Stanford MBA Cost Breakdown

In this in-depth analysis of the Stanford MBA Total Cost, we cover: 

• Stanford MBA - Tuition Fees
• Stanford MBA (Total Cost) (1-Year)
• Stanford MBA (Total Cost) (2-Year)
• Stanford MBA Cost: 2024-25 VS 2025-26
• Stanford MBA - Financial Aid
• Stanford MBA - Fellowships, Scholarships and Stipends
• Stanford MBA Loans and Loan Forgiveness

Stanford MBA (Tuition Fees)

For the academic year 2025-26, the Stanford MBA tuition fee saw a 4% increase, reaching $85,755 for single and married students. 

Stanford MBA(Total Cost) (1-Year)

The 1-year cost of a Stanford MBA includes the tuition fee ($85,755), living Expenses ($19,464 for single students and $36,072 for married students), Housing ($21,507 for single and $32,055 for married students), Medical insurance ($8,232), and Health Fees ($813) make the total Stanford Full-time MBA fee for one academic year to $135,771 for single students and $162,927 for the married students.

Loan Eligibility Costs Calculated Based on expenses of a Single Student

For a married U.S. citizen or permanent resident, attendance and loan eligibility costs are calculated based on the cost for a single student. However, fellowship eligibility will be evaluated by the cost of attendance for married students. This total fee also does not include the expenses related to Global experiential learning, which may range from $4000 to $6000.
Need-based fellowship recipients may be eligible for extra grant funding for up to 40% of authorized costs for one qualifying trip.
 

Stanford MBA (Total Cost) (2-Year)

By doubling the total fee for one academic year and adding the Global Experience Requirements expenses, the total 2-year fee of the Stanford MBA program comes to be $2,76,542 for single students and $330,854 for married students.

Here, we summarize the 1-year total fees for the Stanford MBA program for both single and married students.
 

Stanford MBA Cost: 2024-25 VS 2025-26

The cost comparison between the 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years at the Stanford MBA program reveals a consistent increase across all budget categories for both single and married students. 

Tuition Fee Increase - $3,300

Tuition has risen from $82,455 to $85,755, reflecting a $3,300 increase. Living expenses and housing have also increased moderately, with single students seeing a combined rise of $1,083 and married students facing a larger combined increase of $1,779 due to higher household needs. 

Medical Insurance Cost - Highest among all expense Categories by Percentage Increase

Medical insurance premiums rose from $7,620 to $8,232 for all students, and the campus health fee increased slightly from $783 to $813. Overall, the total estimated cost for single students grew from $130,746 to $135,771, while for married students it rose from $157,206 to $162,92, an increase of $5,025 and $5,721 respectively. These upward adjustments reflect inflation, increased service costs, and adjustments in student support and infrastructure.

Stanford MBA - Financial Aid

Financial help is available to all MBA students who have proven financial need, regardless of citizenship. Through a combination of student loans and significant fellowship prizes, Stanford GSB assist in funding an MBA degree.

Stanford MBA - Fellowships, Scholarships and Stipends

Nearly half of Tuition Covered by Fellowships - For Eligible Students

Fellowships are donations from the GSB community that are not required to be repaid. For the class of 2024, the average Stanford GSB fellowship was around $42,000 per year, totaling $84,000 for the 2-year MBA program. A combination of fellowships and loans pays the shortfall between the expected student contribution and the cost of attendance.

Low-Income Fund

BOLD Fellows fund: Eligible candidates include those who come from low-income families or from families facing socioeconomic disadvantage. This could be inter-generational wealth disparities or other circumstances, with the amount awarded typically at $15,000 per fellow a year or around $30,000 per fellow's two-year MBA program. 

Multidisciplinary and Multicultural Scholarship

Knight-Hennessy Scholars program is another scholarship program that cultivates and supports a highly engaged, multidisciplinary, and multicultural community of graduate students throughout Stanford University. 100 students are selected for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program which not only receives up to 3 years of funding but also is an experiential leadership development program.

Stanford GSB also offers financial support to members of the veteran community through its Yellow Ribbon/Military Program.

Other scholarships, fellowships, and financial aid programs supported at Stanford include Employer Sponsorship, External scholarship (includes international and US citizens/permanent residents’ external scholarships), Summer Stipends (MBA students pursuing a summer internship in non-profits or working on social impact/government projects, or pursuing entrepreneurial goals), and Career Supports (Financial support to MBA students pursuing careers in the non-profit and public service sector).

Stanford MBA Summer Stipend

Stanford GSB offers Summer Stipend under two different programs for students willing to work in sectors such as nonprofit, social impact, government, or entrepreneurial groups during the summer.

•  Entrepreneurial Summer Program: Around 10% of Stanford graduates get a chance to participate in ESIP wherein they take internships in companies with 5-50 full-time employees. While 65% of these internships take place in the San Francisco Bay Area, students still have the option to opt for other locations. Some of the previous location includes Texas, Beijing, London, Euless, Bogota, and Singapore.

• Social Management Immersion Fund: MBA students who land summer internships with NGOs, governmental organizations, and socially conscious companies—such as impact funds and social ventures—are eligible to apply for financial support from SMIF. Fellowship stipends are meant to approximate the private sector median summer salary for students.

Stanford MBA Funding for Non-Profit and Public Sector Candidates

Students pursuing careers in the nonprofit and public sector qualify for Stanford financial support for the following programs. 

Stanford Impact Founder Fellowships and Prizes 

A $110,000 grant and advisory support are offered by the Stanford Impact Founder Fellowship to Fellows who wish to launch a high-impact nonprofit or for-profit business to solve an urgent social or environmental issue. In addition to the fellowship, SIF finalists are rewarded for their leadership and venture potential with a $20,000 SIF Prize.

Social Impact Loan Forgiveness 

Students must work for high-impact companies, NGOs, or the public sector to avail of social impact loan forgiveness. Students can participate in the program anytime when they are repaying the Stanford GSB loan. 

Stanford MBA Scholarships for American Citizens and Permanent Residents

Apart from the above-discussed scholarship and fellowships, there are 24 scholarships dedicated to US applicants that cover broad identities, backgrounds, and abilities, including minority (1), Finance (2), Law (1), Retail (1), Healthcare (1), Nationality (1 - Greek, 1 - Polish),  personal traits (1), ethnicity (Native Americans -2), academic (1), non-profit(1 - marketing), peace and justice (1), social entrepreneurs (1), religion (1 - Christian), gender (LGBTQ -1, Women -1), differently abled(1 - Visually impaired), and military veterans (1). 

Stanford MBA Scholarships for International Students

The 54 external scholarships featured at Stanford's recommended funding list include beneficiaries by nationalities, regions and ethnicity including candidates from emerging economies, Africa, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Brazil (2), Canada (2), Ecuador, Finland (2), France, Georgia, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latin America, Lebanon, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Spanish (2), Scandinavia, San Francisco Bay Area, Netherlands, Andalusia, and the UK (3).

The amount of the Stanford GSB fellowship is not deducted if the student is awarded an external scholarship worth less than $40,000. However, if the student receives an external scholarship worth more than $40,000, there will be a reduction in the Stanford Fellowship. Similarly, loans are lowered if overall financial aid exceeds the cost of attendance.

Stanford MBA Loans and Loan Forgiveness

Student loans account for most financial aid obtained by Stanford GSB students. Students are eligible to borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus any amount received through financial aid, including scholarships & fellowships.

Stanford GSB loans must be utilized for educational purposes only.

Loans for US Citizens and Permanent Residents

The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan are the most common loan options. Private loans, which sometimes have a variable interest rate, are the second choice. Many loan companies do not require collateral for US citizens and permanent residents. This option is only viable if the student plans to pay off the loan within 3 to 5 years. The choice is not recommended for anyone entering the non-profit, entrepreneurship, or functions with low median base salaries.

Loans for International Candidates

Based on the citizenship status and the information supplied in the financial aid application, the office decides the type of loans for disbursement. Stanford GSB collaborates with several lenders to offer international students a broad range of financing choices.

Since the school receives no financial or other benefits from these relationships, students must check for a private loans in their home country because they are likely to offer better interest rates. The financial aid office will certify any private educational loan picked by the student.

Loan Forgiveness Program

The Stanford GSB Social Impact Loan Forgiveness Program offers financial relief to MBA alumni working in the nonprofit, public service, or approved high-impact business sectors. 

Open to graduates, the program forgives all or part of Stanford GSB loan repayments based on adjusted household income and financial need. 

Full forgiveness is available for those earning $95,000 or less, with prorated support above that threshold. 

Eligible roles include employment (20+ hours/week for at least six months) at qualified nonprofits, government agencies, early-stage social enterprises with philanthropic funding, or impact-focused consulting firms. 

Only original Stanford GSB loans in good standing and on a 10-year repayment plan qualify. 

Volunteer, contract, or deferred roles are not eligible. 

Participation and funding are re-evaluated annually.

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Reference

• Stanford MBA Funding