The Cheapest, and Most Expensive, Executive MBA Programs

Getting your EMBA is a big step – one that, while exciting, involves a huge financial investment as well. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate the Return on Investment (ROI) you are likely to make upon graduation. But how do you know what sort of investment you are making?

Find out which Executive MBAs are is the cheapest and most expensive, based on data from the QS TopExecutive statistical review* -- a great starting point for evaluating and comparing the costs of business schools worldwide.

NB: Figures are in local currencies

The cheapest EMBAs

United States

• Brigham Young University (BYU) Marriott School of Business --  $45,000 for its Executive MBA program
• The University of Florida -- $46,000
• Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management and University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business -- both schools 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.

Canada

The cheapest Canadian EMBA program is offered by Athabasca University and it costs $45,076.

United Kingdom

• Durham Business School 24-month Executive MBA --  £17,500 
• Nottingham University Business School-- £18,500 for the 24-month program  and £19,500 for the 48-month program
• 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 world's cheapest Executive MBAs on offer, including:

• France's SKEMA Business School  -- €21,000
• University College Dublin, Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Ireland -- €29,500 for an EMBA

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 The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has the most expensive EMBA program in the US. A Wharton EMBA 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 US Executive MBAs include:

• Columbia Business School -- $148,320
• Duke University, Fuqua School of Business -- $146,600
• NYU Stern -- $144,000).

United Kingdom

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
• City University, Cass Business School -- £42,000

Europe

Europe's most expensive EMBA program -- from IMD Switzerland --  will cost around €97,000.

Almost as expensive:

• INSEAD’s Global Executive MBA and the Moscow School of Management, SKOLKOVO’s EMBA – both charge €90,00
• Germany's jointly offered Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA -- €70,000
• Spain's IESE Business School -- €61,900

Asia

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