We know earning a Master in Business, Climate, and Sustainability (MBCS) degree is a significant investment, and we’re committed to helping make it possible for all qualified and committed candidates. Financial aid for the MBCS program will be managed through Fuqua’s financial aid office, and we hope to make this a more seamless process by helping you get the guidance and resources you need to finance your education.
There are various types of financial aid—often made up of scholarships, student loans, or a combination of both. Here, you’ll find:
Please read the Fuqua Financial Aid Guide Book (Policies & Procedures) to learn more before proceeding with your application.
For each financial aid program, make sure to consider:
If you have questions about financial aid or need assistance with the process, please don't hesitate to contact our financial aid office.
Start Date: July 2026
Duration: 10 months
Program location: Durham, NC
Campus location: Fuqua School of Business and Nicholas School of the Environment
Style: Cohort-based
Merit Scholarships
Every admitted applicant is considered for a merit scholarship based on a student’s overall profile. For questions regarding scholarship awards or to receive more information about the scholarship review process, please contact your admissions counselor.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:
HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MERIT SCHOLARSHIP?
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:
STUDENT LOAN OPTIONS INCLUDE:
Applying for Federal Student Aid (Federal Direct Unsubsidized & Graduate PLUS)
Applying for Private Alternative Student Loans
Estimated 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 eleven-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 link to view the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets:
Frequently Asked Questions
Please view answers to some frequently asked questions about scholarships and loans for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Please access the Office of the University Registrar’s website to learn about using your VA or DoD education benefits at Duke.
We Participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program:
We are especially proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. In order to support as many qualifying service members as possible, Fuqua will contribute up to 18,000 USD each VA academic year in Yellow Ribbon scholarship and does not limit the number of participants in the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Access this link to learn Yellow Ribbon at Duke.
How much may I receive?
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) & Yellow Ribbon: at 100% eligibility, the following table estimates the Post-9/11 GI Bill® & Yellow Ribbon benefit pay-out for your program:
Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30), Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35), Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606): see the rates on the following page.
Current VA Education Benefit Rates | Veterans Affairs
Getting started:
Admitted students must submit their VA documents (i.e. VA Certificate of Eligibility letter, Purple Heart Certificate) to veteranseducation@duke.edu to start using VA education benefits at Duke.
The School Certifying Official (SCO) may be reached via email or at 919.684.4225.
Visit the Office of the University Registrar for detailed instructions on how to initiate/continue your benefits. Also, if students have questions or concerns, they may contact our financial aid office for assistance.Office of the University Registrar for detailed instructions on how to initiate/continue your benefits. Also, if students have questions or concerns, they may 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 their Chapter 33 VA benefit status.
For an overview of the certification process and how to obtain the VA education benefits, access the following link and go to the “Certification Process” section.
For additional resources, visit the VA Education and Training Benefits | Veterans Affairs
The Fuqua School of Business offers both cosigner and no-cosigner international student loan options. For more information about the cosigner and no-cosigner loan options, please access Duke University's list of Private Loan Options.
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
Other Funding Sources for International Students
You may find a suitable funding source from our list of external funding programs from international agencies.
Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) and 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 eleven-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:
Frequently Asked Questions
Please view answers to some frequently asked questions about scholarships and loans for international students.
Please consult our Financial Aid Guidebook (Policies & Procedures).
For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Resident Students
For International Students
For U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident Students:
For International Students:
FAQ
For answers to frequently asked questions about how to finance your degree, visit our FAQ pages: