Admission Criteria

Graduate study at John Brown University emphasizes scholarship, research, and professional experience. A candidate seeking admission to graduate study must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and meet the following requirements:

1. Submit a completed graduate student application form with a $35 non-refundable application fee. The application includes a 200-word essay regarding the applicant’s professional plans and reasons for seeking acceptance into the program. Applications are available online at www.jbu.edu/grad/admissions.
2. Provide an official transcript from the college awarding the undergraduate degree. Provide official transcripts of graduate course work completed and/or degrees earned at any other institution, if applicable. Transcripts must be mailed by the college or university directly to the graduate Admissions Office at John Brown University.
3. Submit graduate recommendation forms from three persons who are not related to the applicant but are familiar with the applicant’s character and scholarship.
4. Present acceptable graduate entry tests appropriate for the desired degree, as described below.
5. Students applying for M.Ed. programs must hold a valid teaching license.
6. Students applying for the M.F.A. in Collaborative Design must also submit a digital portfolio and a resume or curriculum vitae.
7. Provide additional information or participate in an admission interview if requested by the department head or Dean.

Entrance Exam Requirements

Business Programs

For regular admission, applicants must achieve an acceptable score on the GRE, MAT, or GMAT. A score of 290 or higher with a minimum verbal score of 145 is required for the GRE; 383 or higher is required for the MAT; and 470 or higher is required on the GMAT. The entrance exam may be waived for applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher or who hold an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution.

Counseling Programs

For regular admission, applicants must score 290 or higher with a minimum verbal score of 145 on the GRE. The entrance exam may be waived for applicants who hold an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution in a related field.

Cybersecurity Program

No entrance exam is required.

Teacher Education Program

For regular admission, applicants must score 290 or higher with a minimum verbal score of 145 on the GRE. For admission to the MAT program, applicants can either meet the following GRE scores: Verbal score of 142 or higher; Quantitative score of 142 or higher; and Writing score of 3.5 or higher or meet the Arkansas Department of Higher Education cut scores for the Praxis Core assessment.

Higher Education Program

For regular admission, applicants must achieve an acceptable score on the GRE, MAT, or GMAT. A score of 290 or higher with a minimum verbal score of 145 is required for the GRE; 383 or higher is required for the MAT; and 470 or higher is required on the GMAT. The entrance exam may be waived for applicants with an earned GPA of 3.0 or higher for their undergraduate degree or who hold an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution.

Collaborative Design Program

No entrance exam is required.

International Admission Requirements

John Brown University admits international students who meet the general admission criteria, hold the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited or recognized university, and have demonstrated proficiency in English.

Applicants from non-English speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service at the nearest examination center. The minimum score for admission is 80 or higher on the web-based exam.

International applicants must do the following:

1. Submit a completed graduate student application along with a $100 (US) non-refundable international application fee. The application includes a 200-word essay regarding the applicant’s professional plans and reasons for seeking acceptance into the program.
2. Provide an official transcript from the college awarding the undergraduate degree. Provide official transcripts of graduate course work completed and/or degrees earned at any other institution, if applicable. Transcripts must be mailed by the college or university directly to the graduate Admissions Office at John Brown University. Non-English academic records must include certified translation into English.
3. Submit graduate recommendation forms from three persons who are not related to the applicant but are familiar with the applicant’s character and scholarship.
4. Present acceptable graduate entry tests appropriate for the desired degree.
5. Provide immunization records including date of measles/rubella vaccination, if the student plans to be enrolled for 12 or more hours during a semester, and proof of U.S. health insurance.
6. Submit official TOEFL score.
7. Provide official documents showing ability to pay college costs, or an Affidavit of Support (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-134, available through the International Programs office) completed by a U.S. sponsor.
8. Submit deposit covering the cost of tuition for one year. Deposit is 100% refundable if student does not enroll.
9. Provide additional information or participate in an admission interview if requested by the department head or Dean.

When all admissions requirements have been met and a deposit equal to the amount of tuition for the first semester is paid (refundable in the event the student does not attend), the International Programs Office will issue an Immigration Form I-20. This allows the student to apply for the F-1 student visa at the American Embassy.

Nondiscriminatory Statement

John Brown University admits persons to its programs and activities without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, or gender in the administration of education policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other school-sponsored programs.