HAYS, Kan. -- Business graduates from Colorado's Metropolitan State College of Denver can now get on a fast track for admission to Fort Hays State University's Master of Business Administration program.

FHSU President Edward H. Hammond and Metro State President Stephen M. Jordan signed a cooperative agreement today at the Auraria campus of Metro State.

The agreement means that qualified Metro State bachelor's graduates in business will have their applications processed immediately. The fast track applies to either the on-campus or the FHSU Virtual College MBA program.

"At Fort Hays State we believe in access to education for anyone who wants an education," said Hammond. "This new agreement with Metro State, which also believes in the accessibility of higher education, will help their business graduates advance in their careers with a minimum delay between the undergraduate degree and beginning work on their MBAs."

To qualify for the fast-track program, applicants must have a bachelor's degree in business from Metro State, complete all required admissions application materials, and score at least 990 on the MBA admissions formula. The score is computed by multiplying the applicant's undergraduate GPA by 200 and adding the GMAT score. Applications meeting that requirement are processed immediately and admission is granted to the applicant, either on campus or online through FHSU's Virtual College.

"This agreement is another aspect of our engagement with our neighbors in the region and in the world," said Hammond. FHSU has educational agreements in place in Asia and Europe and with the U.S. military. The agreement with Metro State also includes an option for tuition reimbursement for teaching in China.

The online MBA program through FHSU's Virtual College is rated a Best Buy by the consumer watchdog and advocacy group geteducated.com.

Metro State is Colorado's leader in educating in-state undergraduates and is one of the largest four-year public colleges in the nation. Fort Hays State has nearly 25,000 alumni living and working in Colorado's Front Range.