MBA in USA: Universities, Cost, Eligibility

An MBA in USA is an excellent option for international students considering pursuing higher studies abroad. The United States is one of the top choices for studying MBA abroad because of its world-ranked universities such as Stanford University; Harvard University; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), etc. MBA Colleges in USA are known for their high-quality education with impressive ROI (Return on Investment).

International students can pursue MBA courses in USA in multiple specializations. The duration of an MBA in USA is 2 years for a majority of the universities. However, some universities have an MBA duration of 1 year or more than 2 years. While the cost of education may be a little higher compared to some other countries, the potential ROI in the USA is significant. Choosing to study MBA in the USA helps students get good academic experience and further help in getting hired at the top companies. 

The US MBA Colleges average package for graduates is USD 94,000 or INR 79.40 LPA (USD 1 = INR 84.47) by Payscale. The popular companies hiring MBA graduates are Amazon, Cigna Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Accenture, the Walt Disney Company, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin Corp, UnitedHealth Group, Cargill, American Express (AMEX), etc. 

Also read: A Complete Guide on MBA in USA for Indian Students

MBA in USA Highlights 2025

There are over 650 best MBA University in USA that offer quality education to international students. The top specializations in MBA in the US are Finance, Business Analytics, Sales & Marketing, HR, etc. A majority of the universities offering MBA in USA are situated in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio, etc. Below are the MBA in the USA highlights: 

Factors	MBA in USA Highlights
Total no. of MBA colleges in the USA	650+
MBA in USA fees	First Year Fees: INR 20 L - INR 40 L or above
Top MBA in USA specializations	Finance Business Analytics Business Economics Healthcare & Hospital Sales & Marketing
Entry requirements	A bachelor's degree, GMAT, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL

Check out more about Studying in USA from here

Know the difference between MIM and MBA from the video given below: 

Top 10 MBA Colleges in the USA

The QS World University Ranking for 2025 talks about the top institutions' MBA courses worldwide. Some of the top-ranking MBA colleges in USA are Stanford, Harvard, MIT, University of Columbia, etc. Below are the top Ranked MBA colleges in the US for international students: 

University	QS Global MBA Rankings 2025
Stanford University	1
University of Pennsylvania	2
Harvard University	3
MIT University	4
Columbia University	5
Northwestern University	6
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)	7
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	8
University of Chicago (UChicago)	9
Yale University	10

Top MBA Universities in USA by Financial Times Rankings

The rankings of the top MBA in USA colleges as per Financial Times are given below:

University	Financial Times MBA Rankings 2024
University of Pennsylvania: Wharton	1
Columbia Business School	2
Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management	3
MIT: Sloan	4
Cornell University: Johnson	5
University of Chicago: Booth	6
Harvard Business School	7
Dartmouth College: Tuck	8
Duke University Fuqua School of Business	9
Yale School of Management	10

MBA in USA Specializations

Applicants from all over the world apply for admission to universities in USA to study MBA programs in multiple specializations such as Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Entrepreneurship, International Business, and many more. Below is a list of top MBA Specialisations in the US for Indian students looking to study in the country.

MBA Specializations in the USA
Finance	Business Analytics
Business Economics	Healthcare & Hospital
Sales & Marketing	Human Resources
Operations	Public Policy
Sports	Supply Chain
Entrepreneurship	International Business
IT & Systems	Project Management

MBA in USA Fees

This table provides insight into the tuition fees for MBA courses in the USA and the approximate cost of living for several top universities. MIT and Harvard University exhibit higher tuition fees, with MIT ranging having the tuition fee around INR 70.42 L and INR 64 L for Harvard University. Coming to the cost of living for MBA courses in the US also varies a it depends on the individual's spending power. Check the MBA cost in USA for Indian students from the table given below:

University	MBA 1st-Year Tuition Fee
Stanford University	INR 34 L - 1 Cr
University of Pennsylvania	INR 36 L - 71 L
Harvard University	INR 18 L - 64 L
MIT University	INR 35 L - 77 L
Columbia University	INR 44 L - 78 L
Northwestern University	INR 20 L - 95 L
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)	INR 22 L - 72 L
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)	INR 22 L - 66 L
University of Chicago (UChicago)	INR 24 L - 71 L
Yale University	INR 40 L - 72 L

Also read: MBA Fees in USA for Indian Students

Student Visa Costs for the US

All international students require a USA Student Visa to study at a university in the USA. The student visas are segregated into F1 and J1 visas. The J-1 visa, also known as the J-student visa is specially designed for international students participating in exchange programs in the United States. This visa category allows students to engage in academic or cultural exchange activities. International students who are applying for a J-1 Visa must have a sponsorship.

Coming to F1 Visa is tailored for full-time academic study in the US. One must possess Form I20, Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant Student Status. The F1 visa student fee is $185. Check more details about USA Student Visa from here. 

MBA in USA Requirements

International students must complete a bachelor's degree from a recognized institute to study MBA in the USA. They must meet the English language requirements to study in the USA. The USA MBA requirements for international students vary from university to university. However, the general entry requirements are given below: 

• A bachelor's degree
• GMAT / GRE score 
• Statement of Purpose
• At least 2-3 years of work experience
• Proof of English language proficiency test scores of IELTS or TOEFL
• Letters of recommendation (as applicable)
• CV / Resume

Here's all you need to know about GRE exam for Indian students:

 

Work Permit after Studying MBA in US

Students who want to stay in the USA after completing their MBA course need to get a post-study work visa. International students who hold an F1 Visa can complete up to one year of temporary employment directly related to a major area of study. After completing the studies, F1 visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OTP).

MBA Scholarships for the USA 

MBA Scholarships for the USA are based on the merit basis and financial needs of students, this is mainly done to make education affordable for everyone. Indian students are eligible for various scholarships in the USA for graduate Levels. Students applying to the university are also eligible for some external scholarships offered by various private entities. Here are some scholarships offered by the top MBA universities in the USA that are available for international students:

• McKinsey Award by MIT Sloan 
• HBS Forward Fellowship by Harvard University
• Columbia Business School China & India Fellowships 
• Horace W. Goldsmith Fellowship by Harvard Business School

Check Top MBA Scholarships in USA for Indian students from here

MBA in USA Jobs & Salaries

The US MBA Colleges average package for graduates is USD 94,000 or INR 79.40 LPA (USD 1 = INR 84.47) by Payscale. This is the data for a General Management degree in the US. Some of the job profiles for which the graduates can go after are Project Manager, Senior Financial Analyst, Marketing Director, Finance Manager, etc. The salary as per job profiles are given below: 

Job Titles	Average Salary
Project Manager	USD 79,490
Senior Financial Analyst	USD 81,507
Marketing Director	USD 101,947
Operations Manager	USD 83,859
Finance Manager	USD 104,980
Director of Operations	USD 99,498

Also read: Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the USA

Akanksha Malhotra12-30-2024 14:01