Wichita State University's W. Frank Barton School of Business holds dual AACSB International accreditation in both business and accounting, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of business schools worldwide, and offers the largest selection of AACSB-accredited undergraduate business degrees in Kansas, including the state's only BBA in entrepreneurship. This guide covers WSU's undergraduate business degrees specifically (Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Hospitality, Human Resource Management, International Business, IT/Management Information Systems, Management, and Marketing); WSU's MBA and other graduate business programs are a separate admissions track not covered here.
This guide covers admission requirements, fees, how to get in, English proficiency rules, and career outcomes for WSU's undergraduate business programs.
Acceptance Rate
WSU does not publish a school-specific acceptance rate for the Barton School of Business, and we were unable to verify a reliable third-party figure for the school either. What is verifiable:
- Undergraduate admission to WSU, including the Barton School's BBA programs, follows the university-wide model: international freshmen can be admitted via a grades-based pathway (final high school transcript, no SAT/ACT required) or a test-based pathway (SAT 1060+/ACT 21+ with section minimums), rather than a business-school-specific comparative review.
- Most Barton School BBA majors admit directly from WSU's general undergraduate application without a separate, additional business-school application layer at the point of first enrollment, though some upper-division or accelerated bachelor's-to-master's tracks (such as Business Analytics) may carry program-specific progression requirements once enrolled.
Because admission runs through WSU's general undergraduate criteria rather than a school-specific competitive process, well-prepared applicants meeting WSU's standard requirements are admitted at a high rate.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
Barton School of Business students pay WSU's standard international undergraduate rate; the school does not carry a separate, higher tuition band for its BBA programs. Based on WSU's own International Education office figures for 2026-2027:
| Cost item (9-month academic year) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | ~$20,100 |
| Housing & meals | ~$12,700 |
| Books | ~$1,200 |
| Medical insurance (mandatory) | ~$2,300 |
| Total estimated cost (without scholarship) | ~$36,300/year |
| Total estimated cost (with Global Select Scholarship) | ~$30,800/year |
For the full 12-month year including summer, WSU estimates roughly $46,500/year without scholarship or $39,700/year with the Global Select Scholarship. New students also pay a one-time $200 International Enrollment Fee and $150 Orientation Fee. The Barton School separately reports distributing over $1,000,000 annually in its own scholarships, including named awards like the Clay Barton Scholarship ($50,000) and Fran Jabara entrepreneurship scholarships (up to $36,400), which are worth investigating directly since eligibility and amounts vary by award and aren't part of WSU's standard international cost estimate above.
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate (BBA, all majors)
- Completed international application through WSU's undergraduate/Intensive English track
- Final official high school transcripts (grades-based pathway) or qualifying SAT (1060+, 490+ per section) / ACT (21+, 18+ per section) scores (test-based pathway)
- Certification of Financial Support and financial documentation
- English proficiency test results, or eligibility for conditional admission via the Intensive English Language Center
- No separate business-school application or supplemental essay is required at the point of first enrollment for most BBA majors; students typically declare a Barton School major directly on the general WSU application
Because some accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathways (for example, Business Analytics) and specific concentrations may carry their own progression GPA requirements once enrolled, confirm current departmental policy directly with the Barton School's undergraduate advising office if you're targeting one of those tracks.
How to Get Into Wichita State's Barton School of Business
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Use the grades-based pathway if your high school transcript is strong. As with the rest of WSU, a solid final high school transcript alone can be enough to gain undergraduate admission without SAT or ACT scores, which is a lower bar than most US business schools with a separate admissions review.
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Pick a major with your career goal in mind, not just "Business Administration" by default. The Barton School offers named tracks like Finance, Accounting, International Business, Entrepreneurship, and IT/Management Information Systems; choosing the closest-fit major from the start avoids a later internal transfer and keeps your progression toward AACSB-accredited coursework on schedule.
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Use the Intensive English Language Center pathway if your English score isn't there yet. Students who meet WSU's academic requirements but fall short of the English proficiency minimum are placed into conditional admission and move into their BBA program once proficiency is demonstrated.
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Engage with the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) early, not in your final year. The Barton School runs a dedicated Business Career Fair and professional-development events (the EDGE Academy) that are far more useful to first- and second-year students building a recruiting pipeline than to seniors starting from zero.
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Look into Barton-specific scholarships separately from WSU's general international scholarship offers. Since the school distributes over $1,000,000 annually through its own named awards, applying for these directly (rather than assuming they're automatic) can materially reduce your total cost.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
Barton School BBA programs follow WSU's standard university-wide undergraduate thresholds; there is no separate, higher bar specific to business.
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | 72 (pre-Jan 2026); 4 (redesigned scale) |
| PTE Academic | 49 |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 |
Applicants who fall short of this threshold but meet WSU's academic requirements are placed into conditional admission through the Intensive English Language Center, then move into their BBA program once proficiency is demonstrated (or after passing WSU's own on-arrival English Proficiency Examination). For the full breakdown of WSU's testing policy and conditional admission routes, see Wichita State University: Acceptance Rate, Fees, IELTS/TOEFL Requirements, and How to Get In.
Career Outcomes
WSU's Barton School of Business did not have a single published, citable figure for graduate employment rate, average starting salary, or a named list of top recruiting employers at the time of writing; we recommend confirming current figures directly with the Barton School's Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) for the most accurate, current-year data. What is verifiable:
- The Barton School holds dual AACSB International accreditation in both business and accounting, a distinction held by fewer than 1% of business schools globally, which carries real weight with employers who specifically screen for AACSB-accredited degrees.
- The school runs a dedicated Office of Career and Professional Development, including an annual Business Career Fair and the Professional Edge program, aimed at building recruiting pipelines before senior year rather than at graduation.
- Programs like the Barton International Group (real-world business strategy consulting) and the Widener Global Leaders Program give students applied, resume-relevant project experience alongside coursework.
- Business degrees are not STEM-designated in the way engineering or computer science degrees are, so most Barton School BBA graduates are not eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension; standard 12-month Optional Practical Training still applies to eligible graduates. (WSU's Business Analytics accelerated track may carry different classification depending on how the specific degree is coded; confirm directly with the program and WSU's international student office if STEM OPT eligibility is a deciding factor.)
If career placement data is central to your decision, we recommend requesting current outcomes directly from the Barton School's OCPD before enrolling, since a comprehensive, program-wide published figure was not available at the time of writing.
FAQ
Does WSU publish an acceptance rate for the Barton School of Business? No. WSU does not release a school-specific rate. Admission runs through WSU's general undergraduate criteria (grades-based or test-score pathway) rather than a separate business-school review.
Is the Barton School of Business AACSB-accredited? Yes, and specifically it holds dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, a distinction fewer than 1% of business schools worldwide hold.
Does this guide cover WSU's MBA program? No. This guide is scoped to undergraduate (BBA) admission. WSU's MBA and other graduate business programs run a separate application process and are not covered here.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for Barton School business programs? The university-wide undergraduate thresholds apply: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72 (4 on the redesigned scale). Students who fall short can use the Intensive English Language Center conditional admission pathway.
How much does a business degree cost at WSU for international students? Total estimated cost of attendance is roughly $36,300/year without scholarship, or about $30,800/year with WSU's Global Select Scholarship, using the university's standard international undergraduate cost estimate; business does not carry a separate, higher tuition band.
Do Barton School graduates qualify for STEM OPT? Generally no. Most BBA degrees are not STEM-designated, so standard 12-month OPT applies rather than the 24-month STEM extension; the accelerated Business Analytics track may be classified differently, so confirm directly with WSU if this matters to your plans.