W. P. Carey School of Business · Arizona State University
🇺🇸 Phoenix, Arizona · AACSB-accredited · US Top-30 MBA
Full-Time MBA
Become the leader companies compete for. A STEM-designated, two-year MBA that pairs core management with a specialisation — and qualifies you for up to three years of work in the US.
2 years
Full-time duration
$59,000
Tuition / year (intl.)
Aug 2026
Next intake (Fall)
TOEFL 100
English requirement
Overview
✓ Study at a business school ranked among the US top 30(US News 2026)
✓ A STEM-designated MBA — qualify for 36-month OPT work authorisation
✓ Choose a specialisation: finance, analytics, supply chain, marketing or entrepreneurship
This full-time MBA builds the core of modern management — strategy, finance, operations, marketing and leadership — then lets you go deep in a specialisation that matches your career goals. You'll work on live consulting projects with real companies and build a network that follows you for life.
Graduates step into management, consulting and finance roles across the US and the GCC — and, because the program is STEM-designated, qualify to work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Your counsellor helps you compare and apply to multiple programmes simultaneously — at no cost.
Entry requirements
What you'll need
Academic
Bachelor's degree in any discipline, GPA 3.0+
Experience
2+ years of full-time work preferred
English
TOEFL iBT 100 / IELTS 7.0
GMAT / GRE
Often waivable for strong profiles
Documents
Resume, essays, 2 recommendations, passport
💡
Short on work experience or worried about the GMAT? We match you to the right MBA — including waiver-friendly and one-year options — at no cost.
What you'll study
Core curriculum
01 Strategic Management
02 Corporate Finance
03 Marketing Management
04 Data & Decision Analytics
05 Leadership & Organisations
06 Applied Consulting Capstone
After you graduate
Career outcomes
$125,000
Median post-MBA base salary
3-year OPT
STEM-designated work authorisation
92%
Employed within 3 months of graduating
Top recruiters
Deloitte, Amazon, Intel, JPMorgan
How to apply
Application timeline
June – September 2025
Prepare your application
Take GMAT/GRE (or request a waiver), draft your essays, update your resume, and gather two recommendations. Your counsellor reviews everything free of charge.
October 2025 (R1) / January 2026 (R2) / April 2026 (R3)
Submit your application
ASU MBA has three rounds. Round 1 offers the best scholarship consideration. Your counsellor submits and tracks your application.
4–6 weeks after submission
Interview & decision
Selected candidates are invited for an interview (virtual or in-person). Decisions and scholarship offers follow within 2–3 weeks.
April – July 2026
Accept, I-20 & F-1 visa
Accept your offer, pay your deposit, receive your I-20, pay the SEVIS fee ($350), and attend your visa interview.
August 2026
MBA orientation & start
Arrive in Phoenix/Tempe for MBA orientation week — team-building, career planning, and networking — then begin your first semester.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees & costs
Tuition (international)
Per annum
$59,000
Total programme cost
2 years
$118,000
Enrolment deposit
Required to confirm seat & I-20
$1,000
SEVIS fee (I-901)
One-time US government fee
$350
Scholarships
Funding you may be eligible for
W. P. Carey MBA Merit Scholarship
ASU · Merit-based
$10,000–$25,000
Coverage: Tuition fee reduction per year
Eligibility: International MBA candidates with strong GMAT + experience
Duration: Full programme (2 years)
Deadline: Round 1 applicants get best consideration
Source: wpcarey.asu.edu, 2026
Forté Fellowship (Women in MBA)
Forté Foundation · Women only
$20,000+
Coverage: Tuition fee reduction + networking community
Eligibility: Women admitted to Forté-member MBA programmes
Duration: Full programme
Deadline: Automatic consideration on admission
Source: fortefoundation.org, 2026
Government Scholarships (home country)
Saudi SACM, Kuwaiti MOHE, etc.
Full award
Coverage: Tuition + living expenses + flights
Eligibility: Varies by country — MBA at ranked US school
Duration: Full programme
Deadline: Varies — your counsellor checks eligibility
Source: sacm.org.sa / mohe.gov.kw, 2026
Loans & financing
Alternative funding options
Prodigy Finance
International MBA loan · No cosigner
Up to $100,000
Specifically designed for international MBA students at top-ranked programmes. No cosigner required; rates based on future earning potential. ASU W. P. Carey is an eligible programme.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Paid internship during your MBA
Full-time in summer
MBA students can do paid summer internships between Year 1 and Year 2 via CPT. Average MBA internship salary: $15,000–$25,000 for a 10–12 week placement. This offsets costs and builds your US resume.
Living costs
Monthly budget in Phoenix / Tempe
Phoenix and Tempe are significantly more affordable than MBA hubs like New York, Boston, or San Francisco — offering a high quality of life with a lower price tag.
Rent (1-bed apartment)$900–$1,400
Food & groceries$300–$500
Transport (car / transit)$100–$250
Health insurance (univ.)$200–$280
Books & supplies$50–$100
Personal & leisure$200–$400
Estimated total$1,750–$2,930/month
F-1 visa financial proof: you must demonstrate ~$20,000–$25,000/year in living expenses (in addition to tuition) through bank statements or sponsor letter.
Student visa
F-1 visa requirements
Visa type
F-1 Student Visa
I-20 required
Certificate of Eligibility issued by ASU
SEVIS fee (I-901)
$350 (one-time, paid before interview)
Visa application fee
$185
Financial proof
~$80,000/year (tuition + living expenses)
Post-graduation (OPT)
12 months + 24 months STEM extension = 36 months
📋
Your counsellor guides you through the full F-1 process — from I-20 to embassy interview preparation.
Student stories
Hear from our students
"The W. P. Carey MBA completely transformed my career. The STEM designation was a huge draw — I now have 3 years to build my career in the US. My summer internship at Deloitte turned into a full-time offer. My counsellor helped me get a $20,000 scholarship."
TK
Tariq K.
MBA, ASU W. P. Carey — Class of 2026 · 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
"Phoenix is an amazing city for MBA students — the tech scene is booming and the cost of living is much lower than New York or Chicago. The applied consulting projects gave me real-world experience that made all the difference in interviews."
SM
Salma M.
MBA, ASU W. P. Carey — Class of 2025 · 🇪🇬 Egypt
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a GMAT waiver?
Many US MBA programmes, including ASU, offer GMAT/GRE waivers for candidates with strong professional experience, a graduate degree, or qualifying certifications. Your counsellor assesses your eligibility for a waiver and advises whether submitting a score strengthens your application.
What does STEM-designated MBA mean for me?
A STEM-designated MBA means the programme's CIP code qualifies graduates for the 24-month STEM OPT extension — giving you 36 months total to work in the US after graduation (vs 12 months for non-STEM MBAs). This is a major advantage for international students seeking US careers.
How much work experience do I need?
ASU prefers 2+ years of full-time work experience, but exceptional candidates with less experience may be admitted. The average cohort has 4–5 years. Your counsellor helps position your experience to strengthen your application.
Can I do a paid internship during the MBA?
Yes. Between Year 1 and Year 2, most MBA students do a paid summer internship via CPT (Curricular Practical Training). Average MBA internship pay is $15,000–$25,000 for 10–12 weeks. This is a crucial step — many full-time offers come from internships.
Why choose ASU over higher-ranked MBA programmes?
ASU offers exceptional value: STEM designation, strong scholarships, a growing tech hub in Phoenix (with Amazon, Intel, and numerous startups), and significantly lower living costs than NYC, Boston, or SF. The W. P. Carey School is AACSB-accredited and has strong placement rates — at a fraction of the cost of top-15 programmes.
