This page is general information, not financial advice. For decisions about borrowing, speak with your school's financial aid office and check the official federal student aid site for current rules.
Know the full cost first
Every school publishes a cost of attendance. It usually includes tuition and fees plus estimates for housing, food, books, transportation and personal costs. Ask whether it includes required trips, residencies or technology fees. For a full-time program, also count the salary you will give up while you study. That number often matters as much as tuition.
Aid from the school
Many business schools offer scholarships or fellowships. Some are based on merit, some on need, and some are tied to a field, background or career goal. Ask each school:
- Do I apply for scholarships separately, or am I considered when I apply for admission?
- Are awards renewed each year, and are there conditions to keep them?
- Can part-time, executive and online students receive the same awards?
- When will I hear about aid, compared with the admission decision?
Federal student aid
In the United States, graduate students apply for federal student aid with the FAFSA. Graduate students are generally treated as independent, so parents' information is usually not required. Federal aid for graduate students is mostly loans, and schools use the FAFSA to work out your federal aid package.
Federal law changed graduate student loans in 2025, and new rules began to apply to many borrowers from July 1, 2026. Loan types, borrowing limits and repayment plans may not match what you read in older articles. Check the current details on studentaid.gov and ask your financial aid office how the rules apply to you.
Private loans
Banks and other lenders offer private student loans. Their terms, interest rates and protections differ from federal loans, and many depend on your credit. The federal student aid site explains how federal and private loans differ. Ask your financial aid office how it handles private loans before you sign anything.
Employer help
Some employers pay part of the cost, mainly for part-time, executive and online students. Read the policy in full. Common conditions include grades, job-related courses and a promise to stay with the company for a time after you finish, with repayment if you leave early. The IRS explains how employer education help is treated for tax purposes in Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
Other sources to check
- Military and veterans' benefits. Veterans and service members can check education benefits at VA.gov and ask the school's veterans office how it applies them.
- Tax benefits. Some education tax credits and deductions may apply to graduate study. Publication 970 explains them, and a tax professional can tell you what fits your situation.
- Outside scholarships. Professional associations and community groups sometimes fund graduate study. Be wary of any scholarship service that asks you to pay a fee.
Questions for the financial aid office
- What is the full cost of attendance for my format, and what does it include?
- What scholarships can I be considered for, and how?
- Which federal aid can I receive under the current rules?
- When is aid paid out, and how are payments timed with tuition bills?
- What happens to my aid if I reduce my course load or take a break?