As an applicant to the four-year JD/MBA program, you must apply and be admitted separately by the Kelley School and the Maurer Law School, meeting the minimum requirements for admission to each program, including competitive LSAT and GMAT or GRE scores and informing both schools of your intention to pursue the four-year JD/MBA program.
- Tuition and financial aid: The MBA flat tuition fee and MBA program fee will be assessed for all semesters in which you are enrolled exclusively in MBA courses. Similarly, you will pay the Law School flat fee during the semesters you are enrolled exclusively in law courses and are enrolled in 9 or more law credit hours. During semesters when you are enrolled in both MBA and law courses, you will be charged a blended MBA/JD per credit hour rate. Loans and financial aid awards will be coordinated by the schools; candidates offered admission will be automatically considered for merit-based awards offered by each school. The criteria for the award of financial aid are the same as for all other graduate students. Please contact Janice Brown, Associate Director of MBA Financial Aid, at janibrow@indiana.edu or 1-800-994-9622 with questions or Paul E. Leopold in the Law School at pleopold@indiana.edu or (812) 855-4765.
- Admission prerequisites: Neither the Law School nor the Kelley School requires specific undergraduate majors or undergraduate coursework as prerequisites for admission for the four-year JD/MBA. Admission criteria for each school can be found at:
- Separate applications required to each school: You must apply to each school separately. On each application, or through an application addendum, indicate that you wish to be considered for the three-year JD/MBA program. It is possible for applicants to be admitted to one school and not the other. Applicants admitted to both schools could also potentially be considered for the four-year JD/MBA program rather than the three-year program.
- What to do if you’ve already applied to one school: Simply apply to the other school, and inform both schools that you wish to be considered for the four-year program.
- Application fee and waiver information: You must pay each school’s application fee. The Law School will waive the application fee in certain circumstances, including financial need. To seek a fee waiver, call the Law School Admissions Office at (812) 855-4765 and ask for a fee waiver application.
- LSAT and GMAT (or GRE) are required: You must take both the LSAT and GMAT or GRE. Test dates and registration information for each are available at their respective websites:
- Application deadlines and how to choose: The Law School offers admission on a rolling basis—submitting an earlier application is always better. The MBA Program offers multiple deadlines.
- Diversity considerations: Both schools consider diversity factors when making admission decisions, per Indiana University policy. The factors include, but are not limited to economic, educational, racial or cultural factors.
- Computer requirements and wireless internet availability: Both schools require that you have a laptop computer. The Kelley School requirements are much more specific and meet the requirements of the Law School—you should follow the Kelley School’s specifications, which will be provided to you as an incoming student. The Bloomington campus has total wireless coverage.
- Schedule a visit to both schools: Contact the respective admissions offices to schedule a visit and to:
- Sit in on classes
- Speak to students
- Tour our facilities
- Have an interview
MBA Admissions: Plan a visit online or call 812-855-8006 or 1-800-994-8622.
Law Admissions: Contact 812-855-4765 or lawadmis@indiana.edu
The Law and Business Schools are within walking distance of one another.
Common Questions
- Can I change my mind and switch to the three-year program at any point in the program? While students can move from the three- to the four-year program, you cannot move from the four- to the three-year program once studies have begun, due to the intense schedule of the curriculum.
- Can I work during the academic year? Yes, the four-year program offers some flexibility, but may be more challenging to complete successfully if you have other major time commitments.
- Are positions as teaching assistants or research assistants available to students in the program? Yes. Four-year JD/MBA students are considered for teaching assistantships and research assistantships along with all other degree-seeking students in the MBA and Law Programs.
The four-year JD/MBA joint degree program consists of a mix of required and elective courses, providing a foundation of knowledge in law and business with the flexibility to take courses that meet your specialization goals. Normally, the first year of the program is spent in the School of Law, followed by a full year in the Kelley MBA Program. Students spend their third and fourth years dividing their enrollment between the two schools to complete coursework in their particular specialization.
Graduation Requirements
Joint-degree candidates take 79 required credit hours in the Law School and 42 credit hours in the Kelley School of Business for a total of 121 credit hours. Of the 42 business credit hours you are required to take, 21 of the hours are required courses. For the remaining 21 credit hours, you can pursue a business major. No law course credit counts toward the MBA part of the joint degree.
Common Curriculum Questions
- Can I participate in a law journal and moot court program within the law school? Four-year JD/MBA students can participate in a law journal or moot court program, schedule permitting.
- Will I be able to participate in semester abroad or summer abroad programs of either school? Yes—you can participate in a semester or summer abroad program, though curriculum requirements may make this challenging. Plan for study abroad far in advance, and know it will limit your ability to take other elective courses.
- Will I be able to take the courses which are typically covered on bar exams? You will be able to take courses typically covered on the bar exam, but the exact courses you are able to take, will depend on each semester’s class schedule.
- What are my MBA major options? JD/MBA students have the option of pursuing a standard MBA major, but are encouraged to design their own major to provide greater flexibility in course selection. You can choose to concentrate on coursework in various tracks including entrepreneurship, corporate governance and investment banking, however this is not required.
- Will I be able to participate in the MBA Academies? Yes. Since the JD/MBA has limited elective coursework, Academy participation provides invaluable specialized business experience and knowledge.
- Are there preparatory courses or self-study recommendations for those without a business background? The Kelley School offers online diagnostics and preparatory “Jump Start” courses, designed to prepare incoming students for the rigors of the Kelley MBA Program. For more information, contact the Kelley Admissions Office at 1-800-994-8622, 812-855-8006 or iumba@indiana.edu. Incoming students may want to take an accounting course, business statistics course, and become comfortable with Excel’s advanced functions.
Gain experience during a law clerkship and business internship
As a four-year JD/MBA student, you have the same access to summer opportunities as traditional students in the Law and MBA programs.
Pursue a job in both business and law
You will have a full law and business degree upon graduation. However, to practice law, you will also need to take and pass the bar examination of the state in which you plan to practice law.
Job search assistance
These sites also provide statistics on salary, employment rates and geographic distribution.
