Tuition and Financial Support

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.

Sources: Tuition and Fees Schedules; Financial Guarantee Requirements

Return on Investment

A Penn State Smeal MBA pays for itself within 3.2 years according to Forbes' 2011 rankings. As a land-grant institution, Penn State offers competitive tuition and is also recognized as a top school in return on investment (ROI). Our costs are comparatively low, and our graduates yield competitive salaries, making the Smeal MBA a great investment. Furthermore, many of our MBA students receive assistantships and scholarships, making their MBA degrees an even better investment.

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 January 11 application deadline.

Scholarships

The Penn State Smeal MBA scholarships are funded by alumni and friends of Penn State to attract outstanding students who will bring academic excellence, leadership potential, diversity and uniqueness to the class. In recent years, approximately 20 percent of incoming students have received a scholarship award, typically ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Those who apply by the January 11 deadline are automatically considered for scholarship awards.

We invite you to learn more about our generous donors who have made these scholarship opportunities possible.

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 $6,500/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 $13,000. Global Immersion costs and fees are not covered by a GA award.

Each year, approximately 35 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. Approximately 6-8 assistantships are awarded in this manner each year.

Bunton-Waller Graduate Assistantships

Bunton-Waller graduate assistantships are merit based and seek to enhance the diversity of the student population within the Smeal MBA Program. Assistantships from this program are awarded to individuals from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds with strong academic and professional potential. Factors considered in assessing each candidate’s application include quality and quantity of professional work experience, academic performance and potential as shown by transcripts and GMAT results, extracurricular & community activities, leadership potential, and the candidate’s ability to add strong and unique value to the overall class experience. Bunton-Waller graduate assistantships are awarded for two years and carry a full tuition waiver. In addition, recipients receive a monthly stipend as well as subsidized healthcare in return for working part-time for the College. The tuition waiver does not include the enrollment deposit, program fees, nor the cost of the global immersion. The Bunton and Waller Fellowship program is named in honor of the first-recorded African American male and female Penn State graduates.

NSHMBA Scholarship

The Penn State Smeal MBA program is proud to be a University Partner of NSHMBA. Qualified individuals who apply for admission to the program prior to the January 11th admissions deadline will automatically be in consideration for the Penn State Smeal MBA NSHMBA Scholarship.

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 University Office of Global Programs.