When considering applying to MBA programs, one of the initial costs prospective students face is the application fee. These fees can vary significantly among different business schools, both within the United States and in Europe. Additionally, many schools offer fee waivers for applicants who demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria. Let’s delve into the details of MBA application fees and fee waivers at top business schools in the US and Europe.
Why Do Business Schools Charge an Application Fee?
Before we dive into the costs and waivers, it’s helpful to understand why these fees exist in the first place. Business schools aren’t just trying to make money; the fees serve several practical purposes:
- Cover Administrative Costs: Processing an application involves multiple people—from admissions staff who review essays and resumes to IT teams who maintain the application system.
- Filter Out Non-Serious Applicants: A fee ensures that applicants have a genuine interest in the program, which helps schools maintain a manageable and qualified applicant pool.
- Support Admissions Operations: The revenue helps fund campus visits, information sessions, and other admissions-related activities.
MBA Application Fees: Breakdown for US and European Schools
To help you budget effectively, here’s a detailed look at the application fees for leading US and European business schools
MBA Application Fees at US Business Schools
Below is a comprehensive list of MBA application fees at various US business schools:
| S. No. | Business School | MBA Application Fee ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wharton | $275 |
| 2 | Harvard Business School | $250 |
| 3 | Stanford GSB | $275 |
| 4 | Booth School of Business | $250 |
| 5 | Kellogg School of Management | $250 |
| 6 | MIT Sloan School of Management | $250 |
| 7 | Columbia Business School | $250 |
| 8 | Dartmouth Tuck | $250 |
| 9 | UC-Berkeley – Haas | $250 |
| 10 | Yale SOM | $250* |
| 11 | Michigan Ross | $250 |
| 12 | Duke Fuqua | $225 |
| 13 | Virginia Darden | $250 |
| 14 | Cornell Johnson | $250 |
| 15 | UCLA Anderson | $200 |
| 16 | NYU Stern | $250 |
| 17 | CMU Tepper | $200 |
| 18 | UT Austin McCombs | $200 |
| 19 | UNC Kenan-Flagler | $150 |
| 20 | Indiana – Kelley | $75 |
| 21 | Washington – Foster | $90 |
| 22 | Georgetown – McDonough | $175 |
| 23 | Rice – Jones | $200 |
| 24 | USC Marshall | $200 |
| 25 | Georgia Tech – Scheller | $95 (domestic), $105 (international) |
| 26 | Washington – Olin | $0 |
| 27 | Michigan State – Broad | $85 |
| 28 | Arizona State – Carey | $70 (domestic), $115 (international) |
| 29 | Minnesota – Carlson | $75 |
| 30 | Wisconsin School of Business | $75 |
| 31 | Vanderbilt – Owen | $200 |
| 32 | Ohio State – Fisher | $60 |
| 33 | Penn State – Smeal | $85 |
| 34 | Purdue – Krannert | $60 (domestic), $75 (international) |
| 35 | Maryland – Smith | $75 |
| 36 | Boston – Questrom | $125 |
| 37 | Texas-Dallas – Jindal | $75 |
| 38 | Texas A&M – Mays | $125 (domestic), $200 (international) |
| 39 | Boston College – Carroll | $100 |
| 40 | SMU – Cox | $0 |
| 41 | Rutgers | $0 |
| 42 | Emory – Goizueta | $175 |
*Note: Some schools offer fee waivers or reduced fees for certain applicants.
- Variability in Fees: The MBA application fees in the US range from $0 (for schools like Washington – Olin and SMU – Cox) to $275 (Wharton and Stanford GSB). This indicates a significant disparity in costs among top MBA programs.
- Common Fee Range: Many prestigious business schools like Harvard, Booth, Kellogg, MIT Sloan, and Columbia charge around $250 for their application fees.
- Fee Waivers: Several schools offer fee waivers for applicants facing financial constraints or for specific demographics. For example, Washington – Olin and SMU – Cox offer their applications for free.
- International Applicants: Some schools differentiate fees between domestic and international applicants, with higher fees for international candidates. Georgia Tech – Scheller, Texas-Dallas – Jindal, and Texas A&M – Mays are examples of this.
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MBA Application Fees at European Business Schools
In Europe, the application fees for MBA programs also vary:
| Business School | MBA Application Fee (EUR/GBP) |
|---|---|
| INSEAD | €250 |
| Oxford SaĂŻd | ÂŁ75 |
| Cambridge Judge | ÂŁ165 |
| London Business School | ÂŁ200 |
| HEC Paris | €200 |
| IE Business School | €150 |
| IESE | €200 |
| ESADE | €135 |
| ESSEC | €130 |
| IMD | CHF 150 |
| Imperial College | ÂŁ150 |
- Comparable Fees: The application fees at top European business schools generally fall within a similar range, from around €130 to €250, with some exceptions.
- Fee Waivers: IMD stands out by not charging any application fee. This could be a strategic move to attract a larger pool of applicants.
- GBP vs. EUR: Schools like Oxford SaĂŻd and Cambridge Judge charge their fees in GBP (ÂŁ), whereas most others use the Euro (EUR).
- Consistency in Fees: Unlike some US schools that have varying fees based on residency, European schools generally have consistent fees for all applicants.
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How to get an MBA Application Fee Waiver
When applying to MBA programs, the cost of application fees can quickly add up. However, there are several avenues you can explore to secure fee waivers, making the application process more affordable. Here are eight ways to obtain an MBA application fee waiver:
Financial Hardship
- Reach out to the admissions office of your desired business school and request a fee waiver if you’re experiencing financial hardship.
- Yale SOM explicitly offers fee waivers for applicants facing financial difficulties, with the standard application fee being $250.
| Income Level | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| < $50,000 | $175 |
| < $25,000 | $125 |
High GMAT Score
- Some schools may grant fee waivers to applicants with high GMAT scores. While not explicitly mentioned, you can inquire about this option with the admissions office.
Attend Webinars or Visit Campus
- Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools offered full or partial fee waivers to applicants who attended webinars or visited campus.
- Schools like Cornell Johnson and Duke Fuqua provide fee waivers in exchange for participating in their events.
MBA Admissions Events and Fairs
- Attend MBA fairs and admissions events, where you can inquire about fee exemptions.
- Events like The MBA Tour, Forté Forums, and Forté MBALaunch (for women candidates) can offer valuable opportunities for fee waivers.
Forté MBA Launch Program
- FortĂ© Foundation’s MBALaunch program supports women candidates in their MBA journey and offers fee waivers for participating schools.
- Eligible candidates can apply for the program and receive waivers from various business schools.
US Ethnic Minorities
- Organizations like The Consortium and Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) aim to increase the representation of ethnic minorities in MBA programs.
- The Consortium enables applicants to apply to multiple schools with waived fees, while MLT fellows receive fee waivers from participating schools.
US Military
- Active-duty military personnel and veterans of the US military often qualify for fee waivers at most business schools.
- Harvard Business School, for example, waives fees exclusively for active-duty military members.
Teach for America, Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps
- Some schools offer fee waivers to current or former participants of Teach for America, Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps.
- Yale SOM and NYU Stern are among the schools providing waivers to current corps members or alumni of these organizations.
MBA Application Fee Waiver Policies
Now let’s discuss the MBA application fee waiver policies at top US and European business schools.
MBA Application Fee Waiver Policies at Top US Business Schools
| Business School | Fee Waiver Policies |
|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | – Active-duty military applicants, past SVMP participants do not pay the application fee and need based application fee waiver |
| Stanford GSB | – Reduced Fee: $100 for qualified candidates. – Waived Fee: For active-duty U.S. military service members or veterans: – Provide proof-of-service statement or letter, dated within the last 45 days – Copy of most recent enlistment contract, dated within the last 365 days – Copy of TA form showing date of separation (if applicable) – Copy of most recent Leave and Earnings statements showing Estimated Time of Separation, dated within the last 45 days; waived for Latin Americans making less than US $40,000 per year; need based |
| Chicago Booth | – Active-duty, reservist, or military veteran; -Full-time enrollee in an undergraduate program (non-University of Chicago student); -Government or nonprofit employee; -University of Chicago employee; -University of Chicago current student (all degree-granting programs) |
| Kellogg | – Active duty U.S. military applicants or U.S. military veterans within three years of applying – Candidates employed by Teach For America or the Peace Corps within the past three years |
| MIT Sloan | – Current Peace Corps Members; -Veteran or Active Duty U.S. Military Personnel |
| Columbia | – Full-time students – Active-duty US military personnel – Peace Corps members – Teach For All network partners currently in service – Applicants must email a fee waiver request and proof of service to apply@gsb.columbia.edu and explain their need for a fee waiver in the optional essay. |
| UC Berkeley-Haas | – U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are active participants of AmeriCorps or Peace Corps, U.S. military service members, or those qualifying based on financial need as determined by Estimated Family Contribution. |
| Dartmouth Tuck | – Automatically waived for Tuck Business Bridge graduates and U.S. military personnel. – Waived upon request for Forté MBA Launch program completers; -Citizens of countries on the United Nation’s list of “Least Developed Countries”; -Tuck Business Bridge Alumni; -U.S. Military Veterans |
| Yale SOM | – Sliding-scale application fee structure based on annual compensation. Standard fee: $250. – Fee waivers for: – Active U.S. military members or veterans – Current Teach for America, Teach for China, or Teach for India members or alumni – Current or former Forté MBALaunchers – Current or former Forté Rising Stars – Current or former Peace Corps volunteers – Current Yale graduate students – Current Yale undergraduate students – Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) MBA Prep Fellows – Alumni of Girls Who Invest-Alumni and current students of nearly 700 US colleges and universities that have significant initiatives to promote economic diversity, including institutions where at least 35% of students receive Pell Grants -QuestBridge college seniors and alumni- Current Admit.me Access Fellows. Applicants must request a fee waiver within 48 hours before the application deadline. |
| Michigan Ross | – Waived for active members and veterans of the U.S Military (provide military orders or DD-214). – Waived for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America volunteers who have served within the past three years. – Waived for currently enrolled students in a University of Michigan graduate degree program; -Citizens of a country on the United Nations’ list of least-developed countries – verified at time of applicationStudents currently awarded a Fulbright Scholar to attend graduate school in the United States; -Students who applied to the Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA within the past five years and are submitting an application for this enrollment term; Applicants who register and attend at least one Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA event before submitting their application |
| Duke Fuqua | – Eligible for fee waiver if: – Member of any nation’s military (active duty, active reserve, or honorably discharged/completed service within three years) – Active participant or alumnus/alumna of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America – Approval from Fuqua Admissions Committee – Attendee of specified events – Recommendation from current Fuqua student or alumnus/alumna – Member of qualifying organizations: Forté, Posse Foundation, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, Riordan Fellows Program, Choctaw Nation, Graduate Horizons, JumpStart Advisory Group – Member of Diversity Events: The Duke MBA Workshop for Minority Applicants, The Duke MBA Weekend for Women, The Duke MBA LGBT Weekend, The Duke MBA Veterans Symposium |
| Virginia Darden | -UVA alumni and current UVA graduate students; -Any alumni from any college/university in the commonwealth of Virginia (any degree program); -Reapplicants (from Darden’s most recent application cycle); -First Generation college students; -U.S. Military Veterans/Active Duty Service members; -Confirmed In-Person Event Attendees in the 2025-2026 Application Cycle (between May 2025-April 2026); -Confirmed Virtual Webinar Attendees in the 2025-2026 Application Cycle (between May 2025-April 2026) |
| Cornell Johnson | -United States military service members and veterans; -Forté MBALaunch participantsCurrent or former Peace Corps volunteers; -Alumni of Teach for America; -Current Cornell students applying for admission as part of a Johnson MBA dual-degree program |
| NYU Stern | – U.S. military members or veterans – Teach for America and Teach for India program alumni – Forté MBALaunch alumnae – Severe economic hardship cases considered on a case-by-case basis |
| UT McCombs | – Qualifying criteria: Veteran or current U.S. military service member, Teach for America participant, Forté MBA Launch participant; -Fulbright participant (current or alumnus); -Access Fellow; -Former Pell Grant Recipient |
| UNC Kenan Flagler | – Active duty U.S. military or veteran; active participant in Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach for America; Forté MBA Launcher, Access member or Access Fellow, or attend a qualifying admissions event |
| Georgetown McDonough | – Automatically waived for: Active duty, reservists, or veterans of the U.S. military; -Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) Fellows; -Forté MBA Launch participantsMembers of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM); -Current and returned Peace Corps volunteers; -AmeriCorps and Teach for America participants or alumni; -Re-applicants;- Admit.Me Fellows;-Current and recently separated federal civil employees and contractors;- Citizens of countries on the United Nations’ list of least developed countries;- Applicants applying to more than one Georgetown MBA program (Full-time MBA, Flex MBA, and Flex MBA Online programs)*– Application fee reduction Members of Forté; -U.S. citizens and permanent residents who earn less than $30,000 per year; -Non-U.S. citizens who earn less than $15,000 per year in U.S. dollars |
| Rice Jones | – United States military personnel (active duty or veteran); -FortĂ© Foundation MBALaunch members; -Consortium applicants; -MD/MBA dual degree program applicants; -Rice University alumni; -Prospective students referred to us by alumni through the Build the Class program; -Prospective students who attend an admissions event |
MBA Application Fee Waiver Policies at Top European Business Schools
| Business School | Application Fee Waiver Policy |
|---|---|
| INSEAD | No Waiver information |
| LBS | – Application to the MBA is free to London Business School alumni and current active military candidates. |
| Oxford SaĂŻd | – Residents of low-income countries listed in the application form can request a fee waiver within their online application. – Eligible countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, (The) Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Korea (DPR), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia. |
| Cambridge Judge | – Some applicants exempted from paying application fee as part of the University’s commitment to widening access at postgraduate level. – International applicants from certain countries listed Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Democratic Republic), Djibouti, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, State of Palestine, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), Tanzania (United Republic of), Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Yemen, Zambia |
| IESE Business School | No Information on Application fee waiver |
| IE Business School | No Information on Application fee waiver |
| HEC Paris | No Information on Application fee waiver |
| ESSEC | No Information on Application fee waiver |
| ESADE | No Information on Application fee waiver |
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FAQs
Q: What is the average MBA application fee for US business schools?
A: For the 2024 application cycle, the average MBA application fee for top US business schools typically ranges from $150 to $275. Elite programs like Harvard and Stanford often charge at the higher end of this spectrum, around $275 per application.
Q: How can I get an MBA application fee waiver?
A: There are several proven ways to secure an MBA application fee waiver:
– Attend school-sponsored online webinars or in-person events
– Demonstrate financial need through a formal request
– Qualify through military service or non-profit work
– Apply through organizations like the FortĂ© Foundation or The Consortium
– Achieve a high GMAT/GRE score (merit-based waivers)
– Simply ask the admissions committee via a polite email
Q: Do European business schools offer application fee waivers?
A: Yes, many leading European business schools like INSEAD, LBS, and HEC Paris offer application fee waivers through similar channels as US schools, particularly for event attendees, consortium applicants, and those demonstrating financial need. Always check each school’s admissions website for their specific policy.
Q: Does receiving a fee waiver affect my admission chances?
A: No. Admissions decisions are made independently of fee waiver requests. The waiver process is handled administratively, and requesting one will not negatively impact your application evaluation.
Q: Which Business School charges the highest MBA application fee?
A: Currently, schools like Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business have among the highest application fees at $275. Some European programs like INSEAD also charge €260 (approximately $280).
Q: How much can I save with application fee waivers?
A: Significant savings are possible. If you apply to 5-8 schools with average fees of $200-$275 each, securing waivers can save you between $1,000 and $2,200 in total application costs.
Q: When should I request an application fee waiver?
A: It’s best to request a waiver several weeks before the application deadline. This gives the admissions team time to process your request and provide you with a code, ensuring you can submit your application on time.
Q: Can I get a fee waiver after submitting my application?
A: Typically, no. Fee waivers must be approved and applied before you submit your application and make payment. Once an application is submitted with payment, the fee is generally non-refundable.
Q: Are fee waivers available for international applicants?
A: Yes, international applicants are eligible for most types of fee waivers, particularly those based on event attendance, merit (high test scores), or through partner organizations like Forté. Need-based waivers may have specific eligibility criteria for international students.
Final Thoughts : MBA Application Fees
In conclusion, navigating the MBA application process can be both financially and logistically challenging. However, by understanding the landscape of MBA application fees and fee waiver options, you can make the process more manageable.
When applying to top US business schools, be prepared for a wide range of application fees, reflecting each school’s prestige and processing costs. Some schools, like Wharton and Harvard, have higher fees, while others offer more affordable options. Additionally, consider exploring fee waiver options based on financial need, high GMAT scores, or attending events like webinars or campus visits.
The application fee landscape for European business schools varies, with some offering waivers to alumni or applicants from specific countries with financial need. Whether it’s through alumni status, military service, or residency in certain countries, there are avenues to explore to lessen the financial burden of applying.
Remember to review each school’s individual fee waiver policies carefully and take advantage of any opportunities available to you. By doing so, you can maximize your chances of gaining admission to your desired MBA program without breaking the bank.
Don’t Let Finances Delay Your MBA Dream
Smart planning can get you fee waivers, let AdmitStreet’s strategic guidance get you acceptances. We’re with you all the way.