We receive and review applications on a periodic basis from February through April, depending on the volume of applicants admitted by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. We cannot review your application until you have been admitted to the university. Decisions regarding applications for Michigan Ross BBA First-Year Admission are released February through April each year.

Decisions will be shared on one of our set release dates. Decisions are shared in no particular order, so there’s no need to worry if you don’t hear from us on the first release date.

Ross admission decisions arrive by email after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on select Fridays

The exact decision release dates will be posted in early January.

Applicants who are offered Direct Admission (LSA applicants) or Preferred Admission (non-LSA applicants) have until May 1 to accept their offer. For more details, please see information on checking your admission status.

We encourage all prospective students interested in the Michigan Ross BBA to apply for First-Year Admission out of high school, as this is our main path of admission. Our Transfer Admission process is not always for U-M students who have previously applied to the BBA program. For more on transferring to Michigan Ross, please see our Transfer Admission page.

There are 500 spaces combined for Direct Admission (LSA applicants) and Preferred Admission (non-LSA applicants) for first-year students entering in fall term. Admission is highly selective, but holistic in nature. The review process considers your level of academic achievement including course rigor and GPA, your depth of extracurricular involvement, the strength of your application essays, and your Ross Admissions Portfolio. Please read our Application Requirements and Review Criteria for more information.

In general, Ross students share the same housing as most first-year students on campus. However, Direct Admission and Preferred Admission students can apply to reside in the Living Business Theme Community, located on the fifth floor of West Quad and Cambridge House. Living Business represents a group of diverse, first-year Ross students who champion the goals and values of the school. Students who apply and are accepted to Living Business benefit from access to an enhanced academic experience, a supportive community, professional skill development, and off-campus experiential learning.

Deferrals are rare and handled individually. Deferral prior to the start at the university must be first granted through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and then requested through Ross Undergraduate Admissions. Required military service, for example, will require official documentation at the start of your deferral term indicating the completion of your compulsory service. This documentation must be sent directly from your military department. Other instances — including personal, family, and health issues — will be addressed on an individual basis.

First-Year Admission applicants who are not offered admission (either Direct Admission or Preferred Admission) and defer their university admission cannot be re-reviewed during their year of deferral. Admission decisions are based off single applications in the year an applicant applies, and a deferral year is not considered an additional year of application.

For the University of Michigan application, applicants will submit three written essays: the Common Application or Coalition Application essays and two U-M supplemental essay questions, the second of which should be focused on Ross. "Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific School or College (including Preferred Admission and dual-degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?" Please discuss your interest in a business education here. You will also submit the Ross Admissions Portfolio which includes a deeper analysis of your business knowledge through the Business Case Discussion.

The Ross Admissions Portfolio requires a 500-word Business Case Discussion and one artifact, with a 250-word explanation of the artifact. The Business Case Discussion  asks applicants to "Pick a current event or issue in your community and discuss the business implications. Propose a solution that incorporates business principles or practices. The review panel will look for creativity, drawing connections, and originality." The artifact submission asks applicants to "Upload a document or artifact that represents something significant about your life to show your learning in action. Describe how your artifact demonstrates your learning in action. Please limit this response to approximately 250 words.

We want to see how well you perform academically through the end of your senior year in high school, particularly in quantitative courses such as math. We recommend you take courses that are both challenging and appropriate for you. We encourage AP, IB, or similar advanced courses when you, your parents, and your guidance counselor believe they are appropriate. Students who take a large number of non-graded or non-academic courses will probably not be as competitive as other applicants. 

During the time of your application review, we will evaluate the most current transcript provided to the university. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will ask for a final senior-year transcript after you have been offered admission to the university. 

Ross Undergraduate Admissions has a rolling admissions process. We receive, review, and make decisions periodically after students have been admitted to the University of Michigan. If a student applies Early Action to the University of Michigan and is admitted in late January, their full application review will begin in February.

If a student submits a complete application for Early Action to the University of Michigan but does not submit their Ross Admissions Portfolio on or before November 1st, they will be reviewed in that order. As our website states, preference for order of review is given to those applicants that submit a full application (including portfolio) by November 1st. It is important to remember that we are rolling admissions. Thus, any applicant who submits their portfolio November 2nd or after will be read in that order. Preference for order of review is based on admission to the University of Michigan for their freshman admitting unit and date of Ross Admissions Portfolio submission. 

The vast majority of first-year students who take their studies seriously, manage their time well, and use support services are able to meet the small number of program requirements. The very few students who believe they might not meet the requirements are encouraged to talk with their Ross Academic Advisor about next steps. 

In general, Ross students share the same housing as most first-year students on campus. However, Direct Admission and Preferred Admission students can apply to the Living Business Theme Community, located on the fifth floor of West Quad and Cambridge House. Living Business represents a group of diverse, first-year Ross students who champion the goals and values of the school. You can learn more about Living Business here.  

Students who do not reside in the Living Business Theme Community are welcome to participate in other living/learning communities or live in any of the housing locations across campus.  

Note that students accepted to LSA - Residential College (RC) will not be eligible to live in the RC housing in East Quad if they choose to become a Ross Direct Admit, as the RC is a living/learning community restricted to LSA students.

Students admitted to LSA Honors will not be eligible to live in Honors housing if they choose to become a Ross Direct Admit as Honors is a living/learning community restricted to LSA Honors students.

If you enroll in the Ross School of Business as a Direct Admit, there will be no changes to your Ross BBA prerequisite requirements or expectations. You will still be expected to uphold the requirements listed below:

• Complete First-Year Writing, ECON 101, and any course in Calculus I, II, or III at U-M, each with a grade of C- or better, by the end of your first-year winter term. AP credit for Calculus I or II (MATH 120 or 121) will substitute for the required course in calculus. IB or A-level for ECON 101 and U-M Calculus I, II, or III will substitute for the required courses in economics and calculus.
• Complete BA100 and BCOM250.
• Enroll full-time (12+ credits) in the fall and winter semesters of your first year.
• Maintain good academic standing (2.500 GPA or above).
• Students who earn less that a 2.500 GPA or less than a C- in any prerequisite course by the end of winter semester of their first year (including those who are not in good academic standing), will be set on an alternative track within the program, under the guidance of their Ross Academic Advisor. This alternative track will likely extend program completion time.

Yes! Students will still complete a variety of liberal arts distribution courses during their time in the program (approximately 54 credits of liberal arts) and many of these courses will be the foundation of your academic work during your first year at U-M. 

Direct Admits will be able to bring in a maximum of 30 test/transfer credits completed prior to their first year (we will post >30 credits so courses can be used/viewed on record, but cap at 30 credits toward program [CTP]). This means an entering first-year student with 30+ credits pre-UM could have around 60 credits (30 + 15 fall + 15 winter) at the start of their second year.

No, the Ross BBA curriculum remains a full four-year program and students are expected to take the core courses in the required term prior to taking upper-level electives. Students will be placed within their cohort at the start of their second year. The program maintains its structured curriculum and is unable to be expedited. While graduating early is not an option, additional credits can sometimes create more flexibility during the program for students to pursue such opportunities as study abroad, minors, dual degrees, and research projects, etc... (all students can pursue these opportunities with planning, regardless of entry point to Ross, but there can be increased flexibility for students with advanced credits). 

Applicants who apply to the Honors Program within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, if admitted to both units, will enroll in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business their first year. This is the primary path for admission to Ross. Applicants can still apply to the Honors Program within LSA while their decision to Ross is pending. However, admission to Ross forfeits one's admission to LSA, and thus one cannot participate in the LSA Honors Program. Michigan Ross students do have the ability to pursue a dual degree with LSA and enroll in the LSA Honors Program at a later date in their academic career, pending academic requirements for both school and college.

Applicants who indicate interest in the Residential College within the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) and apply to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, if admitted to both units, will enroll in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business as Direct Admits. This is the primary path for admission to Ross. Applicants can still confirm interest in the Residential College within LSA while their decision to Ross is pending. However, admissions to Ross forfeits one's admission to LSA, and thus one cannot participate in the Residential College. Michigan Ross students do have the ability to pursue a dual degree with LSA and enroll in the Residential College as a U-M transfer student, pending academic requirements for both the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and the Residential College. The Residential College accepts transfer students with 40 or less credits and an academic plan to complete the core Residential College curriculum. 

Ross students share the same housing as most first-year students on campus. However, Direct Admission and Preferred Admission students can apply to the Living Business Theme Community. Living Business represents a group of diverse, first-year Ross students who champion the goals and values of the school. You can learn more about Living Business here.  

Housing will remain a random process for students who do not reside in the Living Business Theme Community, though they are welcome to participate in other living/learning communities!

If you enroll in the Ross School of Business as a Preferred Admit, there will be no changes to your Ross BBA prerequisite requirements or expectations. You will still be expected to uphold the requirements listed below:

• Complete First-Year Writing, ECON 101, and any course in Calculus I, II, or III at U-M, each with a grade of C- or better, by the end of your first-year winter term. AP credit for Calculus I or II (MATH 120 or 121) will substitute for the required course in calculus. IB or A-level for ECON 101 and U-M Calculus I, II, or III will substitute for the required courses in economics and calculus.
• Successfully complete BA100 and BCOM250.
• Enroll full-time (12+ credits) in the fall and winter semesters of first year.
• Maintain good academic standing (2.500 GPA or above).

Ross Preferred Admits will be able to bring in a maximum of 45 credits at the start of their second year, when they formally enter Ross. This will include all test/transfer credit taken pre-UM, as well as any U-M credits completed prior to their fall second year. 

Students who apply to U-M through a non-LSA unit are typically students who have interests in multiple areas and are interested in pursuing a dual degree. Thus, these students will need to remain enrolled in that unit for their first year in order to stay on track for both programs.

1. Describe why you want to pursue a BBA degree at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and how the Ross experience will support your personal and professional goals. (500-word maximum)

2. Reflect on your current or ongoing involvement in a specific organization outside of the classroom. Why did you join this organization? How did you make this organization or the community better? What did you learn? (500-word maximum)

Current U-M Ann Arbor students should attend the BBA Information Sessions and BBA Application Workshops in fall and winter for information and advice. Also, we suggest you ask friends and adults who write well to offer their careful, honest critiques of your essays. Ross admissions staff, including the Ross BBA Ambassadors, do not review application essays. (That would defeat the purpose!) U-M academic advisors, instructors, and writing tutors typically do not review Ross application essays, either.

For U-M transfer students entering the BBA program in the fall of 2022, there will be approximately 100 spaces for applicants. Admission is highly selective, but holistic in nature. The review process considers your level of academic achievement including course rigor and GPA, your depth of extracurricular involvement, and your strength of application essays. Please read our U-M Transfer Application Requirements and Review Criteria for more information.

No. Due to the curriculum structure and cohort model, there is only one admission cycle each year. All admitted students start classes in the fall.

For current U-M Ann Arbor students, we want to see how well you perform at U-M Ann Arbor, especially in quantitative courses. We strongly recommend you:

• Take a full credit load each term (usually 14-16 credits).

• Take courses that are both interesting and challenging to you. We appreciate all fields of study, as long as you challenge yourself.

• Fulfill the requirements for admission at U-M Ann Arbor, rather than transfer credits from another college.

• Take at least two rigorous quantitative courses, including the prerequisites of Econ 101 and Math 115, if you don't already have college credit for these.

YES! For current U-M Ann Arbor students, we look at your transcript after winter-term grades have been posted. Transfer applicants must complete all the course and credit requirements and submit transcripts with their transfer supplement by June 1.

No. For current U-M Ann Arbor students, we have access to your transcript already and will review it after winter-term grades have been posted. Transfer applicants will submit final transcripts with their transfer supplement by June 1.

The Ross School of Business has many academic opportunities for students not enrolled in the BBA program to engage and have a Ross experience. Students may take advantage of more formal experiences, such as the Business Minor, Cappo Sales Track, or Master of Management. Or students may choose a less formal experience and enroll in a Ross undergraduate elective course, open to all students across campus. Additionally, the university offers many pathways to business success. 

Transfer Admission will still be available for dual-degree and undecided U-M students who did not apply through First-Year Admission, and to transfer students from other colleges and universities.

Language study broadens your horizons, and many of our students find a direct benefit to language study because business operations have become highly globalized. However, language study is not a requirement for admission or graduation.

It's usually better to move on to a different course than to repeat a course, as long as you meet the admission requirements. We evaluate your overall record, not just one class, and we make some allowance for students to adjust to the academic environment at U-M Ann Arbor during their first semester on campus. In addition to academics, we consider your extracurricular involvement and your Ross application essays.

No. These are not part of the BBA application or admission review.

It is not encouraged, and the U-M Transfer Admission process is not designed for students who have previously applied. Keep in mind that the BBA curriculum is a sequenced, three-year program and cannot be accelerated.  

There are still many ways to engage with the Ross curriculum and community without pursuing the BBA. Students in this situation should reach out to RossUndergrad@umich.edu to have a conversation with an admissions team member about next steps.

Deferrals are rare and handled individually. Required military service, for example, will require official documentation at the start of your deferral term indicating the completion of your compulsory service. This documentation must be sent directly from your military department. Other instances – including, personal, family, and health issues – will be addressed on an individual basis.

Optional Essay Prompt
Briefly describe any unique personal circumstances, such as a major illness or personal tragedy, that have had a significant effect on your application credentials. Additionally, please describe any gaps in your academic record (e.g., lower course grade, taking a gap year between high school and college). If these circumstances are on-going, how will you manage them if admitted to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business?

1. Describe why you want to pursue a BBA degree at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and how the Ross experience will support your personal and professional goals. (500 word maximum)

2. Reflect on your current or ongoing involvement in a specific organization outside of the classroom. Why did you join this organization? How did you make this organization or the community better? What did you learn? (500 word maximum)

For transfer students applying for the fall of 2022, they will submit their application by March 31st under the Regular Admission process. All transfer students must also submit a Transfer Supplement by June 1.

The Transfer Supplement allows transfer students an organized way to submit final transcripts by June 1.

Yes, TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS scores are required if English is not your first language. We have an expectation that international transfer applicants already possess the language skills necessary to succeed in the program.

For transfer students entering the BBA program in the fall of 2022, there will be approximately 25 spaces. Admission is highly selective, but holistic in nature. The review process considers your level of academic achievement including course rigor and GPA, your depth of extracurricular involvement, and the strength of your application essays. Please read our Transfer Admission Application Requirements and Review Criteria for more information.

Not necessarily. It's likely that our policies on AP, IB, and A-level credits differ from the policies of your current college or university. Review the requirements for transfer admission thoroughly.

Yes. For example, a few students apply for transfer admission to the Ross School of Business and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the same time; read more on applying to other programs at U-M.

No. Due to the curriculum structure and cohort model, there is only one admission cycle each year. All admitted students start classes in the fall.

We want to see how well you perform academically while in college, especially in quantitative courses. We recommend you:

• Take a full load each term (usually 14-16 credits at U.S. colleges on the semester system).
• Take courses that are both interesting and challenging to you. We appreciate all fields of study, as long as you challenge yourself.
• Take at least two rigorous quantitative courses, including the equivalents of U-M Ann Arbor's ECON 101 and Math 115, which are prerequisites for admission.

Possibly. We are looking for evidence of academic ability reflected in letter grades, so we suggest you keep mandatory credit/no-credit courses to a minimum. In the case of optional pass/fail courses, transfer applicants must submit evidence of the actual course grades earned in their transfer supplement due June 1.

Language study broadens your horizons, and many of our students find a direct benefit to language study because business operations have become highly globalized. However, language study is not a requirement for admission or graduation. (Language study may be required in other programs at U- M.)

No. These are not part of the BBA application or admission review.

It depends, and this question is best answered after discussions with an academic advisor at your current college or university. Keep in mind that the BBA curriculum is a sequenced, three-year program and cannot be accelerated.  Thus, if students are not admitted to the Michigan Ross BBA program, we may not encourage them to re-apply, and instead to focus on a degree path that has a timely completion rate and is in your best interest. 

Deferrals are rare and handled individually. Required military service, for example, will require official documentation at the start of your deferral term indicating the completion of your compulsory service. This documentation must be sent directly from your military department. Other instances – including, personal, family, and health issues – will be addressed on an individual basis.

Optional Essay Prompt
Briefly describe any unique personal circumstances, such as a major illness or personal tragedy, that have had a significant effect on your application credentials. Additionally, please describe any gaps in your academic record (e.g., lower course grade, taking a gap year between high school and college). If these circumstances are on-going, how will you manage them if admitted to the Stephen M. Ross School of Business?