Once a student has selected a school, the issue of how to pay tuition is usually the biggest hurdle. The best start for clearing that obstacle is for the student to talk with his or her employer.

“Even if the organization you work for does not have a stated tuition reimbursement policy, it’s always prudent to ask,” says Bruce Williams, University of Phoenix marketing vice president, Western region. “Most employers realize that an MBA or similar degree program is considered a very reliable professional development resource. Your expressed interest in an MBA may be taken as a signal of your desire for greater career aspirations within your organization.”

The Phoenix MBA program costs from $16,000 to $20,000. The higher range reflects supplemental courses students take to add a specialization to their MBA.

Employer reimbursement may cover some or all educational costs. Since there may be an annual cap on funds, Williams offers a tip for stretching reimbursement funds. Most companies schedule reimbursements to coincide with the calendar year, so begin an 18- to 24-month program in the fall. “You’ll pick up extra funds when you extend into the third calendar year,” he says.

Put your goal of an MBA in your career development plan, advises JoAnne Starr, assistant dean at UCSD’s Rady School of Management.

Denise Dimon, director of MBA programs at USD’s School of Business Administration, notes that school representatives will work with companies to set up tuition assistance programs. Schools also offer assistance. USD has a dean’s merit scholarship and graduate grants based on need. There are also working assistantships.

Fellowships and scholarships are also sources of funds. Check with community service organizations and groups like the National Society of Hispanic MBAs. Do a Google search for scholarships, advises Williams. Another source is fastweb.com.

Starr advises prospective students to apply for scholarships and financial aid. She notes they won’t know if they’re eligible if they don’t apply. “Loans are a piece of the puzzle for many students,” she says. Students can borrow $18,500 annually through the federal Stafford Loan program, says Chapman University’s June Goodrich. The government pays the interest on $8,500 of that loan while the student is in school if the applicant meets an income limit. The subsidized loan is based on need. Details about federal loans are available at staffordloan.com.

At Alliant International University, costs may be reduced with assistantships. In addition, the number of units required is reduced for MBA candidates with an undergraduate degree from Alliant, says Fred Phillips, associate dean of Alliant’s Marshall Goldsmith School of Management.

The MBA and master of international business administration are 39-unit programs that each cost $30, 810. Alliant also offers a doctor of business administration, a 60-unit degree that is $49,500.

Phillips notes that the percentage of international students at Alliant is in the high 90s. He attributes this to the 2002 merger of United States International University and Alliant. “USIU was very well known overseas. Graduates are ‘minister of that,’ the ‘vice president of that,’” says Phillips. “We continue to attract a number of students overseas. It’s a very welcoming place for them.”

He adds that Alliant’s focus on the “human side of enterprise and strong managerial psychology” is reflected in the business school’s name. Goldsmith, a best-selling author and executive coach, teaches at the university.

After researching business schools and costs, the decision about where to enroll is an individual one, says Starr. “Ultimately, the best program is the one that feels right and sounds right.”

— Liz Swain