Tuition and Financial Support

Penn State Smeal ranks among the top programs in the United States for return on investment according to publications such as Forbes and BusinessWeek. Many of our MBA students also receive assistantships and scholarships, making Smeal even more affordable.

Tuition and Expenses

Below are estimated tuition expenses for the current academic year. Estimated housing expenses are based on on-campus graduate housing fees, which may be lower than off-campus options.

Financial Support

Smeal offers scholarships and assistantships to many students each year. They are awarded based on merit using the admission-process criteria that considers academic ability, work experience, leadership skills, and overall fit with the program.

All applicants are automatically considered for funding and there is no additional application for these awards. For full consideration, candidates should apply by the February 1 application deadline.

Scholarships

Funded by alumni and friends of Penn State to attract outstanding students, these one-time awards typically range from $5,000 to $12,000. In recent years, approximately 20 percent of incoming students have received a scholarship.

Assistantships

Assistantships are two-year awards funded by Penn State to attract outstanding students and to provide support to fulfill the University's Mission. Recipients work 10 hours per week for the Smeal College with responsibilities ranging from assisting faculty to working in one of Smeal’s research centers.

In return, students receive a 100 percent waiver of tuition, subsidized health insurance, and a stipend of approximately $6,000/academic year. In a student’s second year, the assistantship may be adjusted to twenty hours per week with a corresponding doubling of the stipend to approximately $12,000.

Each year, approximately 40 assistantships are awarded within a typical incoming class. If a student is not awarded an assistantship for the first year, there are additional opportunities to obtain an assistantship position in the second year. For the 2007/2008 academic year, an additional 15 assistantships were awarded in this manner.

Other Financial Aid Opportunities

Additional need-based financial aid, including student loans, is available for U.S. citizens through the Penn State Office of Student Aid. Additional financial aid information for international students is available online through the Penn State Office of International Student Services.