International Students
International Students
International Students in Graduate Business Programs
Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business (RCB) welcomes international students to its graduate business community. This page focuses on students who need Rowan sponsorship for F-1 status.
Use this page to compare eligible graduate business programs, plan for MBA Foundation requirements, understand the Business Certificate of Graduate Study pathway, and find the Rowan office or resource that owns your next step.
Start with Your Next Step
Choose the information that matches your current decision or student stage.
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Review the MBA, STEM MBA, and Business COGS options that support a Rowan-issued Form I-20.
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Understand Foundation limits and the Business COGS secondary-program option before you apply.
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Connect with graduate business onboarding, academic guidance, and International Center resources.
Graduate Business Programs That Support F-1 Study
RCB currently supports Rowan-issued Forms I-20 for the graduate business options below. Review the program pages for curriculum and degree details. Contact International Admissions before applying if you need help choosing among them.MBA: 30-Credit and 36-Credit Options
Rowan’s MBA program offers 30-credit and 36-credit degree requirement options. Both support F-1 study. Review the MBA program pages to compare the academic requirements and flexibility of each option.
STEM MBA
The STEM Master of Business Administration program (STEM MBA) is a separate 36-credit program with defined STEM-designated coursework. Use the STEM MBA program page for current program and application guidance.
Business Certificate of Graduate Study
The 9-credit Business Certificate of Graduate Study (Business COGS) is a stand-alone graduate credential and a possible pathway toward later MBA admission. All five Business COGS courses can be accepted into the 30-credit MBA, 36-credit MBA, or STEM MBA if the student later meets the applicable admission requirements and is admitted.
Programs That Do Not Support F-1 Study
The MS Finance, MS in Organizational Leadership, and RCB graduate business certificates other than the Business COGS do not support a Rowan-issued Form I-20. International students who do not require Rowan sponsorship for F-1 status may have additional program options and should contact International Admissions.
Program Eligibility and Course Modality Are Not the Same
A program may support a Rowan-issued Form I-20, but an individual schedule must also meet current F-1 enrollment and course-modality requirements. Confirm your plan with International Admissions and, after admission, the International Center.
Plan for MBA Admission and Foundation Requirements
Graduate Business Foundation requirements help students enter MBA coursework with the baseline knowledge needed for success. RCB evaluates MBA admission eligibility using the coursework and academic records included with the submitted application.
Foundation courses completed after an application is submitted do not change the admission decision for that application. They may support a future application.
Applicants With Up to Two Outstanding Foundations
International applicants seeking Rowan sponsorship for F-1 status may be admitted directly to the MBA or STEM MBA with no more than two outstanding Foundation requirements. Admitted students may complete those Foundations during their first two semesters.
Completing Foundations before the first semester is not required, but doing so may expand course eligibility and create more flexibility in course sequencing.
Applicants With Three or More Outstanding Foundations
Applicants with three or more outstanding Foundation requirements based on the coursework submitted with the application are not eligible for direct MBA or STEM MBA admission through that application. They may complete approved Foundation requirements before applying or consider the Business COGS as another graduate business starting point.
Consider the Business COGS Pathway
Select Business COGS as a Secondary Program of Interest
On the current MBA application, applicants may select the Business COGS as a secondary program of interest. RCB considers the applicant for the MBA first. If the applicant is not eligible for direct MBA admission but qualifies for the Business COGS, RCB may offer admission to the COGS through the same application review.
Selecting the Business COGS as a secondary option does not weaken MBA consideration. It can eliminate the need to create a second application and complete a new admission review.
Applicants who do not select the Business COGS as a secondary option may still receive information about the COGS after an MBA denial. To pursue that route, they must create a separate Business COGS application and complete a new admission review.
Apply to an MBA After the Business COGS
The Business COGS allows students to begin graduate business study and earn a 9-credit credential while preparing for a future MBA application. All five Business COGS courses can be accepted into the 30-credit MBA, 36-credit MBA, or STEM MBA if the student is later admitted.
After completing the Business COGS, students must submit a new application to the MBA or STEM MBA. Admission to the Business COGS does not guarantee later MBA admission.
F-1 students may have no more than two outstanding Foundation requirements when submitting the later MBA application. Students who entered the Business COGS with three or more outstanding Foundations must complete enough during the COGS so that no more than two remain before applying.
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Minimum 3.5 Business COGS GPA | Students must earn a minimum 3.5 GPA in the Business COGS to be considered for later admission to the 30-credit MBA, 36-credit MBA, or STEM MBA. They must also meet all other applicable admission requirements. Meeting the 3.5 minimum makes a student eligible for consideration but does not guarantee admission. |
Minimum 3.5 Business COGS GPA | Students must earn a minimum 3.5 GPA in the Business COGS to be considered for later admission to the 30-credit MBA, 36-credit MBA, or STEM MBA. They must also meet all other applicable admission requirements. Meeting the 3.5 minimum makes a student eligible for consideration but does not guarantee admission. Plan Foundations and Full-Time Enrollment Carefully
Business COGS course sequencing and full-time enrollment feasibility depend on completed Foundations, graduate-course prerequisites, and available sections. Foundation courses completed outside Rowan do not count as Rowan enrollment. Students should confirm an individualized academic and F-1 enrollment plan before registering.
Apply and Connect with Graduate Business Admissions
International Admissions manages international application processing, credential requirements, admission documents, and international applicant support. Contact International Admissions before applying if you need help selecting a program, understanding Foundation implications, or considering the Business COGS pathway.
Use the Graduate Business Admissions page for current application guidance and information-session opportunities.
For current STEM MBA program and application guidance, use the STEM MBA program page.
After Admission: Complete Both Onboarding Tracks
International graduate business students complete the same core RCB onboarding steps as other newly admitted students. They also complete international student requirements through the International Center.
Complete Graduate Business Onboarding
Use the Newly Admitted Students page to respond to your offer, activate Rowan access, connect with academic support, prepare for registration, and confirm first-term readiness. Continue with the Graduate Business Student Handbook for advising, registration, Foundation review, academic planning, and policies.
Review Newly Admitted Student StepsComplete International Student Requirements
Use the International Center as the authoritative source for the Form I-20, F-1 status, arrival and check-in requirements, full-time enrollment rules, travel, and immigration advising.
Guidance for Current International Students
Academic planning and immigration planning are connected, but different teams own the detailed guidance. Use the resources below throughout your program.
Academic Planning and Graduate Business Support
Use the Current Students page and Graduate Business Student Handbook for advising, registration, DegreeWorks, Foundation planning, degree progress, policies, and ongoing RCB support.
Full-Time Enrollment and Status Maintenance
F-1 students must follow the International Center’s current enrollment and status requirements. Course modality, prerequisites, program changes, and Foundation completion may affect an individual plan.
CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT
The International Center owns guidance for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), STEM OPT, and other employment authorization. The STEM MBA may support a STEM OPT extension for eligible students, subject to federal requirements and individual eligibility.
International Student Questions and Support
Prospective Students and Applicants
For international application, program selection, Foundation planning, and Business COGS pathway questions, contact International Admissions at international@rowan.edu.
Newly Admitted and Current Students
For F-1 status, Form I-20, enrollment compliance, CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, and other immigration questions, contact the International Center at rowanic@rowan.edu.
For graduate business academic onboarding and advising, start with the Newly Admitted Students page or Graduate Business Student Handbook and connect with your assigned Academic Advisor or Rowan Online Success Coach through Rowan Success Network. For additional RCB assistance, contact GraduateBusinessStudies@rowan.edu.
