The association between scholarships and MBAs in the United States

Studying an MBA in the United States involves a considerable monetary investment due to high tuition fees. These costs increase even more if we take into account the costs of living. Additionally, MBA tuition fees increase annually (Di, 2018). “Graduate degrees have become so expensive that even the upper middle class can have trouble paying for it” (Quacquarelli, 2018). Today, the best MBA programs can cost more than $150,000 USD in tuition alone

Due to high costs, the American education system relies on student loans . That although the return on investment will be worth it, they represent a burden for students, who often must work while studying to pay for their education

Over time, fewer and fewer companies have provided support for the education of their employees in terms of paying off or financing tuition in graduate programs (

Currently, companies are looking for employees with a much more global perspective. Because of this, American business schools are in direct competition with universities in other countries. For example, an advantage of studying a postgraduate degree in a place other than the United States is that in most countries postgraduate degrees last one year. This means a faster return on students' investment

It is undeniable that financial considerations are often decisive in the process of applying for, enrolling in, and maintaining an MBA (Di, 2018). Especially if you are a resident of a state other than where the target school is located and even more so if you are an international student.

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For all this, postgraduate scholarships have become, as Quacquarelli (2018) mentions, intrinsic to business schools.

Today, Business Schools want to attract the most competitive candidates, so they offer merit-based scholarships (Di, 2018). Additionally, in favor of diversity and the enrichment of perspectives in the student community, minorities are favored with special scholarships.

“In the vast majority of US Business Schools, contrary to popular perception, international students qualify for the majority of scholarships and other supports ” (Either, 2023). And generally, with admission alone, students are already considered for scholarship opportunities and merit funding offered by the School of Business.

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We share with you some business schools that offer scholarships:

Business School
The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business	Offers scholarships and leadership awards that international students can apply for. The criteria for this involve academic achievement, significant professional development, and community involvement.
The University of Chicago Chicago Booth School of Business	It provides merit-based scholarships, intended for international students who have made an impact in their country, leadership and industry recognition, as well as scholarship opportunities. All admitted students are considered for merit scholarships at the time of admission, that is, there is no additional process to apply.
Stanford University Stanford Graduate School of Business	It offers scholarships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships that international students can apply for. Additionally, it has the Stanford GBS Bold Fellows Fund, which provides financial aid to selected students.
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management	The university offers financing for international students. More than half of students receive financial support through loans or scholarships.
Harvard University Harvard Business School	The university offers financing for international students. These supports can be scholarships based on need, average or academic merit. As well as support for tuition payment. 10% of students receive a scholarship that completely covers the cost of registration.

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