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Merit-based Awards

Tippie's merit-based award packages can consist of a graduate assistantship (G.A.) and scholarship or a scholarship alone. These packages are funded by the university to attract the best MBA candidates.

For the Fall 2012 entering class, approximately 80% of admitted students received merit-based financial awards. The average award value (including cash and non-cash benefits) was $29,490 per year.

Criteria and How to Apply

Awards are based on the same criteria used for admission: work experience, standardized test scores, admissions interview results, leadership skills, academics, and overall fit with the Tippie program.

All applicants are automatically considered for financial awards when they apply; there is no separate application for awards. For best consideration, candidates should apply before the priority deadline.

Financial Award Scenarios - Entering Class Fall 2013

The Tippie MBA offers three types of merit-based financial award packages. These scenarios list the percentage of students receiving each package and out-of-pocket tuition costs for students entering in Fall 2013 for the '13-'14 school year.

23 percent of the entering class of 2012 received Full-tuition Financial Awards.

Cash Benefits

 Amount
Tuition (does not include fees)

Graduate Assistantships allow the holder, regardless of their residency status, to pay resident tuition rates. Tuition amount does not include university fees.

 $19,246
Graduate Assistantship Salary

Paid directly to student in 10 installments September through June.
GA salary is not applied directly to tuition charges.

 $8,840
Scholarship

This amount is applied directly to tuition bill.

 $10,406

Total Out-of-Pocket Tuition Expense

 $0.00

Non-Cash Benefit

  
Non-resident Tuition Discount

Applies for non-Iowa residents and international applicants

 $16,068
Estimated health and dental benefits

Based on '12-'13 premiums for individual health/dental insurance.
Graduate Assistants receive a benefit of subsidized health insurance premiums. GAs pay approximately 10% of the total premium for individual plans and approximately 30% of the premium for plans that include spouse or children. GAs are responsible for 15% of dental insurance premiums for an individual policy; 30% of the premium for plans that include spouse/children.

$2,070

Total Merit-Based Award Value

 $37,384

54 percent of the entering class of 2012 received Partial-tuition Financial Awards.

Cash Benefits

 Amount
Tuition (does not include fees)

Graduate Assistantships allow the holder, regardless of their residency status, to pay Resident Tuition rates. Tuition amount does not include university fees.

 $19,246
Graduate Assistantship Salary

Paid directly to student in 10 installments September through June.
GA salary is not applied directly to tuition charges.

 $8,840
Scholarship

This amount is applied directly to tuition bill.

 $8,106

Total Out-of-Pocket Tuition Expense

 $2,300

Non-Cash Benefits

  
Non-resident Tuition Discount

Applies for non-Iowa residents and international applicants

 $16,068
Estimated health and dental benefits

Based on '12-'13 premiums for individual health/dental insurance.
Graduate Assistants receive a benefit of subsidized health insurance premiums. GAs pay approximately 10% of the total premium for individual plans and approximately 30% of the premium for plans that include spouse or children. GAs are responsible for 15% of dental insurance premiums for an individual policy; 30% of the premium for plans that include spouse/children.

$2,070

Total Merit-Based Award Value

 $35,084

2 percent of the entering class of 2012 received Scholarship Awards.

Breakdown for Iowa Residents

  Amount
Iowa Resident Tuition (does not include fees)

Tuition amount does not include university fees.

 $19,246
Scholarship

Amount shown is an average of the Scholarship Awards given to the entering class of 2012.
This amount is applied directly to tuition bill.

 $5,000

Average Out-of-Pocket Tuition Expense

 $14,246

Breakdown for non-Iowa Residents

  Amount
Non-resident Tuition (does not include fees)

Tuition amount does not include university fees.

 $35,314
Scholarship

Amount shown is an average of the Scholarship Awards given to the entering class of 2012.
This amount is applied directly to tuition bill.

 $5,000

Average Out of Pocket Tuition Expense

 $30,314

All amounts are annual and renewable for the second year of the MBA program.

About Graduate Assistantships

Assistantships are two-year awards, given as part of financial aid packages at the time of admission. Graduate assistants (GAs) work 10 hours per week for a department within the Tippie College of Business or the university as a whole with responsibilities ranging from assisting faculty with cutting-edge research to event planning or alumni outreach.

In return, students receive a salary of around $8,660 annually (paid in 10 installments, Sept.-June), an automatic scholarship of $7,900, resident tuition status for out-of-state residents (a savings of over $15,662 per year), a reduction in fees of $285, and a significant contribution toward health and dental insurance.

GAs are renewable for the second year of the MBA program provided the student maintains a 3.0 GPA or higher and satisfactory performance in the duties of his/her GA.

About Scholarships

The Tippie MBA scholarships are funded by alumni and friends of The University of Iowa. Scholarships awarded separately from a graduate assistantship aid package range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the strength of the candidate.

Scholarships are renewable for the second year of the MBA program provided the student maintains a 3.0 GPA or higher. If the scholarship is paired with a Graduate Assistantship, it is renewable with a 3.0 GPA or higher and satisfactory performance in the duties of his/her GA.