Merit Scholarships

Every admitted applicant is considered for a merit scholarship. These awards are for the 2-year duration of the MBA program and range from partial to full tuition. We do not currently have funding for new awards in the second year, so students who enroll without scholarship funding should not anticipate an award for year two. For questions regarding scholarship awards or to receive more information about the scholarship review process, please contact your admissions counselor.

Criteria for selection:

• Prior academic achievement
• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• Involvement in the community
• Extracurricular activities
• Professional accomplishments

How will you know if you have received a merit scholarship?

• Scholarship information will be included in your electronic admission letter.
• There will be more information about your scholarship and its benefits in your admitted student portal.

Named Awards

Fuqua merit scholarship recipients are automatically considered for named scholarships funded by Fuqua and corporate sponsors—you do not need to submit any additional materials to be considered. A separate selection process to award named scholarships is conducted during the summer or fall semester. Named awards replace any merit scholarships already received; they do not provide you with extra scholarship funds.

Fuqua and a variety of corporate donors fund a generous scholarship program for underrepresented minority students. 

Keller Scholars

Keller Scholarships are named in honor of Dr. Thomas Keller, former Dean of Fuqua, who led The Fuqua School of Business to a position of international prominence in less than a decade. These awards, covering 100% of tuition, are funded by Fuqua, endowments, and corporate donors. The Admissions Scholarship Committee selects Keller Scholars based on academic excellence and strong commitment to improving their communities through leadership and service.

The Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE)

CASE also provides several assistance programs to attract the most talented students dedicated to making a positive difference in the world by reducing their financial burden. In addition to other sources of financial aid at Fuqua, Daytime MBA students and alumni with an interest in the social sector may be eligible for the following programs:

U.S. citizens/permanent residents have various options for borrowing the necessary funds to attend Fuqua. All student loans are disbursed to your student Bursar account directly to offset your University charges.

Loan fast facts:

• You may defer loan payments while you are in school.
• Loans offer a post-graduation grace period.
• Both the grace period and the repayment period can vary by lender.
• Admitted students who are interested in Federal Student Aid and have completed their FAFSA after March 1 will typically receive a federal student loan aid offer notice within 10-business days.

Student loan options include:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
• Private Alternative Student Loan

Applying for Federal Student Aid (Federal Direct Unsubsidized & Graduate PLUS Loans)

• Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Duke University's Title IV Federal School Code is: 002920
  • New School Year FAFSAs are usually available after October 1 of each year:
    • The 2024-25 FAFSA became available after December 31, 2023.
  • Fuqua's priority date* to file a FAFSA is March 1 of each year:
    (*The priority date is a recommended filing due date; FAFSAs may be filed after the priority date.)
    • March 1, 2024 is the priority date to file a 2024-25 FAFSA.
• Once we receive the FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly the Student Aid Report-SAR), your student aid eligibility will be reviewed after March 1.
• The student aid review process begins in March. Students will receive an electronic loan aid offer notice.
• Student accepts/reduces/declines the aid offer in DukeHub and completes the loan application process outlined in the loan aid offer notice.
• Once an applicant completes the required application forms, loan amounts will be scheduled to disburse to the student's Bursar account no earlier than 10 days before the start of class.

Applying for Private Alternative Student Loans

• Complete one of the following student loan applications: Duke University's Recommended Lenders.
• Once the lender reviews and pre-approves your loan request, they will send the school a certification request.
• The school will send a loan certification file to the lender, confirming the approval.
• Once applicant completes required application forms, loan amounts will be scheduled to disburse to the student's Bursar account no earlier than 10 days before the start of class.

Estimated Program Cost of Attendance (COA) and Loan Borrowing Eligibility

Federal regulations determine the types of expenses that can be factored in the Cost of Attendance (COA). The COA is established to cover only the student’s education-related expenses such as tuition & fees, room & board, course materials, and student living expenses over the entire nine-month enrollment period within an academic year.

Also, regulations require the university to use reasonable figures to establish the student living expense budget within the COA. The average living expense amounts are results from university-wide surveys completed by Duke students in graduate and professional programs. Triennially, students are surveyed on their monthly spending for living expense items such as rent, utilities, food (excluding outside dining), etc. In addition, the consumer price index rate is considered each year to account for inflation.

The COA regulates the total eligible student loan borrowing amount, allowing students to borrow only up to the total COA amount in any given academic year, minus other aid (i.e. scholarships, sponsorships, other student loans). The COA also serves as a guide to help students to budget within the overall living expense allowance. As students come to Fuqua from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and resources, the student living expense budget allows for a relatively simple student lifestyle that demands a responsible approach to living as a student. Therefore, students are expected to seek housing (mainly shared housing) that does not exceed the allocated amounts for rent and utilities in the student expense budget, especially if students are applying for student loans to help cover living expenses.

Please access the following links to view the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets:

• Class of 2026
  • 2024-25 COA (Domestic) estimated
• Class of 2025
  • 2024-25 COA (Domestic) estimated
  • 2023-24 COA (Domestic) 

As indicated in the above links, we may consider some other expenses that will allow an increase to the living expense budget and eligible student loan borrowing amount.
Please note that the purpose for student loans (Federal or Private) are not the same as personal loans. Student loans (Federal or Private) are for education-related expenses, while personal loans can be used for things like credit card debt, home improvements, paying for a wedding, and other unrelated education expenses. Note that personal loans are not administered by the Financial Aid Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please view answers to some frequently asked questions about scholarships and loans for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Fuqua is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, and awards are available to qualifying veterans. In order to support as many service members as possible, Fuqua does not limit the number of participants in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Yellow Ribbon Program fast facts:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for determining eligibility.
• Fuqua will contribute up to 18,000 USD each VA academic year in Yellow Ribbon scholarship support and the VA will provide up to 18,000 USD in additional funding.
• You must be 100% eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
• Effective August 1, 2022, active duty service members who qualify at the 100% level or the spouse using the transferred benefits of an active duty service member who qualify at the 100% level, may use the Yellow Ribbon program.
• Recipients of the Fry Scholarship and Purple Heart will be covered under the Yellow Ribbon Program. This was effective August 1, 2018.
• You must have served an aggregate period of 36 months in active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, or have been honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and after serving 30 continuous days after Sept. 10, 2001.
• You may be a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on the service eligibility criteria listed above.

How much am I going to receive?

At 100% eligibility, the following table estimates the Post 9/11 GI-Bill & Yellow Ribbon benefit pay-out for your program:

• Class of 2026 (estimated over the 2-year period)
   
• Class of 2025
  • 2024-25 Academic Year
  • 2023-24 Academic Year

Getting started:

Duke University’s Veterans Education Benefits Office administers all Veterans Benefits.  The Duke University School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Office of the University Registrar may be reached via email or at 919.684.4225.  Admitted students must submit their VA documents (i.e. VA Certificate of Eligibility letter, Purple Heart Certificate) to the SCO to start the VA benefit review process.

Visit the office of the University Registrar for detailed instructions on how to initiate/continue your benefits. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact our financial aid office for assistance.

Veterans and service members who are expecting to receive 100% of the Post 9/11 GI-Bill (as indicated on their VA Certificate of Eligibility letter) and Fuqua’s determined Yellow Ribbon amount should be aware that Fuqua’s Yellow Ribbon offer is subject to change and may be fully rescinded should the VA determine a change in your Chapter 33 VA benefit status.

It is your responsibility to notify Duke University’s Veterans Education Benefits Office and Fuqua’s Financial Aid Office immediately of any changes to your VA benefit status.  Failure to do so may result in full cancellation of your Yellow Ribbon offer.

For an overview of how to obtain benefits, see Process Flow & Anticipated Timeline.

For additional resources, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Fuqua School of Business offers both cosigner and no-cosigner international student loan options. For more information, please view Duke University’s Recommended Lenders.

Cosigner Options: Loans with a U.S. cosigner typically offer a lower interest rate. The U.S. cosigner must be a creditworthy citizen or permanent resident. Keep in mind that for some lenders, a student must have a social security number in addition to having a cosigner.

No-Cosigner Options: Depending on the lender, International students using a no-cosigner loan option may borrow up to 100 percent of their Cost of Attendance (minus other aid, i.e. scholarships, sponsorships, and other student loans) through a no-cosigner International Student Loan program.

Applying for Private Alternative Student Loans

• Complete one of the following student loan applications: Duke University Recommended Lenders.
• Once the lender reviews and pre-approves your loan request, they will send the school a certification request.
• The school will send a loan certification file to the lender, confirming the approval.
• Once the applicant completes the required application forms, loan amounts will be scheduled to disburse to the student's Bursar account no earlier than 10 days before the start of class.

Other Funding Sources for International Students

You may find a suitable funding source from our list of external funding programs from international agencies.

Estimated Program Cost of Attendance (COA) and Loan Borrowing Eligibility

Federal regulations determine the types of expenses that can be factored in the Cost of Attendance (COA). The COA is established to cover only the student’s education-related expenses such as tuition & fees, room & board, course materials, and student living expenses over the entire nine-month enrollment period within an academic year.

Also, regulations require the university to use reasonable figures to establish the student living expense budget within the COA. The average living expense amounts are results from university-wide surveys completed by Duke students in graduate and professional programs. Triennially, students are surveyed on their monthly spending for living expense items such as rent, utilities, food (excluding outside dining), etc. In addition, the consumer price index rate is considered each year to account for inflation.

The COA regulates the total eligible student loan borrowing amount, allowing students to borrow only up to the total COA amount in any given academic year, minus other aid (i.e. scholarships, sponsorships, other student loans). The COA also serves as a guide to help students to budget within the overall living expense allowance. As students come to Fuqua from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and resources, the student living expense budget allows for a relatively simple student lifestyle that demands a responsible approach to living as a student. Therefore, students are expected to seek housing (mainly shared housing) that does not exceed the allocated amounts for rent and utilities in the student expense budget, especially if students are applying for student loans to help cover living expenses.

Please access the following links to view the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets:

• Class of 2026
  • 2024-25 COA (International) estimated
• Class of 2025
  • 2024-25 COA (International) estimated
  • 2023-24 COA (International)

As indicated in the above links, we may consider some other expenses that will allow an increase to the living expense budget and eligible student loan borrowing amount.
Please note that the purpose for private alternative student loans are not the same as personal loans. Private alternative student loans are for education-related expenses, while personal loans can be used for things like credit card debt, home improvements, paying for a wedding, and other unrelated education expenses. Note that personal loans are not administered by the Financial Aid Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please view answers to some frequently asked questions about scholarships and loans for international students.

The Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program provides financial assistance, in the form of loan forgiveness awards, to qualifying Duke MBA—Daytime alumni who work full-time for eligible nonprofit and government organizations or certified B-Corporations. The program, originally known as the Fuqua Loan Forgiveness Fund, was established through the generosity and vision of The Duke MBA—Daytime Class of 2001. In 2017, it was renamed the Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program in honor of Fuqua’s former dean and his wife through a generous gift from the F. M. Kirby Foundation. The program is funded through endowments established by the Kirby Foundation and other generous individuals.

The Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program is designed to support alumni pursuing a social impact career. This program is not an entitlement; eligibility and selection are determined by the Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program Administrators, and awards are distributed on a funds-available basis. All determinations made by the Administration are final, and the Administration reserves the right to restructure the program as necessary at any time.   

For recipients of this loan assistance program who are working in for-profit social enterprises (i.e. B-Corporations): Awards will be taxed.

The Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program Eligibility and Application Details for 2024

The 2024 cycle applies to anticipated loan payments within the 2023 calendar year.
The application period is April 15, 2024 - June 30, 2024.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Loan eligibility: Federal and private student loans incurred for the cost of the Duke MBA—Daytime program education only. Eligible for up to 15,000 USD assistance annually.
• Employment eligibility: Full-time employment by a 501(c)(3) organization (or foreign equivalent), governmental agency, or certified B-Corporation.
• Income eligibility: Alumni are expected to contribute toward the repayment of their Fuqua loans. The level of this self-contribution will rise with income. All tax-related matters are the responsibility of the award recipient.
• Applying: You must apply for loan assistance within 4 years of graduation.  
  When you decide to first apply will determine if you fall into the “Accelerated” or “Standard” Program.
  For example, May 2023 graduates may begin applying in:
  • April 2024 (Year 1), Accelerated half-year assistance
  • April 2025 (Year 2), Standard year assistance
  • April 2026 (Year 3), Standard year assistance
  • April 2027 (Year 4), Standard year assistance
• Length of eligibility: The last application period is 8 years after graduation, which consists of a maximum of 7 full award years (see chart on slide 8 in this link).
• Maternity/Paternity Leave: Participants who may be requesting maternity/paternity leave from their employer will continue to receive the Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program support up to 3 months of paid time off. If the participant decides to extend their leave and take unpaid time off, then there will be no Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program support for that period.

Read the full summary of program requirements and parameters.

• Apply online after April 15, 2024 for The Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program online application for the 2024 cycle.
• When prompted, use your Fuqua alumni login ID and password. If you need to be reminded of your login ID or have your password reset, please email Alumni Relations.
• Once you have submitted your online application, a link to the Application Checklist will be found near the bottom of your Fuqua alumni profile page. This checklist provides details regarding the supporting documentation required for the completion of your application.
• Allow 2 business days from the submission date of your application for your checklist to be generated.
• For prompt processing of your application, scan and email supporting documentation or fax it to +1.919.681.6243.
• All supporting documentation sent via mail must be postmarked by June 30, 2024, and addressed to:

The Rex and Ellen Adams Loan Assistance Program
Duke Fuqua Financial Aid Office
100 Fuqua Drive, Box 90120
Durham, NC 27708-0120

Please consult our Financial Aid Guidebook (Policies & Procedures).

For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Resident Students

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Federal Loan Entrance Counseling - Federal Unsubsidized & Graduate PLUS Loans
• Federal Loan Exit Counseling - Federal Direct Unsubsidized & Graduate PLUS Loans
• Duke University's Recommended Private Lender List
• Yellow Ribbon Program
• Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification

For International Students

• Duke University's Recommended Private Lender List
• Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification

For U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident Students:

• Personal Finance @ Duke
• The SmartStudent™ Guide to Financial Aid
• Federal Student Aid: U.S. Department of Education
• Fast Web Scholarship Search
• The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship
• The LunaCap Foundation
• John Mack ABANA Fellowship
• Student Loan Calculator

For International Students:

• Personal Finance @ Duke
• Fast Web Scholarship Search
• The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship
• John Mack ABANA Fellowship
• The LunaCap Foundation
• Student Loan Calculator