How to Apply to Marquette University: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law School Pathways

Marquette University runs separate application processes for each degree level, so the right entry point depends on what you're applying for: first-year or transfer undergraduates apply through Marquette's undergraduate admissions, most master's and doctoral applicants apply through the Graduate School, graduate business applicants apply through the Graduate School of Management (GSM), and law applicants apply through Marquette University Law School. The university's site also lists dentistry as a distinct application area. Below is how each pathway is organized and what to confirm before you start.

Undergraduate applicants (first-year and transfer)

Marquette treats first-year and transfer students as two groups within the same undergraduate admissions process.

• Who it's for: Students applying for a bachelor's degree who have not yet enrolled at Marquette, whether coming straight from secondary school or transferring from another institution.
• Where to start: The undergraduate admissions section of marquette.edu, which links to the application itself.
• What to expect: The site presents undergraduate admissions as a single funnel — learn about the process, then "start your application process" from that page.

Before applying, check the admissions pages for the specific materials and deadlines that apply to your situation, since first-year and transfer requirements can differ.

Graduate School applicants

If you're pursuing a master's, doctoral, or other graduate degree outside of business, the Graduate School is your entry point.

• Scope: Marquette states it offers more than 90 graduate program opportunities.
• Where to start: The Graduate School application page, reached from the main admissions menu.
• What to do first: Identify your specific program, since requirements and deadlines are typically set at the program level rather than uniformly across all graduate offerings.

Graduate business applicants (Graduate School of Management)

Graduate business programs are handled separately from the rest of the Graduate School.

• Who it's for: Applicants to Marquette's graduate business programs (for example, MBA or specialized business master's degrees).
• Where to start: The Graduate School of Management application page.
• Why it's separate: GSM has its own admissions page and application link, so business applicants should not route through the general Graduate School application.

Law School applicants

• Who it's for: Applicants to Marquette University Law School.
• Where to start: The Law School's own admissions and application page, linked from the main admissions menu.
• Note: Law is listed as its own application area alongside undergraduate, graduate, and graduate business admissions.

Dentistry

Marquette's admissions menu also lists Dentistry as a separate application area. If you're applying to a dental program, use that pathway rather than the general graduate application.

Quick comparison

What to verify before you apply

The site's admissions pages are the authoritative source for each pathway, but the homepage excerpt does not spell out deadlines, fees, test requirements, or required documents. Before submitting, confirm on the relevant admissions page:

• Application deadlines for your specific program and entry term.
• Required materials (transcripts, test scores, essays, recommendations) — these vary by program.
• Whether an interview or portfolio is expected, particularly for graduate and professional programs.
• Contact information for the admissions office handling your pathway, in case your situation doesn't fit the standard categories.

Marquette's own framing is that students come to "build meaningful careers, lead purposeful lives and transform the world around them" — but the practical first step is simply choosing the correct application portal for your degree level, since the four pathways above do not share a single form.