The Tennessee Haslam MBA is the 16-month full-time MBA at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business. U.S. News ranks it No. 43 in its 2026 list. It is one of the shortest ranked MBAs in the U.S., it is STEM-designated, and Haslam estimates the whole programme at $69,968 for out-of-state and international students. Poets&Quants reports a 37.4% acceptance rate for fall 2025, and Haslam’s graduate programmes office puts the average base salary for 2025 graduates at about $115,000.
Round 1 closed on 15 October 2026, so your Deadline is Round 2 on 15 December 2026. Later rounds run to 1 June 2027, but Haslam gives earlier applicants priority for assistantships and scholarships. Unlike most schools in this ranking band, Haslam still requires the GMAT or GRE. This guide covers the Tennessee MBA requirements for international students, the two essays, costs, assistantships, the supply chain focus and career results.
Tennessee Haslam MBA at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Full-Time MBA, 16 months, Knoxville, in person, starts in August |
| U.S. News rank | No. 43, 2026 Best Business Schools (released April 2026), tied with Maryland and Michigan State |
| Acceptance rate (fall 2025 entry) | 37.4% (Poets&Quants, from U.S. News data) |
| Average GMAT / GRE | Not published |
| Average GPA | 3.48 |
| Average age | 26 |
| Preferred work experience | Three or more years |
| Test policy | GMAT or GRE required (waivers only for military applicants) |
| Estimated programme cost | $69,968 out-of-state and international; $39,125 in-state |
| STEM | Yes, designated in December 2021 |
| Average base salary (2025 graduates) | About $115,000 |
| Concentrations | Business analytics, supply chain management, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance, consulting |
Tennessee Haslam MBA ranking
U.S. News placed Haslam at No. 43 among full-time MBA programmes in its 2026 Best Business Schools ranking, released on 7 April 2026, in a three-way tie with Maryland Smith and Michigan State Broad. Haslam also lists a No. 15 place among public schools in Fortune Education’s 2025 full-time MBA ranking and a No. 2 national rank for its graduate supply chain programme. If supply chain is your field, that ranking is worth weighing.
Tennessee Haslam MBA acceptance rate and class profile
Haslam does not publish an acceptance rate. Poets&Quants, using data schools report to U.S. News, gives these figures:
| Intake | Acceptance rate | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 37.4% | 65.5% |
| Fall 2024 | 53.5% | 67.2% |
| Fall 2023 | 51.4% | 77.8% |
Admission got noticeably harder in 2025, with the rate falling from about half to just over a third. Yield stays high: about two in three admitted students enrol.
| Haslam full-time MBA profile | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average age | 26 |
| Average undergraduate GPA | 3.48 |
| Preferred work experience | Three or more years |
| Average GMAT / GRE | Not published |
| Class size | Not published |
| International share | Not published |
Haslam’s full-time MBA page shows only the average age and GPA. It does not publish test averages, class size or the international share, so ask the admissions team for the latest profile.
Tennessee Haslam MBA requirements for international students
- A completed bachelor’s degree, with official transcripts. Haslam needs official transcripts and test scores before it makes a decision.
- A resume.
- Two professional references.
- Responses to two essay questions.
- GMAT or GRE scores less than five years old.
- English certification if it applies to you.
- Professional work experience; three or more years is preferred.
GMAT and GRE
Haslam requires the GMAT or GRE. Its page offers a waiver only to active-duty military and veterans, who should contact admissions. Scores are valid for five years. Because the school does not publish a test average, aim for a score that sits comfortably in the range of the schools you are comparing; in the peer table below, published averages run from about 604 to 641 on the GMAT.
Plan your test early. A required test, plus official transcripts before a decision, means you need everything in place well before 15 December 2026.
English requirements
| Test | Minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 100 |
| TOEFL paper-based | 600 |
| IELTS | 7.5 |
| Duolingo English Test | Accepted; minimum not listed |
Scores must be less than two years old. You are exempt if English is an official language in your country of citizenship, or if English was the main language of instruction at your previous institution and your transcript says so. Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya are among the countries where English is official, but check the Graduate School’s list before you skip the test. The 7.5 IELTS minimum is higher than at most MBAs.
Tennessee Haslam MBA deadlines 2026-2027
These are the rounds for the class starting in fall 2027:
| Round | Deadline | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 (closed) | 15 October 2026 | Priority for financial aid |
| Round 2 | 15 December 2026 | Your Deadline |
| Round 3 | 15 February 2027 | Still early enough for most visa timelines |
| Round 4 | 15 April 2027 | Tight for international applicants |
| Final round | 1 June 2027 | Domestic applicants in practice |
Haslam says candidates in earlier rounds get priority for financial aid consideration. Admitted students pay a $1,000 non-refundable seating deposit, which is not applied to tuition.
For international applicants
Haslam’s page does not set a separate international deadline. Rounds 4 and 5 are open on paper, but a June application leaves almost no time for the I-20 and a visa appointment before August. Apply by 15 December 2026, or 15 February 2027 at the latest.
How to apply, step by step
- Book the GMAT or GRE early enough to retake if needed.
- Check the English exemption or book TOEFL (100) or IELTS (7.5).
- Request official transcripts from every university you attended.
- Update your resume with results and leadership examples.
- Choose two professional references who have supervised you.
- Write both essays, up to 500 words each.
- Apply online through Haslam’s application portal by 15 December 2026.
- Interview if invited.
- After admission: Pay the $1,000 seating deposit and prepare funding proof for the I-20.
Tennessee Haslam MBA essays 2026-2027
Haslam’s public page asks for essay responses without printing the prompts. Menlo Coaching, citing Haslam’s site in July 2026, lists two questions, each with a limit of 500 words, and notes that Haslam tends to keep the same prompts year to year. Check the wording in the application.
| Essay | Prompt (summary) | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Career goals | Your short-term and long-term career goals, the experiences that shaped them, and what you will do beyond the MBA to reach them | 500 words |
| Behavioural | Your three most substantial accomplishments and why you see them that way | 500 words |
Career goals essay
Answer all three parts in order. Give a specific short-term job (function, industry, employer type) and a long-term goal that grows from it. Then show the experience that set you on that path. Finish with what you will do outside class, such as a case competition, a club or a supply chain project, so the committee sees an active plan. With a 16-month programme and a required summer internship, Haslam wants applicants who know their direction on day one.
For illustration: “After Haslam I want to join a manufacturer’s supply chain team as a planning manager; long term, I want to run regional distribution for West Africa.”
Three accomplishments essay
Choose three achievements from different parts of your life, for example one at work, one in your community and one personal. For each, give the situation, what you did and the result in about 150 words, then a sentence on why it matters to you. Numbers help; humility does too.
The Tennessee Haslam interview
Haslam’s public pages do not describe the interview format. Ask admissions whether it is online for international applicants and who conducts it. Prepare to explain your goals, why a 16-month programme suits you, and which concentration you plan to choose in your first spring.
What the admissions committee looks for
Haslam names the qualities it values: academic potential, proven teamwork, demonstrated leadership and communication skills. In practice that means:
- A strong GPA (the average is 3.48) and a solid GMAT or GRE.
- Three or more years of professional work.
- Examples of leading and working in teams.
- Clear, specific goals that fit a short programme with a required internship.
- Strong written and spoken English.
Tennessee Haslam MBA tuition and cost
Haslam gives an estimated cost for the whole programme:
| Student type | Estimated programme cost |
|---|---|
| Out-of-state and international | $69,968 |
| Tennessee resident | $39,125 |
Haslam does not say which academic year this estimate applies to and notes that tuition and fees are reassessed every year. Because the programme lasts 16 months, the figure covers the full degree, which keeps the total well below most two-year MBAs.
Costs not covered
- The $1,000 non-refundable seating deposit, which does not count toward tuition.
- The graduation fee.
- Travel for the Global Business Seminar in the winter mini-term.
- Student association fees, which may apply.
- Housing, food, health insurance and transport in Knoxville, which Haslam does not price on this page.
- Flights, the SEVIS fee and the visa fee.
Tennessee Haslam MBA scholarships and assistantships for international students
All admitted applicants are considered automatically for merit-based assistantships and scholarships funded by the programme. No separate application is needed. Haslam bases awards on undergraduate GPA, test scores and work history, and says funding is highly competitive and not every admitted student receives it.
| Award | What it gives | Commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate assistantship (research or teaching) | University tuition waiver (not university or programme fees) plus a semester stipend | About 10 hours of work a week |
| Fellowship | Funding for exceptional candidates; amount not published | No work requirement |
| Merit scholarship | Programme-funded; amount not published | None stated |
Haslam’s page does not limit these awards to U.S. students, but it does not say how many international students receive them either. An assistantship that waives tuition would remove most of the $69,968, so ask about it at interview. For loans, Haslam points to the FAFSA and federal loans, which are for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, and does not name Prodigy Finance, MPOWER or any loan without a U.S. co-signer. For outside funding, see our list of American scholarships for international students.
STEM designation and OPT
Haslam announced in December 2021 that its full-time MBA had received a STEM designation, alongside its online and Tri-Continent supply chain master’s and its PhD. International students normally get 12 months of OPT after graduation; a STEM-designated degree lets you apply for a further 24 months. Confirm the CIP code on your I-20.
Programme structure
The 16 months run like this. First fall: core courses such as financial accounting, operations management and managerial accounting. Winter mini-term: the Global Business Seminar with travel. First spring: more core courses, and you choose a concentration. Summer: a required internship. Second fall: the corporate strategy capstone, three concentration courses and one elective. Dual degrees are available with agricultural economics, business analytics, engineering and law.
Tennessee Haslam MBA salary and employment
Haslam’s graduate programmes office says 2025 full-time MBA graduates earned an average base salary of about $115,000. It has not posted a full Class of 2025 employment report on the pages I checked.
- Average base salary, 2025 graduates: about $115,000.
- A Haslam careers brochure uploaded in 2025, with no class year stated, reports 88% employed within 90 days, a median base of $97,500 and a median signing bonus of $12,500.
- Employers named in that brochure include Avient, Crowe, Deloitte, EY, GEP Worldwide, Honeywell, Hormel, Intel, Lenovo and SC Johnson.
- The older outcomes page (Classes of 2022 and 2023) shows 82% placed at six months.
Ask the career office for the full Class of 2025 report and for the number of international graduates who found sponsored U.S. jobs.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Assuming the test is optional, as it is at many peer schools.
- Booking IELTS with a 7.0 target when Haslam wants 7.5.
- Sending unofficial transcripts and waiting for a decision that cannot come until official ones arrive.
- Answering only one part of the three-part career goals essay.
- Choosing three accomplishments from the same job.
- Applying in April or June and running out of time for the visa.
Who should apply to Tennessee Haslam, and who shouldn’t
Apply if you want supply chain, analytics or operations roles, value a short programme that gets you back to work after 16 months, and can sit the GMAT or GRE. The STEM designation and a total price under $70,000 make it good value for international students.
Think twice if you want a test-optional school, a long two-year experience with two summers, or a large city. Applicants who score below 7.5 on IELTS will need to retake or look elsewhere.
Tennessee Haslam vs peer MBA programmes
| School | U.S. News 2026 | Avg GMAT | Tuition or cost | International | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Haslam | No. 43 (tie) | Not published | $69,968 estimated programme cost, out-of-state and international | Not published | 15 December 2026 (Round 2) |
| UGA Terry | No. 25 | 641 (Class of 2027) | $36,000 a year nonresident tuition, 2026-27 | 21% | 10 January 2027 (Round 2) |
| Georgia Tech Scheller | No. 27 | 640 (Class of 2028) | $22,478 a semester nonresident tuition, fall 2026 | 31% | 8 January 2027 (Round 2) |
| Indiana Kelley | No. 21 | 618 (Class of 2028) | $55,695 a year nonresident tuition, 2026-27 | 39% | 5 January 2027 (Round 2) |
| Michigan State Broad | No. 43 (tie) | 604 GMAT Focus (Class of 2027) | $58,276 tuition; $90,427 total for international students, 2026-27 | 30% (three-year average) | 11 January 2027 (Round 2) |
FAQ
What is the Tennessee Haslam MBA acceptance rate?
Poets&Quants, using U.S. News data, reports a 37.4% acceptance rate for the fall 2025 intake, down from 53.5% in 2024. Haslam does not publish the figure itself.
Does the Tennessee Haslam MBA require the GMAT?
Yes. You need a GMAT or GRE score less than five years old. Haslam’s page mentions waivers only for active-duty military and veterans.
How long is the Tennessee full-time MBA?
It lasts 16 months, starting in August, with a required summer internship. The estimated programme cost is $69,968 for out-of-state and international students.
What is the Tennessee Haslam MBA deadline for international students?
The Deadline is Round 2 on 15 December 2026. Haslam has no separate international deadline, but Round 3 on 15 February 2027 is the latest I would use if you need a visa.
Sources and updates
Programme length, concentrations, the class averages, requirements, English minimums, deadlines and rankings are from Haslam’s Full-Time MBA page. Cost estimates, assistantships and fellowships are from the tuition and financial aid page. STEM status is from Haslam’s December 2021 STEM designation announcement. The 2025 average salary is from the Haslam Graduate Programs Full-Time MBA page; the 88% placement, median salary and employer list are from a Haslam careers brochure uploaded in 2025; the six-month rate is from Haslam’s student outcomes page. The essay prompts are from Menlo Coaching’s Haslam essay page, updated in July 2026. Acceptance rates and yield are from Poets&Quants’ August 2026 article on acceptance rates, yield and applications at the top 100 U.S. MBA programmes. The ranking is from U.S. News 2026 Best Business Schools (full-time MBA), released on 7 April 2026, as tabulated by Poets&Quants. Checked on 29 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
