MBA - Tuition and Financial Aid - External Partner Organizations

Scholarships Awarded Through Foundations 

Darden is proud to be a member school or foundation partner with several external organizations whose missions may include supporting MBA students through scholarships, professional development, resources, community-building and mentoring. Consideration for most of these scholarships is through the Darden application. These organizations independently select and award the scholarships below. More information is available below and on each respective organization's website. Please note below if there is a supplemental process.

Darden School Foundation

The University of Virginia Darden School Foundation is an independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation that was incorporated on 29 December 1952. Scholarship programs offered by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation include numerous merit scholarship awards and the Breakthrough Scholars program. The Darden School Foundation Scholarship committee will review the candidate’s admission application. Candidates who have been selected to interview for the Breakthrough Scholars program will be notified at the time of admission decision. All other merit award recipients will be notified at the time of admission decision.

Jefferson Scholars Foundation

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation is an independent and merit-based scholarship and fellowship program at the University of Virginia. It annually awards the Jefferson Fellowships, which are granted to the most exceptional candidates from anywhere in the world who demonstrate qualities such as ethical leadership, diplomatic decisiveness, a track record of putting ideas into action and a superb record of academic achievement.

McGowan Fellows Program

The McGowan Fellows Program supports a full-tuition scholarship to one Second Year student who is in the top five percent of the First Year class and who demonstrates leadership experience through a competitive application process. Supported by the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund, the selected fellow participates in a host of experiential leadership development opportunities throughout the year with fellows from nine other top business schools. The purpose of the McGowan Fellows Program is to build and support a community of emerging business leaders who embody the McGowan principles of ethical leadership and will favorably contribute to a fair and just society for all. Students will learn more about this and other available Second Year scholarship opportunities during their first year in the program.

Fellowship Designations

Darden is a proud member of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, Forte Foundation, Reaching Out MBA, Access MBA and others. Scholarship awards may be designated as fellowships for the programs listed below. These organizations independently select and award the fellowship designations. Candidates are notified at the time of admission decision if their scholarship award has been designated as a fellowship, or if they have the opportunity to apply.

Consortium Fellowships

The mission of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management is to enhance diversity in business education and leadership by helping to reduce the serious underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both Consortium member schools’ enrollment, and the ranks of management. 

Forté Fellowships

The mission of the Forte Foundation is to support women into fulfilling, significant careers through access to business education, professional development and a community of successful women. 

Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) Fellowships

Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) is the global organization that focuses on educating, inspiring and connecting current and prospective LGBTQ business students in an ongoing effort to create the next generation of our business leaders.