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

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

Check the video below for GMAT Score to Get into Top B-Schools:

MBA in USA Highlights 2025

There are over 650 best Business Schools in the USA for MBA 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 the USA are situated in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio, etc. Universities mainly admit students based on their academic excellence, leadership potential, relevant work experience, and English language proficiency. Below are the highlights of an MBA in the USA: 

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

QS World University Ranking is a globally recognized ranking platform, used as a trusted source by employers and students. The rankings done by QS are based on various factors like Employability, ROI, Career outcomes, Class and faculty diversity, and academic reputation. The QS World University Ranking for 2025 talks about the top institutions' MBA courses worldwide. Some of the top-ranking MBA colleges in the USA are Stanford, Harvard, MIT, University of Columbia University, 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 the USA by Financial Times Rankings

Financial Times MBA ranking considers post-graduate career outcomes like salaries and job outcomes, academic excellence, diversity, sustainability factors, and alumni networking that reflect ROI and overall societal impact. This balanced approach aims to deliver an overall picture of top business schools. The table below includes the top business schools according to the Financial Times MBA 2025: Business Schools rankings. As pr the recent data, The Wharton School grabs the top position, followed by Columbia Business School and MIT Sloan.

Top Universities for MBA in the USA	Financial Times Business School Rankings 2025
The Wharton School, UPenn	1
Columbia Business School	2
MIT Sloan	6
Kellogg School of Management, UNorthwestern	10
Fuqua School of Business, Duke University	11
Harvard Business School	13
Cornell University	13
UC Berkeley: Haas	15
University of Chicago (Booth)	17
UCLA Anderson School of Management	19

Top MBA Specializations in USA

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

Cost of Studying MBA in USA

This table provides insight into the tuition fees for MBA courses in the USA and the approximate cost of living for several top universities. Stanford Business School stands at the highest position and is one of the most expensive universities for MBA in USA. MIT and Harvard University exhibit higher tuition fees, with MIT 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 the 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 for MBA in USA

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 sponsor.

Indian students aspiring for a full-time MBA in the USA should apply for an F-1 visa. Students must acquire the I-20 form, which would be issued by the university they are admitted. Then they would be required to pay a SEVIA I-901 fee of USD 350 (INR 30.5 K) for them to register in the US System. After this, they would be required to fill out the DS-160 form and pay the visa application fee of USD 185 (INR 16.15 K). After this, candidates must go for a visa interview at the US embassy carrying documents like academic records, financial proofs, and test scores.

Check more details about USA Student Visa from here. 

(USD 1 = INR 87.27)

MBA Requirements for USA

 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 4-year bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0. Highly competitive programs might demand a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• GMAT / GRE score: Top business schools demand a GMAT score of 650-740, GRE, if accepted, a competitive score is required of 315 - 330+ 
• Statement of Purpose, highlighting career goals and leadership qualities
• At least 2-3 years of work experience (some top business schools might demand work experience of 4-6 years)
• Proof of English language proficiency test scores of IELTS or TOEFL
• 2-3 Letters of recommendation (as applicable)
• CV / Resume
• Financial documents

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

Work Permit after Studying MBA in USA

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 12 months of temporary employment directly related to their degree. After completing the studies, F1 visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). During this period, students can gain work exposure in the USA and earn experience, which would help them gain long-term employment in the country. After the exhaustion of the OPT, students can transition to an H-1 B VISA, which can be sponsored by their employer. However, there should be regular filing of the H-1 B sponsorship by their employer, which would improve the candidate's chances of staying back for a long-term career in the US.

CPT / OPT Specifics:

Indian students can opt for a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during their MBA in USA to work or intern during the degree if the experience is counted as a part of the curriculum, which is often used for summer internships.
Indian students, after graduation, can opt for Optional Practical Training (OPT) that provides them with 12 months of work authorization after graduation and allows students to work temporarily in the country to gain work exposure in the USA. For Indian students with STEM-MBA tracks like Data Analytics and Information Systems management, a 24-month STEM-OPT is available, allowing them a total of 36 months of work authorization in the country

MBA Scholarships in USA 

Pursuing an MBA in USA can be considered extremely expensive, costing Indian students over INR 60 - 80 L. MBA Scholarships for the USA are based on a merit-based and the financial needs of students, which 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 the 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 82.03 LPA (USD 1 = INR 87.27) 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 is given below: 

Job Titles	Average Salary
Project Manager	INR 70 L
Senior Financial Analyst	INR 71.1 L
Marketing Director	INR 88.9 L
Operations Manager	INR 73.2 L
Finance Manager	INR 91.6 L
Director of Operations	INR 86.8 L

Job Recruiters after MBA in USA:

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. Below are some of the leading companies of different industries after MBA in USA:

Sectors	Recruiting Companies
Consulting	McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture, PwC
Tech / E-Commerce	Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook
Finance	Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank
Others	Johnson & Johnson, Cisco, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, AT Kearney

Also read: Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in the USA

Shreya Basu08-21-2025 20:41