Tuition and Financial Aid

More than 50% of part-time MBA students receive full- or partial tuition support from their employers, according to a recent survey by GMAC. Check with the HR department of your company, agency or government office for your specific benefits.

• Third party payer is available if your employer agrees to pay at time of course registration. The MBA program office can help you write a business case justification.
• Reimbursement directly to you after the course is completed is common. The MBA program office can provide documentation needed to show course, grade, etc. per semester.
• Federal guidelines currently exclude up to $5,250 of educational assistance received from your taxable income. Be sure to understand tax implications for any benefit you may receive.

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available, allowing you to take a full-time course load (12 credits in a semester) while working for the program 20 hours per week. Most tuition and fees are covered, you earn a monthly stipend and are eligible for a favorable rate to purchase health care as a graduate student. The time commitment as a graduate assistant is sizable (12 hours of class time + 24 hours outside of class time for reading, assignments, etc. + 20 hours of faculty support), so this option only applies to those without a simultaneous paid work commitment (job). If you are interested, please contact the MBA program office at mba@vt.edu.

The Pamplin College of Business offers nominal merit-based scholarships to assist working professionals earn their MBA while continuing their careers. Scholarships may be offered to returning students in the program who demonstrate a high level of academic performance. Scholarship amounts are determined based on availability and the number of qualified recipients. Typically, scholarship amounts range from $1,000-$3,000.

All scholarship applicants must be regular-status students (not provisional or Commonwealth). Students must have and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for scholarship consideration. Students do not need to file a FAFSA to be eligible for scholarship consideration.

If you are a graduate or professional student, you can borrow up to $20,500 each year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Direct PLUS Loans can also be used for the remainder of your college costs not covered by other financial aid. For information about qualifying for federal aid and filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, please visit the Federal Student Aid site.

The Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid at Virginia Tech is also a resource.

If you’ve served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill here. The Office of Veterans Services at Virginia Tech provides support to veteran and military students, and helps coordinate your educational benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged investment vehicle designed to encourage saving for the future higher education expenses of a designated beneficiary. This can be a pre-paid or savings vehicle. Please contact your state Department of Education for additional information.

As an employee of Virginia Tech, you may be eligible for tuition reimbursement, per University Policy 4800: Tuition Assistance and Reimbursement Program for Salaried Employees. This may be up to twelve (12) credits per year and the benefit may have tax implications. The MBA program office works loosely with the Office of the Bursar and the Division of Human Resources to ensure the Virginia Tech employee is supported in the process of applying for and receiving the benefit.