Key takeaways
- Published tuition runs from $83,700 (Duke) to $93,908 (Columbia) for the 2026 to 27 academic year.
- Cost of attendance adds roughly $35,000 to over $100,000 a year for housing, food, insurance and fees, depending on the school and household.
- Schools accept the GMAT or the GRE, and an English test from applicants who need one.
- F-1 students can apply for 12 months of Optional Practical Training, with a 24 month extension for STEM designated degrees.
The USA has the deepest set of two year MBA programmes, and the fees show it. Below is the tuition each school publishes, with the basis so you can compare like with like.
| School | Published tuition | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Business School | $84,760 | Tuition per academic year, 2026 to 27 |
| Stanford GSB | $89,187 | First year tuition, 2026 to 27 |
| Wharton | $87,970 | Tuition per academic year, 2026 to 27 |
| Chicago Booth | $89,976 | Tuition for the nine month year, 2026 to 27 |
| Kellogg | $88,536 | Two year MBA tuition per year, 2026 to 27 |
| Columbia Business School | $93,908 | Tuition per academic year, 2026 to 27 |
| MIT Sloan | $91,892 | Including the $2,200 annual programme fee |
| Yale SOM | $90,900 | Tuition; $91,400 with fees |
| Duke Fuqua | $83,700 | Tuition for 2026 to 27 |
| UC Berkeley Haas | $89,033 | Non resident tuition and fees, 2025 to 26 |
Cost of attendance is the number to plan with
Harvard puts its nine month cost of attendance between $130,318 and $186,312. Columbia budgets $136,104 to $151,010 for the first year, Wharton $135,441, Chicago Booth $132,449 and Duke $118,974. Stanford showed $135,771 for a single student in 2025 to 26. These budgets include housing, food, health insurance and fees, so they are the right base for a funding plan.
Aid at the top schools
Harvard says about 10 percent of students, those with the greatest financial need, receive full tuition scholarships. Other schools run merit awards and fellowships, so read each financial aid page and apply early.
Tests and English
Schools accept the GMAT or the GRE. Applicants whose degree was not taught in English usually need IELTS or TOEFL. Read GMAT or GRE to pick a test and IELTS for an MBA abroad for the English side. You can practise for free with our IELTS tests.
Working in the USA after the MBA
Students on an F-1 visa can apply for 12 months of Optional Practical Training. A degree on the DHS STEM designated list can add a 24 month extension, so ask each school whether its MBA is STEM designated. Work visa rules and fees have been changing, so read the current rules before you build a plan around staying. See work rights after an MBA abroad.
Is a two year US MBA right for you?
- It suits applicants who want an internship and a career switch.
- It costs two years of tuition and living costs plus two years without salary.
- Compare it with one year programmes in the UK and Europe.
The full table with sources is on the MBA in the USA page.
Fees change every year and each school sets its own. The figures here come from the schools' own pages and were checked in October 2026, so confirm them on the school site before you decide. This guide is for planning and is not an offer from any school.