Hi Everyone,

Can you please assist me to choose the best MBA for me? I want to study in US and in campus. I have low GPA and $40,000 in hand. I think good GMAT could cover my low GPA. Will a cheap MBA be my only choice or may be other factors can be considered? I am not eligible for Federal loans since I am Egyptian. Bank loans from my country will not be helpful for me because I will have to pay monthly installment during my study without much income in return.

Consider....
Auburn University (AL)
University of Tennessee--Knoxville (TN)
University of Kansas (KS)
Iowa State University (IA)
University of Arkansas--Fayetteville (Walton) (AR)
University of Alabama (Manderson) (AL)
Texas A&M International University (TX)
University of Mississippi (MS)
Brigham Young University (Marriott) (UT)
University of Massachusetts--Amherst (Isenberg) (MA)

Your money might go further in Canada or the UK.

Thanks JK. I considered at least half of my money which $20,000 to cover my cost of living for 2 years so that I can only choose a program with total $20,000. I believe that I will not be able to get the MBA will all my money, and find work on my student visa to support living. Working 20 hours in campus not always afford too much, as well. Can you please give me any information or plans could help me in that?

Your help is highly appreciated!

I think this is very hard. both the budget ($5K per semester, if you were to take a full-time degree) and the assumption that a college will be able to find 20 hours a week of on-campus work for you

I'm not aware of a US MBA costing $5k a semester. You'll need to do your own research, considering websites like http://www.cheapmba.net/ . On this website [http://www.happyschoolsblog.com/cheapest-public-universities-mba/] is this list of the "10 Cheapest Public Universities for MBA for Out of State Students" fees:
University of Hawaii?Manoa (Shidler) $14,934
Lamar University (TX) $15,868
University of North Carolina?Wilmington (Cameron) $17,300
University at Buffalo?SUNY $19,627
Clemson University (SC) $20,010
University of North Carolina?Greensboro (Bryan) $20,896
Iowa State University $21,864
San Diego State University $22,868
University of Houston (Bauer) $23,638
University of Alabama (Manderson) $24,230

Check these figures carefully. Sadly, this is a mix of fees per semester [as at Hawai'i] and doesn't reflect the two year nature of many MBAs. At Lammar, for example, the cost of an MBA is $27,523.

The US immigration authority will want to see that you have funds available for the whole period. There is no guarantee of finding student employment. 20 hours a week is a lot. I don't see how an MBA students could do that and keep up with their course work. While the Visa allows you to work up to 20 hours on campus, many schools how lower limits, around 8 or 12 hours a week.

You best bet will be to find one year MBA programmes, like the Mississippi MBA: http://olemissbusiness.com/mba/campusmba/index.html

Even in Europe, this budget would not go far. Stirling and Aberdeen would be slightly over your budget. You'd be looking at schools like Hochschule Bremen - International Graduate Center, Anglo-American University, Roehampton University and perhaps your best value/quality are in Turkey, at Koc University or Bilkent University.

Thanks for you assistance. I am really confused to decide whether to have cheap MBA from US or stay one more year at work and get more money to enroll in highly ranked school. I need substantial transition in my career and feel the difference. Do you think holding cheap MBA can ensure me that as long as it is in US and has recognized accreditation like AACSB or it worth to wait for one more year and pay for better MBA. How far business school ranking affect remarkable work opportunities worldwide, not US?

How about the possibility of getting enough scholarship from ranked school with LOW GPA and go for my MBA with my current savings?

Thanks for your time in helping me!!

I don't think you can confidently go for a cheap MBA. Financially, you will be in a very difficult position, and you may not be able to get a visa without proof of funds.

Accreditation is good but, as you know, the better the MBA the better the return on your investment. That's true worldwide, not just in the US.

Furthermore, one more year would allow you to work on your English and your GMAT. With better essays, and better interview performance you can get into a better program and perhaps get a small amount of financial aid if your GMAT is good.

A low GMAT won't help you to win a scholarship. In the US scholarships are used to get highly able students into the school.

PS I was speaking with a client yesterday from Africa who has a low GPA. I suggested that he should take a small, part-time course now which would give him a second transcript with a higher GPA. Even if if took just one college-level class, it would show his ability.

Thanks a bunch! Much appreciation!

A low GMAT won't help you to win a scholarship. In the US scholarships are used to get highly able students into the school.

A low GMAT won't help you to win a scholarship. In the US scholarships are used to get highly able students into the school.

Indeed. But just FYI - there are often school-specific scholarships for MBA programs in the US that are given to those with particular backgrounds. For example, I know that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has a fellowship for students from the Arab lands to enable them to study at schools like Columbia and Duke Fuqua. Check with this schools you're considering to see if they offer anything similar.