MBA guides
What to know before you apply, written for people who are smart but new to the process. Each guide links to the school data it relies on rather than quoting numbers that go stale.
Admissions
Admissions GMAT vs GRE for MBA Admissions: Which Test Should You Take? Most MBA programs accept the GMAT and the GRE equally. Pick the test where you can score higher relative to each school's class profile, then commit to it. Updated Nov 4, 2026 Admissions MBA Essays That Get Interviews: What Admissions Committees Want Strong MBA essays are specific, honest and consistent with your goals and recommendations. Learn what committees screen for and a process to draft and edit. Updated Nov 4, 2026 Admissions MBA Application Timeline: A 12-Month Plan From Test to Decision Start about a year before your deadline: test first, recommenders early, essays over the summer. Here is how the rounds work and a month-by-month MBA plan. Updated Nov 4, 2026
Cost & ROI
Cost & ROI How Much Does an MBA Cost? Tuition, Living Costs and Lost Pay The full cost of an MBA is tuition and fees plus living costs plus the salary you give up. Here is how schools build their budgets and how to compare them. Updated Nov 4, 2026 Cost & ROI MBA Scholarships and Fellowships: How to Win and Negotiate Aid MBA aid comes as merit scholarships, need-based fellowships, external awards and employer sponsorship. Here is how each works and how to negotiate offers. Updated Nov 4, 2026 Cost & ROI Is an MBA Worth It? How to Weigh the Cost Against the Payoff An MBA is worth it when the career it unlocks pays back tuition, living costs and lost salary within a timeframe you accept. Here is how to run the math. Updated Nov 4, 2026
Programs
Programs How to Choose an MBA Program: A Practical School-Selection Guide Choose an MBA program by working back from your career goal, then judging recruiting, location, culture, net cost and format. Rank should come last, not first. Updated Nov 4, 2026 Programs Online vs Full-Time MBA: How to Choose the Right Program Format Full-time MBAs suit career switchers who need internships; part-time and online MBAs suit people who want to keep earning. Compare costs, recruiting and fit. Updated Nov 4, 2026