Master of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most sought-after degree programs in the USA and most other countries. The program guarantees a dignified and well-paid job, which is one of the primary reasons behind the course's popularity. The USA has several top-ranked universities that offer MBAs. There are over 500 universities that offer this degree program. It is also estimated that the US is the biggest MBA market in the world, with around 1,25,000 students pursuing the course annually. If you wish to pursue your MBA in the USA and want to know more about the universities, tuition fees, scholarships, career opportunities etc., you can read the blog entirely.
Table of Contents
- MBA in the USA: Course Highlights
- Why Study MBA in the USA?
- Types of MBA Programs in the USA
- Top MBA Specialisations
- Best MBA Universities in the USA
- Requirements for MBA in the USA for International Students
- English Language Requirements for MBA in the USA
- MBA in the USA: Admission Process
- MBA in the USA: Documents Required
- Cost of Studying MBA in the USA
- Scholarships for MBA in the USA
- MBA Jobs and Salary in the USA
- The USA Students Visa
MBA in the USA: Course Highlights
|
Number of universities |
500+ |
|
Top specialisations |
Finance, Marketing, IT, Entrepreneurship |
|
Average annual tuition fees |
USD 50,000 - USD 1,00,000 |
|
Tests required |
IELTS/TOEFL, GRE/GMAT |
|
Average salary |
USD 87,000 - USD 2,00,000 |
Why Study MBA in the USA?
The USA is one of the most sought-after destinations for MBA studies. The universities offer several specialisations of the program, and there are several cheap universities that you can opt for. Below are a few reasons why the USA is a leading destination for MBA studies.
- Several top-ranked universities offer this degree.
- A degree from the USA is respected and revered globally.
- The job market for an MBA graduate is good.
- There are several MBA specialisations and programs offered.
- Several universities and MBA specialisations have internship options which will give you professional experience. It will also make your resume stand out from the others.
Types of MBA Programs in the USA
The USA offers you the option to study MBA in a few forms. It is not strictly limited to a full-time two-year program. The types of MBA programs in the USA are given below.
- Full-time MBA: This is the standard two-year regular full-time MBA program that most universities offer.
- Part-time MBA: All professionals who can devote only a few hours to study can take up this program.
- Executive MBA: Those professionals who wish to take their career to the next level by gaining more knowledge can take up EMBA.
- Online MBA: This can be pursued by students from their homes online.
Top MBA Specialisations
As mentioned above, you will have a lot of MBA specialisations to choose from. The 500+ universities offer around ten specialisations. They are listed below.
- MBA in Technology Management
- MBA in Finance
- MBA in Entrepreneurship
- MBA in Consulting
- MBA in Operations Management
- MBA in General Management
- MBA in Human Resource Management
- MBA in Marketing
- MBA in Management Information Systems
Best MBA Universities in the USA
The USA has several leading MBA universities in the world that constantly appear in world university rankings. It will be helpful for you to know about the famous universities, their average tuition fees and their place in the QS World University Rankings. The table below contains all these details. You can use it for your reference.
|
Name of University |
Name of Business School |
QS Ranking 2023 |
Average Annual Tuition Fee (in USD) |
|
Stanford University |
Stanford Graduate School of Business |
3 |
USD 76,950 |
|
Harvard University |
Harvard Business School |
5 |
USD 73,440 |
|
University of Pennsylvania |
Wharton Business School |
13 |
USD 84,874 |
|
MIT |
MIT Sloan School of Management |
1 |
USD 80,400 |
|
Columbia University |
Columbia Business School |
22 |
USD 80,472 |
|
University of California, Berkeley |
Haas School of Business |
27 |
USD 38,094 |
|
University of California, Los Angeles |
UCLA Anderson School of Management |
44 |
USD 1,04,954 |
|
Northwestern University |
Kellogg School of Management |
32 |
USD 78,276 |
|
Yale University |
Yale School of Management |
18 |
USD 79,000 |
|
New York University |
Leonard N. Stern School of Management |
39 |
USD 82,326 |
Requirements for MBA in the USA for International Students
You have to satisfy a few requirements to get admission to an MBA program in the USA. These requirements may vary depending on the university chosen, but most of the criteria described below will remain the same.
- You should have completed 10+2+4 or 16 years of education. It can also be a four-year Undergraduate program that you should have completed.
- Most leading business schools ask for GMAT/GRE scores. It is always better to take the test so that it even helps to get your application shortlisted.
- You should have an IELTS score of at least 6.5 or equivalent if you are a non-native speaker of the English language.
- Some universities ask for work experience of at least three years. However, this is subject to change, and you may not even require work experience.
English Language Requirements for MBA in the USA
There are several universities in the USA that ask for an English Proficiency Test score. Before preparing for any test, ensure that your university has made it compulsory for admission and that it is accepted. The tests that you require to take for English Proficiency are listed below.
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- PTE
- C1 Advanced
- Duolingo
MBA in the USA: Admission Process
The entire admission process for MBA in the USA is divided into three stages. You should know about all the steps and stages in detail to apply them correctly without making any mistakes. The three stages are explained below.
- Pre-application: This stage includes preparing the tests and preparing all the documents.
- Application: This stage involves the entire process of application by submitting the details, uploading the necessary documents, and paying the fee.
- Post-application: This stage includes submitting the documents, getting the student visa, and paying the application fee after receiving your university's acceptance letter.
MBA in the USA: Documents Required
All international students applying for MBA in the USA should submit a few documents. In fact, the number of documents you submit will be more than those asked from domestic students. Below is a document checklist for your reference.
- All academic documents
- Statement Of Purpose (SOP)
- Experience letter, if you have work experience
- Two academic and one professional Letter Of Reference (LOR)
- Letter of Coverage that focuses on your accomplishments
- IELTS/TOEFL, GRE/GMAT test scores
- An updated CV/Resume
- Copy of student visa
- Passport-size photographs
Cost of Studying MBA in the USA
The cost of studying MBA in the USA depends entirely on the university that offers the course. The average cost of studying MBA in the USA ranges from USD 50,000 to USD 1,00,000. Those like the University of California, Los Angeles, charges a tuition fee of USD 1,04,954 per year. On the other hand, California Miramar University has a tuition fee of USD 11,111 per year. The table below shows the cost of studying in some of the affordable universities in the USA.
|
Name of University |
Average Annual Tuition Fees (in USD) |
|
Missouri State University, Springfield |
USD 22,900 |
|
Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant |
USD 18,745 |
|
Cameron University, Lawton |
USD 18,393 |
|
Lamar University, Beaumont |
USD 15,620 |
|
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona |
USD 11,898 |
|
University of Buffalo, Buffalo |
USD 23,811 |
|
University of North Carolina, Wilmington |
USD 21,628 |
|
Kentucky State University, Frankfurt |
USD 18,451 |
|
Northeastern State University, Tahlequah |
USD 17,549 |
|
University of South Dakota, Vermillion |
USD 14,106 |
|
California Miramar University, San Diego |
USD 11,111 |
Scholarships for MBA in the USA
There are several scholarships that MBA students in the USA can get, depending on their eligibility. These scholarships can be funded by private organisations, universities or the government. They will have different eligibility criteria and scholarship values. They may even cover your entire tuition and living expenses wholly or partially. A few such scholarships are given in the table below.
|
Name of Scholarship |
Name of University |
Eligibility |
Average Amount (in USD) |
|
Horace W. Goldsmith Scholarship |
Harvard University |
This is a merit-based scholarship |
USD 10,000 |
|
McKinsey Award |
MIT Sloan School of Management |
All students of the university are eligible |
USD 10,000 |
|
Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program |
Stanford University |
All students of the university are eligible |
Full funding |
|
Dean’s Scholarship |
Stern School of Business |
It is a merit-based scholarship |
Full funding |
|
Donald P. Jacobs International Scholarships |
Kellogg School of Management |
This is a merit-based scholarship |
Partial tuition fee cover |
|
Responsible Business and Community Spirit Scholarship |
UBC Sauder School of Business |
All students of the institution are eligible |
USD 10,000 - USD 60,000 |
|
Public Healthcare Scholarship |
Imperial College Business School |
It is open to students of all nationalities |
USD 10,000 |
|
Surrey MBA Scholarship |
University of Surrey |
All students of the university can apply |
Partial funding |
|
Entrepreneurship Award |
Bayes Business School |
All students of the university can apply |
30% tuition fee cover |
|
Women in Business Award |
Bayes Business School |
All female students of the institution are eligible |
30% tuition fee cover |
MBA Jobs and Salary in the USA
The demand for MBA graduates in several industries has always remained on a high end. With an MBA, you will definitely get a well-paid and dignified job in the USA and the rest of the world. It will be helpful for you to know the jobs and average salaries that MBA graduates can get in the USA. The same is given in the table below.
|
Job Role |
Average Salary (in USD) |
|
Financial Consultant |
USD 98,000 |
|
Senior Marketing Manager |
USD 1,08,000 |
|
Finance Director |
USD 98,000 |
|
Senior Product Manager |
USD 1,22,000 |
|
Product Manager |
USD 1,01,000 |
|
Finance Manager |
USD 98,000 |
|
Marketing Director |
USD 1,12,000 |
|
Financial Analyst |
USD 98,000 |
|
Senior Data Analyst |
USD 87,000 |
|
Chief Information Officer |
USD 2,02,000 |
The USA Students Visa
You should have the F-1 student visa to study in the USA. The requirements and criteria are not very rigid. You will easily get your visa approved if you meet all the requirements. It is necessary to start your visa application early so that you get your visa approved on time. The visa processing will take around 3-5 weeks. You can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week during your stay there during your semester.
You can learn more about MBA in the USA, the student visa requirements, the cost of studying in the USA etc., from our blogs. You can even consult counsellors from AECC, who are trained to help you in everything related to studying abroad. Always feel free to contact us whenever you have a doubt because one mistake can cost you much.
