The cheapest, and most expensive, Executive MBA programs

Getting a return on your investment from an Executive MBA is important. But what sort of investment are you making to begin with? QS TopExecutive’s statistical review* reveals the cheapest, and most expensive, EMBA programs

It’s a big step – but an exciting one - deciding to enrol in an Executive MBA, not least for the financial investment required. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate the Return on Investment (ROI) you are likely to make upon graduation.

The QS TopExecutive statistical review provides a great starting point to evaluating and comparing different business school fees around the globe. So, how much cash do you have to splash? Here are the cheapest – and most expensive – Executive MBAs around.

NB: Figures are in local currencies

The cheapest EMBAs

US: In North America, Brigham Young University (BYU) Marriott School of Business, charges just US$45,000 for its Executive MBA program. The University of Florida charges US$46,000 for its EMBA, while Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management and University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business each charge just over US$48,000. In the case of University of Pittsburgh Katz, this fee is for those students studying in either Brazil or the Czech Republic. In Canada, Athabasca University offers the cheapest EMBA program (CAD$45,076).

UK: In the UK, Durham Business School charges £17,500 for its 24 month Executive MBA, while Nottingham University Business School charges £18,500 for its 24-month program, and £19,500 for its 48-month course. For a slightly longer EMBA, the Open University charges between £16,000 and £20,000 for its Executive MBA, which spans 30-36 months.

Europe: Across Europe, candidates can find some of the cheapest – and most expensive – Executive MBAs on offer. SKEMA Business School in France charges €21,000 for an EMBA, while the jointly offered program by Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School in Belgium and Amsterdam Business School in The Netherlands charges €29,500, the same as that of the University College Dublin, Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Ireland.

Asia: The cheapest Executive MBA in Asia is offered by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, HK$465,760.

The most expensive EMBAs

US: It’s no secret that the most expensive Executive MBA on offer is in the US, at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. An EMBA at this prestigious business school costs US$172,200 for those candidates who wish to study at the school’s San Francisco campus. For those enrolling at the university’s home campus in Philadelphia, fees will be US$162,300.

Other significantly priced Executive MBAs include: UC Berkeley/Columbia (US$150,000), Columbia Business School (US$148,320), Duke University, Fuqua (US$146,600) and NYU Stern (US$144,000).

UK: The University of Chicago, Booth School of Business offers the most expensive Executive MBA in the UK, with fees of £73,000. Other EMBAs with relatively hefty price tags include London Business School (£53,000) and City University Cass (£42,000).

Europe: While the cheapest Executive MBA in Europe will cost candidates just €21,000, the most expensive will cost around €97,000. That’s at IMD in Switzerland, where fees are CHF126,000. Almost as expensive are the fees for INSEAD’s Global Executive MBA and the Moscow School of Management, SKOLKOVO’s EMBA – both charge €90,000. In Germany, the jointly offered Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA costs €70,000, while IESE Business School in Spain charges €61,900 in fees for its EMBA.

Asia: Hong Kong may be home to the cheapest Executive MBA in Asia, but it’s also home to the most expensive. Fees for the Kellogg/Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) EMBA are HK$970,000. Meanwhile, Melbourne Business School in Australia charges candidates AUS$105,000.

*The QS TopExecutive Statistical Review is compiled twice a year and published in both editions of the QS Top Executive Guide (Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer). The review looks at Executive MBA programs on offer from some of the world’s top business schools, including details of course format, language, fees, deadline dates, average age and minimum number of years experience needed. Such information offers EMBA candidates a comparative tool in which to research the Executive MBA program for them.