MBA Schools in St. Louis, MO – 2027 Guide & Rankings
Updated September 5, 202625+ min read

MBA Schools in St. Louis: Programs, Costs & Career Outcomes

Compare tuition, ROI, formats, and post-MBA salaries across every accredited St. Louis MBA provider.

What you’ll learn in this article…

  • Seven Fortune 500 headquarters fuel St. Louis MBA hiring pipelines.
  • In-state MBA tuition ranges from roughly $8,000 to over $60,000 annually.
  • WashU Olin and SLU both offer GMAT optional admissions for 2026.

Prestige or proximity: that's the real tradeoff facing MBA candidates weighing coastal brand names against a Midwestern market that quietly outperforms on employer access. St. Louis hosts seven Fortune 500 headquarters, including Centene, Emerson Electric, and Reinsurance Group of America, all of which recruit locally and hire MBA talent into rotational and leadership tracks.

Housing and living costs here run well below New York, San Francisco, or Boston, which means your loan balance stretches further and your break-even point arrives sooner relative to salary.

Format choice compounds that advantage. WashU Olin, SLU Chaifetz, and UMSL each offer full-time, part-time, online, or executive tracks, letting you keep earning while you study. Fit and format matter as much as name recognition in this market.

Jump straight to the program list →

St. Louis MBA Job Market: Major Employers and Industry Pipelines

Which companies actually hire MBAs in St. Louis, and how deep are the recruiting pipelines from local business schools?

The answer is encouraging. The St. Louis metro is home to seven Fortune 500 headquarters as of 2026,1 along with roughly 15 Fortune 1000 companies and a broad roster of privately held firms that actively seek management talent. For working professionals weighing where to earn an MBA, that density of corporate headquarters translates directly into accessible career paths.

Fortune 500 and Major Employer Landscape

St. Louis punches above its weight in headquarter concentration. The 2026 Fortune 500 list includes Centene (No. 18), Reinsurance Group of America, Emerson Electric, Edward Jones, Graybar Electric, Post Holdings, and Core & Main.1 Beyond the Fortune 500, additional employers such as Enterprise Mobility, BJC Health System, Nestlé Purina, Anheuser-Busch InBev, World Wide Technology, Ameren, Stifel Financial, Bayer's North American crop science division, and Boeing's defense operations all maintain significant presences in the metro.

Dominant Industries

These employers cluster around five sectors that shape MBA career outcomes in the region:

  • Healthcare and life sciences: Centene, BJC Health System, and Bayer anchor a growing managed-care and bioscience corridor.
  • Financial services: Edward Jones, Stifel Financial, Reinsurance Group of America, and Wells Fargo Advisors provide deep demand for finance, risk management, and strategy roles.
  • Consumer packaged goods and agribusiness: Nestlé Purina, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Post Holdings, and Bunge sustain marketing, supply chain, and operations pipelines.
  • Manufacturing and distribution: Emerson Electric, Graybar, Core & Main, and Belden recruit MBAs into operations, product management, and corporate strategy.
  • Energy, utilities, and defense: Ameren, Peabody Energy, and Boeing's local defense unit round out the employer mix.

How Local MBA Programs Connect You to Employers

St. Louis business schools cultivate these pipelines through employer advisory boards, on-campus career fairs, capstone consulting projects with regional firms, and alumni networks that are disproportionately concentrated in the metro. Because many MBA students in St. Louis are working professionals, employer-sponsored tuition programs and cohort-based partnerships further tighten the link between classroom and boardroom.

Expanded Geography and Cost-of-Living Advantage

The job market extends beyond city limits. Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield, and Illinois-side communities like Edwardsville and Belleville all fall within reasonable commuting or relocation range, broadening your post-MBA options. And because St. Louis's cost of living sits well below major coastal MBA markets (one widely cited index places St. Louis at 89 versus 187 for New York and 170 for San Francisco on a 100-equals-national-average scale)3, your post-MBA salary stretches significantly further here than it would in Boston or the Bay Area.

What an MBA Costs in St. Louis: Tuition Comparison

Tuition is one of the first variables working professionals weigh when choosing an MBA program. The table below compares graduate tuition at schools serving the St. Louis metro area, sorted from lowest to highest in-state tuition. The University of Missouri, St. Louis (UMSL) is the only public university in this group and carries a meaningful in-state versus out-of-state tuition differential. The net price column reflects an institution-wide average after financial aid (not MBA-specific), so treat it as a rough affordability indicator rather than a precise MBA cost estimate. All figures draw from U.S. Department of Education data (2024).

SchoolSectorIn-State TuitionOut-of-State TuitionAvg. Net Price (Institution-Wide)
Missouri Baptist UniversityPrivate$11,538$11,538$27,006
Lindenwood UniversityPrivate$11,246$11,246$19,638
Webster UniversityPrivate$13,736$13,736$27,047
University of Missouri, St. LouisPublic$15,480$36,792$15,071
Maryville UniversityPrivate$16,246$16,246$22,066
Saint Louis UniversityPrivate$25,590$25,590$24,398
Washington University in St. LouisPrivate$65,146$65,146$21,786

Program Formats: Full-Time, Part-Time, Online, and Executive MBA

St. Louis MBA candidates choose from four distinct formats, and picking the right one matters as much as picking the right school. The format determines your total time out of the workforce, your peer group, and how quickly you can apply new skills on the job.

Full-Time MBA: Built for Career Switchers

Washington University's Olin Business School anchors the full-time market in St. Louis. A residential, two-year format suits candidates who want to pivot industries, chase consulting or investment banking recruiting cycles, or pursue a STEM-designated track for international work authorization. You surrender salary for two years, but you gain access to on-campus recruiters, structured internships, and cohort immersion that part-time formats cannot replicate.

Part-Time and Evening MBA: The Working Professional's Path

Part-time programs dominate the St. Louis market for a reason: most candidates here are already employed and want to keep earning while they study. Saint Louis University's Chaifetz School, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Lindenwood University all offer evening and weekend formats designed around a 40-hour workweek. UMSL's MBA supports both full-time and part-time enrollment with holistic admissions and coursework waivers for prior business classes, which shortens the path for candidates with undergraduate business degrees. Lindenwood combines synchronous and asynchronous delivery across its St. Charles and St. Louis campuses, giving working students flexibility without losing classroom contact.

Online MBA: Maximum Flexibility

Fully online options serve candidates who travel for work, live outside the metro, or need asynchronous scheduling. Maryville University runs a 14-month, 100% online MBA with six start dates per year and no required campus visits. Webster University offers a hybrid MBA with Analytics emphasis that blends synchronous and asynchronous coursework and carries a STEM designation. Missouri Baptist University's online MBA emphasizes rolling admissions and eight-week course sessions for accelerated completion.

Executive MBA: For Senior Managers

The Executive MBA targets candidates with roughly a decade of management experience who need graduate credentials without pausing their careers. WashU Olin's EMBA runs 20 months across five semesters on campus, with a currently posted total cost of $149,500 ($133,970 in tuition plus $15,530 in program fees and materials). Note that this is the present program cost: Olin has said the rate for the August 2027 through May 2029 cohort will be posted in spring 2027, so applicants targeting that intake should confirm pricing directly. Saint Louis University's Chaifetz School also operates an EMBA aimed at senior managers; prospective students should contact the school for current schedule, cohort size, and tuition figures.

St. Louis MBA Earnings at a Glance

Program-level median earnings for MBA completers at St. Louis area schools are not yet reported in the available data. While institutional profiles and tuition figures are published, the College Scorecard has not released one-year or four-year post-completion earnings for these specific MBA programs. When these figures become available, this section will be updated with a side-by-side comparison across the top programs in the region.

St. Louis MBA Earnings at a Glance

ROI and Post-MBA Earnings: Which St. Louis Programs Pay Off Fastest?

The gap between the cheapest and most expensive MBA in St. Louis can exceed $50,000, yet the program with the highest sticker price often delivers the fastest payback when measured against post-graduation earnings.

Debt-to-Earnings: A More Useful Lens Than Tuition Alone

Raw tuition figures tell only part of the story. A more revealing metric is the debt-to-earnings ratio, which compares median graduate debt to median earnings in the years after completion. Washington University in St. Louis (Olin) carries the highest tuition among local options, with full-time MBA tuition above $65,000 per year. However, Olin graduates historically command starting salaries that place them well above the metro-area median for management roles, compressing the payback window considerably. By contrast, the University of Missouri-St. Louis offers in-state MBA tuition near $15,500 per year, a fraction of Olin's cost. While UMSL graduates tend to earn somewhat less out of the gate, their lower debt burden can produce a competitive debt-to-earnings ratio, especially for students who plan to build careers within the region. Program-level earnings data at the one-year through five-year marks are not yet published for every St. Louis MBA, so candidates should request placement reports directly from each school's career services office.

Local Salary Context

Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the St. Louis metro area underscores why the region is attractive for MBA holders. As of the most recent reporting period, median annual wages for key MBA-typical occupations include:

  • Management analysts: approximately $102,0006
  • Marketing managers: approximately $152,0006
  • Financial managers: approximately $166,0006

These figures rival or exceed national medians for the same roles, giving St. Louis MBA graduates a strong earnings floor even before accounting for the city's lower cost of living.

The Cost-of-Living Multiplier

Salary alone does not determine financial well-being; purchasing power does. A $75,000 salary in St. Louis stretches roughly as far as $95,000 to $100,000 in Chicago or $115,000 or more in San Francisco. That built-in advantage means St. Louis MBA graduates can pay down student debt faster, build savings sooner, and reach positive ROI in fewer years than peers in higher-cost metros earning nominally larger paychecks.

When evaluating programs, weigh total debt against realistic local salary targets rather than national averages. For professionals committed to staying in the Midwest, the combination of affordable tuition at schools like UMSL and Maryville with the region's strong management salaries creates one of the more favorable ROI profiles in the country.

Questions to Ask Yourself

  1. Do you need evening or weekend classes to keep working full-time, or can you commit to a full-time cohort?

    Your answer filters the program list immediately: part-time and executive formats in St. Louis preserve income and momentum, while a full-time cohort compresses networking and career-switch preparation into one to two years.

  2. Is AACSB accreditation a hard requirement for your career goals, and does your target employer care?

    Many St. Louis hiring managers, especially at Fortune 500 firms and consulting pipelines, screen for AACSB-accredited degrees. If you are uncertain, check the job posts or talk to a recruiter in your target function.

  3. Are you aiming for a career switch into a new industry, or advancing within your current St. Louis employer?

    A switch usually calls for a full-time or part-time program with strong internship access and employer recruiting. Advancement often rewards an evening or executive MBA that builds on your existing role, network, and internal sponsorship.

  4. Would an executive MBA's senior-cohort peer network deliver more value than a traditional program's broader class?

    Executive cohorts at schools like Washington University and Saint Louis University connect you with senior operators and decision makers. A broader traditional class may offer more functional variety and a wider alumni base across industries.

Specializations and Concentrations Across St. Louis MBA Schools

Choosing the right MBA concentration can position you to step directly into one of St. Louis's strongest industry corridors. Healthcare management pairs naturally with major employers like Centene, BJC HealthCare, and SSM Health. Finance concentrations align with firms such as Edward Jones and Stifel Financial. Supply chain and operations tracks connect to manufacturers like Emerson Electric and Boeing's defense operations in the region. The table below maps which concentrations are offered by MBA programs based in or serving the St. Louis metro area, so you can match your career goals to the right school.

SchoolFinanceSupply Chain / OperationsData AnalyticsAccountingEntrepreneurshipManagement / LeadershipGeneral Business
Washington University in St. Louis (Olin)YesN/AN/AN/AYesN/AN/A
University of Missouri, St. LouisYesN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AYes
Maryville UniversityN/AN/AYesN/AN/AN/AN/A
Saint Louis UniversityN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Webster UniversityN/AN/AYesN/AN/AN/AN/A
Lindenwood UniversityN/AN/AN/AYesN/AN/AN/A
Missouri Baptist UniversityN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AYes
Fontbonne UniversityN/AYesN/AN/AN/AYesN/A
University of Central MissouriYesN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Park UniversityN/AN/AN/AYesN/AN/AN/A
Rockhurst UniversityN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AYesN/A
Northwest Missouri State UniversityN/AN/AYesN/AN/AN/AN/A
Missouri Southern State UniversityN/AN/AYesN/AN/AN/AN/A

Accreditation Status: AACSB, ACBSP, and Why It Matters

When you compare St. Louis MBA programs, accreditation is where prestige and practical fit intersect: the right stamp can grant access to elite employers, but the "lesser" stamp may serve a regional career track just as well. Understanding what each accrediting body signals helps you match program to goal, not chase a logo.

AACSB vs. ACBSP: What the Labels Actually Mean

AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) is widely treated as the global gold standard for business education. Fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide hold it, and it emphasizes research output, faculty qualifications, and rigorous peer review. ACBSP (Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs) is also a recognized business-specific accreditor, but it places greater weight on teaching quality and student learning outcomes, which often aligns well with programs built for working professionals.

Neither is "fake." Both are legitimate. They signal different priorities.

Where St. Louis Schools Stand

  • Washington University Olin: AACSB-accredited8, and holds triple accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA) as of 2021, a distinction shared by a small global cohort.
  • Saint Louis University Chaifetz: AACSB-accredited9, with its accounting program separately AACSB-accredited, one of a limited number of schools carrying that dual designation.
  • Lindenwood University: ACBSP-accredited10, initially in 2010 and reaffirmed in 2021.
  • UMSL, Webster, and Maryville: current accreditation status was not verified in our source review for 2025-26. Confirm directly with each school's admissions office before applying.

When AACSB Specifically Matters

Some pathways effectively require an AACSB-accredited degree: CPA exam eligibility in certain states, admission to most business PhD programs, and recruiting pipelines at bulge-bracket investment banks and top-tier strategy consulting firms. If those are your targets, prioritize Olin or Chaifetz. If you are advancing within a St. Louis employer, moving into general management, or switching functions regionally, an ACBSP program can deliver strong value at a lower price point.

Admissions Requirements and Application Deadlines for 2027

Do you need a GMAT score to apply to an MBA program in St. Louis this year? For Washington University's Olin Business School, the answer is no. GMAT and GRE scores are optional across all three of its MBA formats, full-time, Flex, and Executive, though Olin recommends submitting a score if you have one, since it can strengthen an application that lacks recent quantitative coursework, significant work experience, or an advanced credential like a JD, CPA, or CFA. If you do test, only scores from within the past two years count.

WashU Olin Deadlines

Olin's full-time MBA runs a four-round cycle for 2026-2027, opening October 8, 2026, with additional rounds through spring 2027 before shifting to rolling review. The Flex MBA operates on separate Spring and Fall entry cycles: Spring 2027 candidates should target an October 9, 2026 deadline, while Fall 2027 applicants have until March 15, 2027. Earlier rounds typically carry the strongest scholarship consideration, so applicants prioritizing merit aid should aim for the first available deadline in their track rather than waiting for later rounds.

Other St. Louis Programs

Saint Louis University's Chaifetz School of Business, UMSL, Lindenwood, Webster, and Maryville all serve working professionals in the region, but their specific 2026-2027 deadlines, test-optional policies, and GPA benchmarks are not consistently published in a way that can be verified here. As a practical matter, most regional and private universities in this market lean toward rolling or near-rolling admissions for part-time and online cohorts, and many extend GMAT waivers to applicants with several years of relevant work experience or a strong undergraduate GPA, but you'll want to confirm current policy directly with each admissions office before assuming a waiver applies to you.

Prerequisite Coursework

Across St. Louis MBA programs generally, expect some schools to require or strongly recommend prior coursework in statistics or financial accounting, either completed before enrollment or folded into foundation modules early in the curriculum. If your undergraduate degree didn't include quantitative business coursework, ask each program directly whether a bridge course or placement exam is required.

Ranked MBA Programs Serving St. Louis Students

Below are the top MBA programs serving St. Louis students in 2026. Each card lists annual published tuition, the federal net price used for aid comparisons, program delivery format, and the concentrations available to you as a working professional.

How we ranked these
Factors considered
  • Accreditation and program standing
  • Tuition and net price
  • Flexible formats for professionals
  • Graduation and retention rates
  • Specializations and program fit
Data sources
  • National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) covering graduation rates, retention rates and student-faculty ratios — nces.ed.gov
  • College Scorecard post-completion earnings data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
  • In-house program catalog data
  • Independent program research
WA

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO · $65,000/yr

Best for: Career accelerators seeking a full-time MBA

Washington University in St. Louis and its Olin Business School lead the MBA field in St. Louis with a two-year, full-time MBA that is AACSB accredited and offers 12 specializations, including finance and entrepreneurship. Executive and Flex MBA options give experienced professionals a cohort-based path and a flexible part-time route on the same campus. Published graduate tuition is $64,500 per year with roughly $1,290 in fees. The federal net price of $21,786 is an institution-wide average for undergraduates receiving aid, so your actual MBA cost will vary by program and aid package.

  • MBA Entrepreneurship Specialization — On-Campus
    Washington University in St Louis
    • 12 specialization options inside the full-time MBA
    • 12 credit hours required in the entrepreneurship track
    • Courses include business planning and a venture consulting team
    • Faculty advisors assigned within the specialization
    • STEM MBA option extends OPT for international students
    • Active entrepreneurship and venture capital student clubs
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  • MBA Finance Concentration — On-Campus
    Washington University in St Louis
    • AACSB-accredited two-year MBA with a fall start
    • School-reported median total compensation of $151,965, salary plus bonus
    • Dual degree options with other WashU graduate schools
    • Incoming class includes 53% women and 34% underrepresented students of color
    • Experiential curriculum plus dedicated career coaching
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  • Executive MBA — On-Campus
    Washington University in St Louis
    • 20-month cohort program with a fall start
    • Cohort averages 15 years of work experience
    • Cohort averages 9 years in management roles
    • Recognized among top 10 MBA programs for C-suite careers
    • Alumni network of 135,000 worldwide
    • Lifelong career services access after graduation
    • Includes professional coaching and a leadership development plan
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  • Flex MBA
    Washington University in St Louis
    • Admitting students for Spring 2027 and Fall 2027
    • Rolling review continues after published deadlines
    • No application fee for Flex MBA applicants
  • JD/MBA Dual Degree — On-Campus
    Washington University in St Louis
    • Complete both degrees in four years
    • One year less than earning the degrees separately
    • Prepares for corporate law and entrepreneurship careers
    • Access to career services at the law school and business school
    • Financial aid available
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  • MD/MBA Dual Degree — On-Campus
    Washington University in St Louis
    • One-year MBA built on top of the MD curriculum
    • Integrates business skills with healthcare practice
    • Experiential learning and mentorship opportunities
    • Financial aid available
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  • MPH/MBA Dual Degree — On-Campus
    Washington University in St Louis
    • 95 credit hours including 360 clinical hours
    • AACSB-accredited MBA paired with CEPH-accredited MPH
    • Internship placements at Aetna, Eli Lilly, and Humana
    • Practicum at the BJC Center for Clinical Excellence
    • Two separate applications required
    Visit Website
MA

Maryville University

Saint Louis, MO · ~$16,000/yr (est.)

Best for: Working parents needing fully online flexibility

Maryville University offers working professionals the most flexible MBA format in the St. Louis market: a 39-credit degree that is 100 percent online, asynchronous, and designed to be finished in as few as 14 months. Six annual start dates, test-optional admissions, and no application fee keep the path simple for busy adults. Concentrations span accounting, data analytics, health administration, human resources, marketing, and project management, with per credit tuition ranging from roughly $714 to $850. The institution-wide federal net price of $22,066 is based on undergraduates receiving aid, not on actual MBA costs.

  • MBA in Data Analytics — Online
    Maryville University
    No entrance examRolling admissionsTest optional
    • 39 credit hours, completable in as few as 14 months
    • 100% online and asynchronous with no campus visits
    • $714 per credit, about $27,846 total tuition
    • Six annual start dates in spring, summer, and fall
    • No GMAT or GRE requirement and no application fee
    • Curriculum emphasizes analytics, visualization, and predictive modeling
    • Analytics roles projected to grow 25% in coming years
    Visit Website
  • MBA in Accounting — Online
    Maryville University
    No entrance examMilitary benefitsTest optional
    • $850 per credit with a locked tuition rate
    • 92% job placement rate reported by the program
    • Program-reported median earnings of $79,000
    • Program-reported salary increases of 22-40%
    • Transfer credits accepted toward the degree
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  • MBA in Health Administration — Online
    Maryville University
    No entrance examTest optional
    • Median earnings of $85,000 reported by the program
    • Program cites a $101,340 median salary for health services managers
    • Health administration roles projected to grow 28%
    • Capstone required for degree completion
    Visit Website
  • MBA in Human Resources Management — Online
    Maryville University
    No entrance exam
    • Prepares graduates to pursue SPHR certification
    • Program-reported median earnings of $127,530
    • Built for HR professionals moving into management
    • Eligible transfer credits accepted
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  • MBA in Marketing — Online
    Maryville University
    No entrance examTest optional
    • Program-reported median earnings of $104,000
    • Marketing analyst roles projected to grow 19%
    • Faculty bring real-world marketing experience
    • Concentration prepares for corporate marketing roles
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  • MBA in Project Management — Online
    Maryville University
    No entrance exam
    • Prepares graduates for the PMP credential
    • Program-reported median salary near $86,000
    • Program costs $749 per credit
    • No prior business experience required
    Visit Website
SA

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO · $26,000/yr

Best for: Physicians and attorneys pursuing dual credentials

Saint Louis University's campus-based graduate business programs serve professionals in the heart of St. Louis with traditional, accelerated one-year, and dual-degree MBA formats. For working professionals with broader ambitions, the JD/MBA and MD/MBA pathways combine graduate business training with law or medicine, and several SLU programs let applicants share application materials across schools. Published graduate tuition is $54,760 per year plus fees. The institution-wide federal net price is $24,398 for undergraduates receiving aid, which is not a direct MBA cost estimate.

  • JD/MBA Dual Degree
    Saint Louis University
    • Joint program offered with SLU's law school
    • AACSB and ABA accredited programs
    • Nine MBA credits count toward the JD
    • Built for corporate law and consulting careers
    • Access to two alumni and career networks
  • MD/MBA Dual Degree
    Saint Louis University
    • Combines the MBA with SLU's medical degree
    • MBA portion totals 48 credit hours
    • Accepts GMAT, GRE, or MCAT for admission
    • International business trip built into the curriculum
    • AACSB and LCME accredited programs
BR

Bryan University

Springfield, MO · $14,000/yr

  • Master of Business Administration — Online
    Bryan University
    Visit Website
UN

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Kansas City, MO · $14,000 – $32,000/yr

  • Bloch Executive MBA — Hybrid
    University of Missouri-Kansas City
    Visit Website
  • J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.P.A. Combined-degree Programs — On-Campus
    University of Missouri-Kansas City
    Visit Website
  • Master of Business Administration, Management Information Systems — On-Campus
    University of Missouri-Kansas City
    Visit Website
RO

Rockhurst University

Kansas City, MO · $21,000/yr

  • Master of Business Administration, Organizational Leadership — Hybrid
    Rockhurst University
    Visit Website
  • Executive MBA — On-Campus
    Rockhurst University
    Visit Website
SO

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO · $8,000/yr

  • Master of Business Administration, Nonprofit Management — Online
    Southwest Baptist University
    Visit Website
MI

Missouri State University

Springfield, MO · $8,000/yr

  • Executive MBA — On-Campus
    Missouri State University
    Visit Website
SO

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, MO · $8,000/yr

  • MBA in Accounting — On-Campus
    Southeast Missouri State University
    Visit Website
  • MBA in Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation — On-Campus
    Southeast Missouri State University
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  • Master of Business Administration, Financial Management — On-Campus
    Southeast Missouri State University
    Visit Website
  • MBA: Health Administration — Online
    Southeast Missouri State University
    Visit Website
  • MBA Environmental Management — On-Campus
    Southeast Missouri State University
    Visit Website
  • MBA General Management — On-Campus
    Southeast Missouri State University
    Visit Website
  • Online MBA in Accounting — Online
    Southeast Missouri State University
    Visit Website
UN

University of Central Missouri

Warrensburg, MO · $10,000/yr

  • Master of Business Administration, Finance — Hybrid
    University of Central Missouri
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  • Master of Business Administration, Healthcare Administration — Hybrid
    University of Central Missouri
    Visit Website
  • Master of Business Administration, Management and Organizational Leadership — Hybrid
    University of Central Missouri
    Visit Website
  • Master of Business Administration, Marketing — Hybrid
    University of Central Missouri
    Visit Website
  • Master of Business Administration, General Business — Hybrid
    University of Central Missouri
    Visit Website
  • Master of Business Administration in Management and Organizational Leadership — Hybrid
    University of Central Missouri
    Visit Website

Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Assistantships for MBA Students

Funding an MBA involves assembling a mix of institutional aid, federal loans, and employer support. St. Louis students have several avenues worth exploring, and the right combination can reduce out-of-pocket costs significantly.

Merit Scholarships and Fellowships

WashU Olin offers competitive fellowships that can cover a substantial share of tuition for high-caliber applicants. Awards are typically based on professional experience, academic record, and leadership potential. Saint Louis University's graduate scholarship portfolio includes both merit-based and need-based options administered through the business school. UMSL, as a public institution, provides an immediate cost advantage for Missouri residents: in-state MBA tuition is $872 per credit, compared with $1,833 per credit for non-residents.

Graduate Assistantships

Both UMSL and SLU offer graduate assistantship positions that pair a tuition offset with a modest stipend in exchange for research or teaching support. These roles are competitive but worth pursuing early in the application cycle, as they can eliminate thousands of dollars in annual costs while adding professional experience to your resume.

Federal Financial Aid

MBA students who file the FAFSA can access federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (up to $20,500 per year) and Grad PLUS Loans for remaining costs. After graduation, Income-Driven Repayment plans cap monthly payments relative to earnings, which can ease cash flow in the first few post-MBA years. Institutional financial-aid cultures vary from one school to the next. Federal data on Pell Grant participation reflects undergraduate enrollment rather than graduate programs, but schools with higher undergraduate Pell shares, such as UMSL, often maintain broader need-based support infrastructure across all degree levels.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

For part-time and evening MBA students, employer tuition reimbursement is one of the most common funding mechanisms in St. Louis. Major employers such as Anheuser-Busch InBev, Edward Jones, Centene, and Emerson Electric frequently cover $5,250 or more annually in qualified education expenses. If you are currently employed, check your benefits package before taking on additional loan debt. Pairing employer reimbursement with a part-time format can make the total investment remarkably manageable.

Frequently Asked Questions About St. Louis MBA Programs

St. Louis MBA candidates frequently weigh cost, format, and admissions standards before committing to a program. Below are concise, data-grounded answers to the questions our readers ask most often.

Total program costs vary widely. The UMSL Online Cohort MBA runs approximately $36,399 for 33 credits at $1,103 per credit, covering tuition, fees, and books.19 Saint Louis University lists its part-time MBA at $1,340 per credit as of summer 2026. At the premium end, WashU Olin's Flex MBA is estimated at $81,600 (48 credits), and its full-time MBA totals roughly $150,920 including fees. All figures are subject to annual increases.

The two schools serve different priorities rather than competing head to head. UMSL's Online Cohort MBA offers an all-inclusive, lower-cost path ideal for budget-conscious professionals. SLU provides more flexible pacing through evening, online, and hybrid options, along with a one-year accelerated summer track. Neither school clearly outranks the other overall; your choice should hinge on whether cost efficiency or scheduling flexibility matters more to your career goals.

Yes. The University of Missouri, St. Louis offers a fully online cohort MBA that can be completed entirely remotely for $36,399.19 Saint Louis University advertises online and hybrid delivery modes for its MBA, though its program blends those formats with evening classes rather than guaranteeing a 100 percent online experience. WashU Olin's Flex MBA is primarily in-person with some hybrid elements, not a fully online degree.

SLU's MBA is designed explicitly for working professionals, offering evening, online, and hybrid scheduling that lets students customize their pace. UMSL's Online Cohort MBA also fits working professionals well, particularly those seeking a lower-cost, fully remote option. WashU Olin's Flex MBA is another strong choice, though its higher price point (around $81,600) positions it for candidates targeting elite networking and employer pipelines.

WashU Olin does not publish a minimum GMAT requirement. Recent entering classes have reported average scores in the range of 702 to 706, with the middle 80 percent of admitted students scoring between roughly 550 and 780. Because these are averages rather than cutoffs, a competitive application with strong work experience and leadership can offset a score below the mean. Contact the admissions office for the latest test-optional or waiver policies.

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