Financing an MBA
If you’ve decided an MBA is the best option to further your career, it’s time to get smart about paying for it. A two-year MBA program at the most prestigious schools can cost $100,000 or more for tuition, books, and living expenses. This doesn’t even include the cost of lost wages. Even schools with less name recognition are going to cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, there is plenty of financing help available for MBA candidates. Knowing your options is the first step to researching in-depth solutions for financing your MBA ambitions.
How to Finance an MBA- Using Student Loans
No one enjoys the prospect of going into debt, but there are few better reasons to do so than enhancing your earning power with education credentials. Federal loans are typically managed by B-schools and only require you to fill out a FAFSA. These loans carry a fixed interest rate, and repayment is made as painless as possible. Paying interest while still in school is generally a good way to keep costs down and federal loans also extend a grace period and the opportunity for income-based repayment should you hit a bad patch.
Private loans take more effort to manage, but they can be better in the long run. Your credit history will be most important here. Repayment is not as flexible, and interest rates can be variable. Variable interest is definitely a bonus in a bad economy.