Financing Your Degree
Financing Your Degree - MSQM: Business Analytics–online
Supporting your investment
A business master’s degree is a big investment of your time and resources, and we’re committed to helping all qualified students pursue their academic and professional goals. Our financial aid office can work with you to make this a more seamless process by helping you get the guidance and resources you need to finance your education.
Learning More About Scholarships, Loans, and Other Aid
There are various types of financial aid—often made up of scholarships, student loans, financial support from your employer, or a combination of these. Here, you’ll find:
- Information on scholarships
- Descriptions of available loan programs
- Information about the application process
- Suggestions for soliciting your employer’s support
Please read the Fuqua Financial Aid Guidebook (Policies & Procedures) to learn more before proceeding with your loan application.
For each financial aid program, be sure to consider:
- Eligibility requirements
- Loan application deadlines
- Other implications, such as repayment conditions
Contact Us
If you have questions about financial aid or need assistance with the process, please contact our financial aid office.
Financial Aid Fast Fact
Prompt responses for extra information or documents will help us process your application more quickly.
Every admitted applicant is considered for a merit scholarship based on that 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:
- 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.
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.
- If you have completed your FAFSA after March 1, you'll typically receive a loan aid offer notice within 10 business days.
Student loan options include:
Applying for Federal Student Aid (Federal Direct Unsubsidized & Graduate PLUS loans)
View/download Financial Aid instructions for the MSQM: Business Analytics online program:
- Class of 2026
- Class of 2025
- Complete the 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 the FAFSA result (The Student Aid Report -SAR) is received, your student aid eligibility will be reviewed.
- 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
View/download Financial Aid instructions for the MSQM: Business Analytics online program:
- Class of 2026
- Class of 2025
- Complete one of the listed 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.
View Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) and Loan Borrowing Eligibility:
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 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 are covered under the Yellow Ribbon Program, 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 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 tables estimate the Post 9/11 GI-Bill & Yellow Ribbon benefit pay-out for your program.
Please note that the Post 9/11 GI-Bill & Yellow Ribbon benefit are not applied to the Program Residency Fee (which includes lodging and meals for Term 1 residency):
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.
Visit the Office of the University Registrar for detailed instructions on how to initiate or 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 the Chapter 33 certification process and how to obtain the VA education benefits, access the following link and go to the “Certification Process” section for the certification process graphic (Chapter 33) flowcharts.
For additional resources, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Fuqua School of Business offers 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.
Applying for Private Alternative Student Loans
- View/download Financial Aid instructions for the MSQM: Business Analytics online program:
- Complete one of the listed 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.
View Estimated Cost of Attendance (COA) and Borrowing Eligibility
Frequently Asked Questions
Please view answers to some frequently asked questions about scholarships and loans for international students.
Forms and Resources
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
For U.S. Citizen and 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
- Student Loan Calculator
For International Students:
FAQ
For answers to frequently asked questions about how to finance your degree, visit our FAQ pages:
Contact Us
Sign up for information about our MSQM: Business Analytics program.
Employer Financial Support
Every student faces a different situation when it comes to funding their education based on their company, industry, personal motivations, and career goals. While many students receive financial support from their employers for the program, this is not required or necessary. Some employers provide full or partial financial sponsorship, while others only provide support for work absences. It is in your best interest to start the conversation with your employer before beginning your application.
TRENDS IN FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP
Financial support for working professional business master’s programs varies considerably from company to company—and even within a company. Approximately 5-10% of students receive full financial sponsorship, 50% receive partial sponsorship, and 40% finance their education completely on their own, often through financial aid and loans. Some companies may provide reimbursement or compensation once they begin seeing students’ new value to the organization.
It’s not uncommon for employers to require a student to formally commit to working for the company for some period following graduation if they have received financial support. Multi-year commitments are relatively common.
TIPS FOR SEEKING YOUR EMPLOYER’S FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Prepare a strategy. Read about your company's education reimbursement policy, then speak with colleagues who have gone through the process either at Duke or other schools. Our admissions team may be able to connect you with Fuqua alumni who can provide insight into how their sponsorship situations were managed. Formulate responses to questions your employer may ask regarding your goals, plans, and ability to self-fund your education.
Outline the breadth and depth of the program. Duke’s programs for working professionals provide a rigorous foundation in core functional areas of business.
Describe the program’s impact on your leadership potential. Alumni describe having undergone self-discovery that made them far more valuable to their organization and enabled them to take on new management and leadership roles. Communicate your ambition and commitment to excellence in your organization, including your drive to take on greater challenges.
Communicate the program’s real-time benefits. You’ll continue to work while earning a degree, and therefore be able to apply your learnings and add value to your business in real time. Identify opportunities where new knowledge and strategies could increase your productivity and help you address your firm’s current issues.
Emphasize the program’s networking power. You’ll interact with a cohort of diverse, talented professionals across functions and industries, and join a prominent international network that can be leveraged to support business opportunities.
REQUESTING FINANCIAL SUPPORT
You can view a sample sponsorship request here based on an actual student request. Note that every student approaches this process differently based on their individual situation, and you should develop your own plan for communicating to your employer the value of you pursuing your graduate degree at Duke.
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