Berkeley Haas MBA: Cost Breakdown and Funding Tips

In this in-depth cost breakdown of Berkeley Haas MBA and funding tips to cover the $240,000 to $270,000 total expenses, we cover:

•    Tuition Fees (Berkeley Haas MBA)
•    Total Cost (Berkeley Haas MBA) (1 Year)
•    What is the total cost of Berkeley Haas MBA
•    Berkeley MBA Cost: 2025-26 VS 2024-25
•    Berkeley Haas MBA Funding Tips
•    Berkeley Haas MBA Scholarships
•    Berkeley Haas MBA Fellowships - Details
•    Berkeley Haas MBA Loans Options
•    Berkeley Haas MBA Other Funding Options
•    Berkeley Haas Loan Repayment Assistance Program 

Tuition Fees (Haas MBA)

The 1-year tuition and Fees of the Berkeley Haas MBA program for the year 2025-26 are $76,788 and $89,033 for CA residents and Non-residents, respectively.

Total Cost (Haas MBA) (1 Year)

The one-year total cost for California residents and non-California residents in the Berkeley Haas MBA Program is $121,410 and $133,655, respectively. This total cost includes Housing and Food Charges ($29,008), Books and Supplies ($752), Transportation ($3,768), Health Insurance ($7,848), and Personal Expenses ($3,246). 

The cost listed here is for nine months; therefore, students opting for summer courses or internships must add the expense of $14,874 for the three months.

The above budget excludes the cost of student activities, which are not required of all students. This could cost up to $25,000 for the entire duration of the Full-Time MBA Program at Haas.

In many cases, US citizens or Permanent Residents may be eligible for California Residency as early as their second year of graduate school. For such students, it is highly advised to pursue this option because it may result in lower student fees. By obtaining a Residency, students will save approximately $4,000 in tuition.

One more fee not included in the total cost is the one-time Document Management Fee of $111 for the fall semester. 

What is the total cost of Berkeley Haas MBA

The total two-year cost of the Berkeley Haas MBA program is $242,820 for CA Residents and $267,310 for non-CA residents.

Here, in the table, we can see the HAAS MBA Cost Breakdown for 2025-26.

Berkeley Haas MBA Cost: 2025-26 VS 2024-25

The cost of attending the Berkeley Haas MBA program has increased noticeably for the 2025–26 academic year across nearly all categories, reflecting broader trends in inflation, student service enhancements, and healthcare adjustments. 

A detailed comparison between the 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years reveals both moderate and steep hikes in certain components of the overall student budget.

Tuition and Fees – 4 to 5% Inflation

Tuition and Fees for California residents have risen from $73,160 to $76,788, marking a 4.96% increase, while non-resident students face a 4.25% increase, from $85,406 to $89,033. This suggests that the rate of tuition increase was slightly steeper for in-state students this year, though non-residents continue to pay a higher overall amount.

Housing and Food Costs – 2.04% Inflation

Housing and Food, a major living expense, has increased from $28,428 to $29,008, a modest 2.04% rise, suggesting relatively stable rental and food costs in Berkeley, at least when compared to tuition hikes.

Books and Supplies – 2.45% Inflation

The cost of Books and Supplies shows a minor increase from $734 to $752, a 2.45% rise, which likely reflects adjustments in course material pricing or updated estimates rather than structural cost changes.

Transportation Cost - 2.34% Inflation

Transportation costs have gone from $3,682 to $3,768, which represents a 2.34% increase—a relatively small change, potentially accounting for minor adjustments in local transit fares or car-related costs.

Health Insurance – 21.8% Increase

A significant cost escalation is seen in Health Insurance, which jumps from $6,442 to $7,848, a sharp 21.8% increase. This may stem from broader healthcare inflation or an upgrade in coverage under the UC SHIP plan, making it the most substantial individual category increase.

Personal Expenses – 2.4% Inflation

Personal Expenses—covering discretionary spending and incidental needs—have grown modestly from $3,170 to $3,246, a 2.4% increase, likely tracking general inflation.

California Residents – 5.01% Inflation

Bringing all these components together, the total budget for California residents has increased from $115,616 to $121,410, an overall rise of 5.01% year-over-year. 

The most significant contributors to this increase are tuition and health insurance, suggesting that while core academic costs continue to rise steadily, student healthcare provisions are experiencing a more pronounced uptick. In contrast, housing, transportation, and personal costs have only modestly changed, providing some consistency in the non-academic cost structure of the MBA program.
 

Related: Haas MBA Cost Trends

Berkeley Haas MBA Funding Tips

Approximately 70% of Full-time MBA students are getting some form of financial aid. 

Federal and private loans, instructorships, and Haas Scholarships are among them.

For the academic year 2024-25, Haas awarded $13 million in scholarships for students joining the Full Time MBA Program.

Rather than the University's Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, the Haas office is the primary point of contact during students' time at Berkeley Haas.

Berkeley Haas MBA Scholarships

The Haas School of Business offers a diverse array of scholarships and fellowships, reflecting its commitment to equity, academic excellence, industry leadership, social impact, and financial accessibility. 

There are 48 unique funding options available to MBA students, categorized into various groups: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarships, Academic Excellence or Industry Scholarships, Need-Based Awards, Supplemental Scholarships, Special Fellowships, Continuing Student Scholarships, and Funding Administered by Other Departments. 

Out of the 48 scholarships, 16 scholarships do not require any separate application and are awarded on a merit basis.

Diversity and global representation are strong themes throughout Haas’ funding ecosystem. The school offers targeted scholarships for students from Poland, Ukraine, China, Latin America, Asia, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as well as California-born students, LGBTQ+ students, women in business, and children of immigrants. There are also specific grants, such as the FUNED Grant for Mexican students and the MasterCard Foundation Scholarship for African students, reflecting an inclusive, global approach.

Finance, Real Estate,  Entrepreneurship and Healthcare - Largest Beneficiaries 

In terms of sectoral support, Haas provides dedicated scholarships for students in finance (e.g., Finance Fellowships, C&J White Fellowship), real estate (e.g., Falik Family, Gerson Bakar, Jon Q. Reynolds), entrepreneurship (e.g., Brian Maxwell, Larson, Hansoo Lee), healthcare (e.g., Rashell Young Fellowship), EdTech, and mental health. There are also fellowships linked to social innovation and organizational leadership, such as the Ray Miles Award and the DK Kim Fellowship.

Haas also offers continuing student awards, recognizing achievements during the MBA, such as critical thinking, startup engagement, or summer internships. Examples include the PEL/Dumke Award, Priya Haji Award, and Jacobs EdTech Fellowship. Notably, several awards like the Critical Thinking and Ray Miles fellowships are based on performance during the program rather than incoming profiles.

See the full analysis: Criteria and Total Amount for Haas MBA Scholarships and Fellowships

Need-based and Full-Cost coverage at Berkeley Haas MBA is Impressive

Need-based and full-cost coverage scholarships are also prominent. 

The Berkeley MBA Grant, Jimenez Family Fellowship, and Ma McFarland Fellowship support students based on financial need. Meanwhile, the Consortium Fellowship covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for two years for students committed to diversity in leadership. The Native American Opportunity Plan ensures full tuition and student services fee coverage for eligible California residents.

The funding amounts vary, with many unspecified (likely determined case-by-case), while a few explicitly list amounts: the Haas–FUNED Grant offers $10,000 annually, Finance Fellowships offer $5,000, and the Falik Family Fellowships range from $5,000–$10,000. Others, like the Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship Program, provide $5,000 in seed funding.

Haas' emphasis on Geographic Diversity misses targeting applicants from South Asia and the Middle East

Despite Haas’ emphasis on diversity, its geographic scholarship coverage is relatively limited. Most region-specific awards are concentrated in a few areas like Latin America, Africa, and China, while large applicant regions such as South Asia and the Middle East are notably absent. 

Berkeley Haas MBA Loans Options

MBA loans are a viable option after exploring scholarship opportunities. Berkeley MBA students with full-time enrolment have three loan options: federal, private, and international student loans. 

Berkeley Haas also offers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for candidates entering non-profit/government and other social impact-related but relatively lower-paying roles.

The terms and conditions of federal and private loans differ. Students should compare loan programs before accepting a loan offer (opens in a new tab). 

Most U.S. financial institutions require only creditworthiness, and some may require a U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner. 

Despite market changes, the Haas School of Business has provided a risk-share loan borrowing option for international students each year.

Federal Loans: Berkeley participates in the William D. Ford Federal Loan Program, which allows U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents, and Eligible Non-Citizens to borrow directly from the federal government.

The annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit is $20,500 (divided over two terms) per academic year. During enrollment periods, interest is not compounded or capitalized; accrued interest is capitalized when students enter repayment.

The Direct Graduate Plus Loan allows students to borrow the remaining Cost of Attendance per academic year. During enrollment periods, interest is not compounded or capitalized; accrued interest is capitalized when students enter repayment.

Private Loans: HAAS has compiled a comprehensive Preferred Lender list (PLL) in collaboration with the UC Office of the President, with fixed rate options, variable rate options, and interest payment (while in school) options. The selection process considered HAAS students' pricing, service, and technology needs.

International Loans: The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley has partnered with lenders for international students who do not have a cosigner. The lender was chosen based on their ability to make loans at reasonable interest rates to students who are not eligible for federal loans and do not have access to a creditworthy U.S. cosigner. 

For the 2025-26 academic year, three funds are recommended by the Financial Aid office although the terms are negotiated by the students. 

The three loan options for International Haas MBA Students with no co-signer in the US are: 

1)  College Ave International MBA Loan: The loan covers upto $94,000 with a fixed interest rate of 11.25%, a 15-year repayment and a 9-month grace period

2)  Prodigy Finance

3)  MPower Financing
 

Haas MBA Other Funding Options

Aside from scholarships and traditional student loans, there are other ways to fund education. 

Students can get a lower interest rate than the current federal loan programs and with private lending programs in some cases.

Home Equity Line of Credit: If a student already owns a home, they can take the benefit of a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) to cover their MBA tuition costs. Since there is collateral on this loan, namely a student home, a low interest rate is possible depending on their credit. The advantage is a lower interest rate; however, this loan will be repaid immediately.

Borrowing Against Retirement: If students have been contributing to a retirement plan, they may be able to borrow against it for educational purposes. Interest rates are usually reasonable. For assistance, students can contact a financial planner or another relevant professional.

529 Savings Plan: A 529 Plan is an education savings plan run by a state or educational institution that assists families in saving for future college costs. The beneficiary and the account owner can be the same person. Since typically, the account is opened with meeting educational expense goals in the short-term, the portfolio managed under the plan are also conservative in nature.

HAAS Loan Repayment Assistance Program

The Haas Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is formulated to assist recent graduates of the Full-time MBA program who are working in the public or nonprofit sectors, as well as in social impact, where pay is typically lower than in the private sector. 

Graduates who have incurred significant debt due to their education may feel constrained in their employment choices due to the need to repay that debt. The Haas LRAP offers financial assistance to help with these employment decisions. 

Professional Degree Fee (PDF) is currently used to fund the program.

The LRAP will only reimburse payments made on loans (private and federal) borrowed during and to fund study in the Haas Full-time MBA Program. This includes the following:

•    FTMBA Loan
•    D.K. Kim Loan
•    Federal Direct Loan
•    Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
•    Risk-share loans for international students
•    Private loans certified by the Haas Financial Aid Office

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Reference

• Berkeley Haas MBA