MBA at Duke Uni: Fees 2026 Dates & Requirements

Duke University Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a 22-month, full-time, in-person graduate degree in Durham, North Carolina, with August 2027 entry currently accepting applications. Applicants need a completed or in-progress bachelor’s degree, and Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; August 2026 tuition was US$83,700 (INR 80.11 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.

The curriculum combines 13 mandated core classes with more than 100 electives, 6-week terms and cohort teams that connect analysis to decision-making. It suits applicants with a clear career pivot or leadership goal who can contribute professional perspective, while the compressed terms demand steady preparation and comfort with quantitative work.

• The general-management curriculum offers 17 concentrations, 2 certificates and 5 dual-degree options.
• Global academic travel, client consulting and study abroad options add structured international learning to the classroom experience.
• First-year teams of four to five peers create repeated practice in collaborative projects and shared problem-solving.

Also Check: Duke MBA Admission

Duke University MBA Fees and Living Costs 2027

Duke has not published the August 2027 MBA tuition or full programme cost. The following table uses official August 2026 Class of 2028 figures only as labelled prior-cycle planning references.

Fee context: The application fee is current published, while every other fee below belongs to the prior 2026-27 cost schedule.

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.7094 as of 24 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

The current application fee is US$225 (INR 21,535), while the target tuition remains unpublished. The prior-cycle direct-cost total is useful for funding discussions, but it cannot establish the August 2027 bill.

The prior-cycle tuition included a US$4,000 (INR 3.83 Lakhs) non-refundable deposit credited to Fall tuition. Duke states that the student medical plan is required unless comparable coverage is approved for a waiver.

Cost of Living in Durham for MBA Students

Duke’s 2026-27 international graduate budget estimates one 9-month academic period, separating living expenses from billed tuition and fees. It includes food, housing, transport and miscellaneous spending, so do not substitute it for visa maintenance evidence.

A calculated prior-cycle planning illustration for the first nine months is US$118,974 (INR 1.14 Crore), based on US$92,834 direct costs + US$850 books + US$25,290 living expenses. It is not a 2027-28 quote, and the second programme year may change with revised tuition and charges.

ROI reality: The prior-cycle first-year cost was US$118,974 (INR 1.14 Crore); because target tuition is unpublished, secure a written 2027-28 estimate before borrowing.

Duke University MBA Admission 2027

Fuqua evaluates a completed or in-progress bachelor’s degree, academic performance, test evidence, leadership, recommendations and professional context. No minimum grade point average (GPA), test score or work-experience requirement is published. GPA is read with the full academic record, while the current class profile shows the academic and professional range applicants should understand.

The best-prepared Indian applicant will connect prior achievements to a specific career direction, because the 22-month programme is general-management focused rather than a narrow technical degree. A strong quantitative record is useful because Fuqua says the academic environment is demanding and pays particular attention to the quantitative segment of submitted tests.

Academic Eligibility and Selection Evidence

The table separates formal eligibility from the evidence Fuqua uses to understand readiness. Fuqua accepts the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) and EA (Executive Assessment). These tests have no published minimum, while the class-profile figures are middle 80% benchmarks rather than cutoffs.

The formal threshold is broad, but the Class of 2027 middle 80% GPA of 3.16 to 3.91 signals the academic context of the cohort. An Indian transcript below that range is not automatically disqualifying, yet the application should explain difficult grades, later improvement or stronger quantitative performance.

Fuqua reports 426 students and 35% international citizens in the Class of 2027, which gives Indian applicants a meaningful international cohort context. The 5.8-year average experience is descriptive rather than prescriptive, so early-career applicants must demonstrate comparable maturity through responsibility, impact and leadership.

Class of 2027 Test and Profile Benchmarks

The EA is an alternative graduate management admission test. The profile below records the university’s published ranges without converting scores across different testing systems.

The absence of a minimum score does not remove the need for credible quantitative evidence, because Fuqua highlights quantitative readiness when assessing the programme’s fast-paced academic environment. Choose one test route early enough to submit a complete score with the application rather than waiting for an official report after the deadline.

English Language Proficiency

Fuqua’s current Daytime MBA instructions state that it does not accept English as a Second Language test scores. These tests include the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English (PTE) and Duolingo English Test. No target-cycle minimum is published for these tests.

Fuqua’s application instructions provide the current language policy and document rules. Replace any unofficial IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo requirement found elsewhere with the live Daytime MBA instructions before you submit.

• Prepare a semester-wise transcript, consolidated mark sheet, degree certificate and English translation before the application window closes.
• Use the quantitative portion of your chosen GMAT, GRE or EA result to reinforce readiness without presenting a middle 80% range as a cutoff.
• Use the optional information space to explain material academic disruption, work gaps or grading context in one evidence-based account.

Tip for Indian students: A three-year Indian Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) fits Fuqua’s equivalency example. Other three-year degrees need complete records and a clear quantitative-readiness case.

Duke University MBA Application 2027

The August 2027 Daytime MBA cycle has Early Action and four regular rounds, with applications submitted online. Early Action is binding, while the remaining rounds let applicants keep other applications active until a decision is made.

Fuqua lists international candidates as best served by Early Action, Round 1 or Round 2 for visa processing, although its application instructions also encourage submission by Round 3. Indian applicants should choose the earliest round that leaves enough time to prepare a complete, evidence-backed application.

Deadline note: The table retains Fuqua’s published dates and adds the Indian Standard Time conversion for the 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time portal cutoff.

Round 4 appears on the live application portal but not on Fuqua’s shorter admissions facts table, so applicants should verify that row in the portal before relying on it. The Round 3 interview date also differs across the two official pages, with 14 April on the admissions facts page and 13 April on the portal.

Application Components and Interview

The application is evaluated only after all required components are submitted and verified. Build the file around one career narrative, because the resume, essays, recommendation and interview should reinforce the same evidence of leadership and readiness.

Fuqua permits an optional information response of up to 500 words for circumstances such as unexplained work gaps or inconsistent academic performance. Use it to clarify one material issue with evidence, rather than adding a second personal essay that the application does not request.

• Lock the test route, recommender and transcript checklist before drafting essays for the chosen round.
• Treat Early Action as a binding commitment and apply there only when Duke is the applicant’s first choice.
• Submit by Round 2 when possible if visa processing and scholarship timing are central to the plan.

Read More: US MBA Application Process

Application tip: Round 2 balances scholarship consideration with visa preparation, but the conflicting Round 3 details make live portal verification essential before submission.

Duke University MBA Scholarships 2027

Every admitted Daytime MBA applicant is automatically considered for a merit scholarship, and no separate merit application is required. Published awards range from partial to full tuition, but Duke warns that students who enrol without first-year funding should not anticipate a new award in the second year. CASE means the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship, which administers the social-sector opportunities listed below.

The strongest funding case combines academic performance with leadership, community involvement and professional accomplishment. The 2027 award amount and personal scholarship deadline are unpublished, so build the financial plan before counting on funding.

Scholarship context: The following are current published Fuqua opportunities, but cycleless awards are not automatically confirmed as 2027 awards.

The merit scholarship is the only broad award with a clearly stated automatic route for all admitted applicants. Keller Scholars add a full-tuition possibility, while the CASE opportunities are better suited to applicants already committed to nonprofit, public-sector or impact-oriented work.

Fuqua says named scholarships replace existing merit awards rather than adding extra funds. Ask how any named award changes the original package, and do not count an internship award as tuition reduction unless the written terms say it can be applied to tuition.

• Apply in an active round with a complete file because Fuqua considers merit funding alongside admission.
• Use leadership, community work and measurable professional impact to support the scholarship case.
• Model the second year without assuming new funding if the first admission letter contains no award.

Also Check: US Scholarships for International Students

Scholarship reality: Automatic merit review helps every admitted applicant, but the absence of a published 2027 amount makes an unfunded budget the safer decision baseline.

Duke University MBA Salary 2027

Fuqua’s latest official Daytime MBA report covers the Class of 2025, which recorded 82.2% offers and 79% accepts by three months after graduation. The same report lists a median base salary of US$160,000 (INR 1.53 Crore), but these are course-cohort outcomes rather than a promise for August 2027 entrants.

The programme’s value depends on converting a general-management curriculum into a specific role, industry and work-authorisation plan. Consulting, finance, technology and healthcare are all represented, so Indian applicants should compare the report’s evidence with their target function instead of treating the median as a guaranteed starting salary.

Class of 2025 Employment Outcomes

Fuqua reports outcomes for graduates pursuing full-time jobs, using offers and acceptances collected within four months of graduation. Rates below are course-cohort measures and include the report’s stated population definitions.

Source: Fuqua Daytime MBA Employment Report 2025.

Consulting represented 34.0% of accepted full-time positions, followed by financial services at 20.9% and technology at 15.6%. Fuqua also reported 106 employers accepting full-time positions, including BCG, McKinsey, Amazon, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, but named employer presence does not establish an individual placement probability.

The report’s median base salary excludes discretionary bonuses, options and carried interest, while signing bonuses are separately reported. Take-home pay will vary with tax, location, benefits and bonus structure, so use the IRS tax withholding estimator before modelling loan repayments.

ROI for Indian Applicants

A target-cycle all-programme cost cannot be calculated because 2027-28 tuition is unpublished; the prior-cycle first-year planning illustration was US$118,974 (INR 1.14 Crore). The inputs below frame the financial decision without turning a historical salary into a payback forecast.

• The target fee is unpublished, so obtain the 2027-28 tuition schedule before using the 2026-27 US$83,700 (INR 80.11 Lakhs) figure in a loan application.
• The Class of 2025 reported 82.2% offers by three months, so test the employment evidence against your target function and work-authorisation route.
• Consulting, financial services and technology accounted for 34.0%, 20.9% and 15.6% of accepted positions, so prioritise internships and recruiting preparation for your intended sector.
• Merit awards range from partial to full tuition, so model the first and second years without assuming a new award after enrolment.
• The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) designation can support a 24-month extension after Optional Practical Training (OPT), so confirm the job and programme classification before assigning value.

ROI reality: Class of 2025 outcomes help assess career value, but missing 2027-28 fees require a written tuition schedule before salary data support borrowing.

United States Visa for Duke University MBA Students 2027

International Daytime MBA students generally use the F-1 Student visa. The current United States visa application fee is US$185 (INR 17,706). The I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is US$350 (INR 33,498) after Duke issues the Form I-20.

• Optional Practical Training (OPT) can provide up to 12 months of post-completion work related to the MBA.
• The entire Daytime MBA carries a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) designation, which may support a 24-month extension after standard OPT for eligible jobs.
• An H-1B specialty-occupation employer must pay the higher of the actual wage or prevailing wage, so there is no single MBA-linked salary threshold.
• F-2 status may cover a spouse and unmarried minor children, but dependants need individual Forms I-20 and are not authorised to work.

Permanent residence has no fixed Duke MBA timeline, because it depends on an employer-sponsored route and individual immigration history. Apply for the visa after receiving the I-20, and keep evidence of funding, academic preparation and intent to follow the authorised study route.

Also Check: US F-1 Student Visa Guide

Visa reality: The STEM designation can extend eligible work authorisation to 36 months, but the student must still secure a qualifying job and follow current government rules.

Duke University MBA Ranking 2027

The Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2026 places Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business #16 globally, down from #11 in 2025. The ranking covers full-time MBA programmes, so it is relevant to this Daytime MBA, but it does not establish admissions odds or individual salary.

Use the ranking as external programme context rather than as a substitute for the Class of 2025 employment report, the target-cycle fee and the scholarship terms. The rank changed between editions, which reinforces the need to make the decision from current cost, career and visa evidence.

Source: Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2026, which evaluates full-time MBA programmes rather than Duke University overall.

• The 2026 position confirms programme-level visibility but cannot predict an individual Indian applicant’s admission or employment result.
• Pair the ranking with the target fee, funding certainty, sector fit and STEM work-window conditions before deciding.

Check Out: Duke MBA Ranking Context

Honest take: Fuqua’s #16 Financial Times position is useful programme context, but the changing rank makes current cost and employment evidence more decision-relevant.