Which MBAs Get the Biggest Write-Downs
Sticker price doesn’t tell the full story. Juno member data shows how financial aid varies widely across top MBA programs, and why net cost, not brand name, ultimately determines ROI.
Juno Team
Jan 08, 2026
What Juno’s Member Data Reveals
MBA sticker prices get the headlines. Financial aid is what actually determines how much you pay.
Using anonymously submitted financial aid offers from Juno members, we analyzed what domestic students were offered at top U.S. MBA programs. This is real, self-reported data from admits who used Juno during the financing process, not published averages or marketing figures from schools.
A clear pattern emerges. Some elite programs meaningfully offset their cost. Others may balance ROI with higher expected incomes.
The Most Generous Financial Aid Offers
Based on Juno member submissions, several programs stand out for the highest average financial aid offers to domestic students.
- NYU Stern averages roughly $150,000 in financial aid.
- Columbia Business School averages around $100,000.
- UC Berkeley Haas comes in near $80,000.
- Washington University Olin averages approximately $77,500.
- Northwestern Kellogg and Stanford GSB both average around $75,000.
- Columbia Business School averages around $100,000.
- UC Berkeley Haas comes in near $80,000.
- Washington University Olin averages approximately $77,500.
- Northwestern Kellogg and Stanford GSB both average around $75,000.
At these schools, financial aid can materially change the ROI equation, even when tuition is high.
Solid Financial Aid at Other Top Programs
Several other top programs still provide meaningful aid, though typically less than the most generous tier.
- Harvard Business School and the University of Virginia Darden both average around $70,000.
- Rice Jones averages roughly $68,000.
- UNC Kenan-Flagler averages about $64,000.
- Rice Jones averages roughly $68,000.
- UNC Kenan-Flagler averages about $64,000.
These offers reduce borrowing, but often still leave a substantial funding gap to finance.
Limited Aid at Other Highly Regarded Programs
A few well-known programs tend to offer lower average aid, increasing reliance on loans.
- Duke Fuqua and MIT Sloan both average around $60,000.
- Yale SOM averages closer to $50,000.
- Texas McCombs averages approximately $30,000.
- Yale SOM averages closer to $50,000.
- Texas McCombs averages approximately $30,000.
At these schools, financing strategy matters more, especially for students without savings or employer sponsorship.
Why This Matters
Two admits with similar profiles can graduate with very different debt loads based entirely on financial aid. That difference compounds for years.
As federal graduate loan limits tighten starting in 2026, understanding net cost, not sticker price, matters more than ever. When evaluating the ROI of an MBA program, it is also critical to factor in the expected income increase after graduation.
Where Juno Fits In
Juno is the leading loan option for top MBA programs in part because of the depth of our member data. Thousands of MBA admits share real financial aid offers and loan outcomes anonymously, giving future students a clearer picture of what schools actually cost.
That transparency helps students borrow less, plan smarter, and avoid surprises.
The bottom line is simple. The best MBA deal is rarely the one with the biggest brand. It is the one with the strongest mix of outcomes, aid, and financing.
Written By
Juno Team
Juno came into existence to help students save money on student loans and other financial products through group buying power by negotiating with lenders. The Juno Team has worked with 200,000+ students and families to help them save money.
