Tuition & Aid

Discover the tuition and aid options for the Penn State Smeal Executive DBA program. The tuition for the upcoming class is $130,000, or approximately $43,333 per year, covering all courses and additional benefits during residency weeks. Explore the optional experiential learning opportunities, including the Global Immersion and Leadership Immersion experiences, providing real-world exposure and fostering connections. Learn about limited scholarships available based on merit and the exclusive Penn State Alumni Fellowship Award, offering a one-time tuition award of $5,000 for Penn State University graduates. Plan your financial journey and invest in your Executive DBA education at Penn State Smeal. Keywords: Penn State Smeal Executive DBA, tuition and aid, program cost, residency weeks, optional experiences, Global Immersion, Leadership Immersion, scholarships, merit-based, Penn State Alumni Fellowship Award, financial support, investment.

Penn State Smeal Executive DBA tuition for the class entering in August 2025 is $130,000, or approximately $43,333 per year. This fee covers:

  • Tuition for all courses (excluding required Penn State student fees)
  • Group meals, activities, and local transportation during residency weeks

A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 is required to accept an offer of admission to the Executive DBA program. This deposit will be credited toward your fall tuition payment.

Optional Experiences

Penn State Smeal offers several experiential learning opportunities to its graduate community for real-world exposure and to foster connections that endure. 

  • Global Immersion
    For a tuition add-on of $3,000*, students may choose to participate in our optional Global Immersion experience. This includes a weeklong global immersion trip to examine business practices and ongoing challenges and opportunities in emerging markets across the globe. Past destinations include Brazil, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, India, Peru, South Africa, and Turkey. The cost includes lodging for seven nights, hotel breakfasts, a group city tour, one group dinner, numerous business visits, local tour guides, on-site support, 24-hour travel customer support, and travel health insurance.
  • Leadership Immersion
    For a tuition add-on of $750*, students may choose to participate along with our residential MBA students in an optional Leadership Immersion experience, spending a day developing leadership and communication skills under pressure with the Fire Department of New York, or with the U.S. Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. The cost includes lodging for one night prior to the experience, meals while on site, and travel to and from University Park, Pa., if needed. 

Scholarships

The Penn State Smeal College of Business is pleased to award limited scholarships to successful applicants based on merit. All those admitted to the Smeal Executive DBA will be considered for scholarships, with priority given to those who complete their applications by December 1st, 2024. 

As scholarships are limited, we encourage applicants to speak with their employers about available funding to support your continuing education in the Executive DBA program. For military veterans and active servicemembers, Penn State provides numerous resources and benefits; more information can be found here: https://veterans.psu.edu/future-students/.

Penn State Alumni Fellowship Award

Any Penn Stater who has completed a degree through Penn State University is eligible to receive a one-time award of $5,000 toward their Executive DBA tuition. Penn State alumni are encouraged to contact the program to inquire about this exclusive tuition award and confirm eligibility.

* Prices estimated based on current rates and are subject to change.