education (see instructions on application) sent electronically to Viterbo to transcripts@viterbo.edu or mailed from the degree-granting institution to Viterbo University Graduate Admissions, 900 Viterbo Drive, La Crosse, WI 54601. 
• A personal statement (Essay), approximately two pages (double-spaced and APA style) in a formal essay format, addressing the following items:
  • Please describe why you have chosen a clinical path (family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner) or a leadership path (ethical leadership or dual degree MBA/DNP).  Share specific nursing/leadership/volunteer experiences and how those experiences have provided you with a foundation to pursue your chosen pathway. Lastly, describe the benefits of having a professional doctorate that stimulated your interest in applying to a DNP program
• Evidence of current, unrestricted licensure as a Registered Nurse. Please look up your license(s), and print/save them as a PDF to easily upload them in your application portal. 
• Three (3) letters of recommendation.  Please complete the recommendation request form on the supplemental items page in your application portal and an email notification from GradAdmissions@viterbo.edu will be sent to your recommenders (you can only access this after you hit "submit" and then log back into your application). 
  • The Admission Committee requests that you seek recommendations from the specific individuals listed in the bullets below.  If you have questions on identifying individuals, please reach out to Graduate Admissions at mekellogg@viterbo.edu or 608.796.3028.  
  • Applicants to the Leadership paths (Ethical Leadership and Dual DNP\MB) should submit the required recommendations from the following individuals:
    • One recommendation from your Director of Nursing or Nursing Administration;
    • One recommendation from your current clinical supervisor  who supervises you during your hands-on healthcare experience, and either practices in the role you are seeking or works with individuals in the advanced practice role sought (APRN, PA, MD/DO) and has knowledge regarding role performance requirements;
    • And, one professional recommendation, from someone such as an MD/DO, PA, APRN/APNP.

After receipt of these supplemental application materials, a personal interview may be requested of the applicant. 

Additional requirements:

• At least one year of recent, relevant direct patient care as an RN prior to beginning the program, positive interview and recommendations indicating potential as nurse leaders, potential opportunities for clinical preceptorships/practicum experiences within the student's home area, and the ability to commit to the blocked practicum hours necessary.
• Satisfactory completion of an introductory statistics and a research course (undergraduate).
• Evidence of current CPR throughout program.
• Applicants must have the ability to meet both university and clinical agency health and personnel requirements, including specified immunizations and satisfactory criminal/caregiver background check throughout the program.

See Admission to the Grad Nursing Program for more details of the admission review process.

Post-Master's to MBA/DNP

• Master's degree in nursing or related field from accredited program with a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or better GPA.
• Admission documents and requirements are the same as above with the exception of the MAT, which is not required.
• Choose post-MSN to MBA/DNP as the program on the online application.