An MBA is an investment in both career and future success. Prospective students are encouraged to contact their employers to determine if tuition assistance is available. Students who are not sponsored by their companies often qualify for loans and financial aid.

SCHOLARSHIPS

In light of the economic downturn, the College of Business is proud to introduce two new scholarship programs that aim to support residents of Central Illinois for their MBA studies:

• Fresh Start Scholarship: The College of Business at the University of Illinois is pleased to offer up to two Fresh Start Scholarships to be awarded in this academic year in the interest of supporting a Central Illinois resident who has encountered difficulties as a result of the economic downturn. If you would like to earn your MBA but are unable to afford it due to circumstances resulting from the economic downturn, you are eligible to apply for the Fresh Start Scholarship, which will cover the full cost of tuition to the 26-month Professional MBA at the University of Illinois. For instructions on applying for this scholarship, go to Scholarship Application Instructions.
• Community Partners Scholarship: The College of Business at the University of Illinois realizes that many local professionals are currently unable to receive funding for professional development. Therefore, the College of Business would like to award one resident of Champaign County with a full scholarship for tuition to the Professional MBA to be awarded in this academic year. The Community Partners Scholarship is for applicants who are not eligible to receive tuition assistance from their employer for their MBA. The applicant should also be someone who shows promise as a leader in the workplace and gives generously to their local community. For instructions on applying for this scholarship, go to Scholarship Application Instructions.

Several other scholarship opportunities are available to qualifying students:

• Dean's University Employee Scholarship: The College of Business at the University of Illinois is interested in supporting the University of Illinois and providing opportunities to its employees for professional development through the Dean’s University Employee Scholarship. Up to eight tuition scholarships are available to be awarded in this academic year through the Dean’s University Employee Scholarship. Tuition scholarships may be offered for 25%-tuition reduction, 50%-tuition reduction or full-tuition reduction. For instructions on applying for this scholarship, go to Scholarship Application Instructions.
• We Want You Back: The Illinois × 2 Scholarship: The Illinois × 2 Scholarship offers a 50% tuition reduction for the full length of the Professional MBA program. The scholarship is exclusively for University of Illinois alumni who meet the following criteria:
• Are admitted to the Professional MBA
• Hold a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Have a minimum of 30 months (2.5 years) of professional work experience
• Score a 600 or above on the GMAT
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.3 for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
• College of Business/IVG/ING Benefit Partnership Program: Offers financial aid to military veterans who meet the eligibility guidelines.
• Not-for-Profit Scholarship: The College of Business is pleased to offer a scholarship for a student who works in the not-for-profit sector. See our scholarship application for additional information.
• Entrepreneurial Scholarship: The College of Business is pleased to offer a scholarship for a student who has recently launched an entrepreneurial venture. See our scholarship application for additional information.