MBA Applicants are actively considering part-time MBA programs in place of a 2-year traditional full-time MBA programs. There are several factors for this preference, but one factor that stands out is the cost of the program. We shortlisted the top five part-time MBA programs and compared the costs with their full-time counterparts.
Top 5 Part-Time MBA
Our research showed that the schools that have been able to create comparable learning experiences and networking opportunities similar to full-time MBA program, were able to attract some of the best applicants. Peer-to-Peer learning is an important element in the Full-time MBA Classroom experience. It is more important in part-time MBA as the students get the chance to apply ideas immediately in their jobs.
Here are our pick for top 5 Part-time MBA
1. Kellogg
2. NYU Stern
3. Booth
4. Haas
5. UCLA
For details about each course, read Top Part-time MBA Programs
Calculation Methodology
1) When we compare part-time MBA with Full-time MBA program, we are not calculating the cost based on accelerated program option for part-time MBA where the cost is lesser than traditional part-time schedule. The number of courses in traditional part-time MBA schedule is more than the accelerated option.
2) For Full-time MBA program, we are calculating the average 2-year cost by doubling the 1-Year cost since most schools have only provided this information.
3) Most part-time MBA programs calculate the cost on a per-course basis. Other means of calculation are based on the number of years, schedules provided by the school, and how courses are combined into units.
4) For part-time MBA, the cost of traveling is not included as this component is negligible compared to full-time MBA expenses.
The notes section will have the details of how we calculated the cost for part-time MBA.
About the Author
I am Atul Jose, Founding Consultant of F1GMAT, an MBA admissions consultancy that has worked with applicants since 2009.
For the past 15 years I have edited the application files of admits to the M7 programs: Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia Business School, together with admits to Berkeley Haas, Yale School of Management, NYU Stern, Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua, Darden, Tuck, IMD, London Business School, INSEAD, SDA Bocconi, IESE Business School, HEC Paris, McCombs, and Tepper, plus other programs inside the global top 30.
My work covers the full MBA application deliverable: career planning and profile evaluation, application essay editing, recommendation letter editing, mock interviews and interview preparation, scholarship and fellowship essay editing, and cover letter editing for funding applications. Full bio with credentials and admit history is here.
I am the author of the Winning MBA Essay Guide, the best-selling essay guide covering M7 MBA programs. I have written and updated the guide annually since 2013, which makes the 2026 edition the thirteenth.
The reason I still write and edit essays every cycle: a good MBA essay carries a real applicant's voice. Writing essays for F1GMAT's Books and Editing essays weekly is how I stay calibrated to what current admissions committees respond to.
Contact me for school selection, career planning, essay strategy, narrative development, essay editing, interview preparation, scholarship essay editing, or guidance documents for recommendation letters.