The Forté MBA Fellowship is a competitive scholarship and leadership designation awarded through participating business schools. It is intended for MBA candidates who demonstrate strong leadership, bring varied personal and professional experiences, and support the advancement of women in business.
Forté does not provide one standard scholarship amount or accept a separate central fellowship application. Each member school selects its own Fellows and determines the value of the award.
Forté reports that participating schools have awarded more than $595 million in fellowships to over 24,000 MBA students. Students of every nationality, gender and gender identity may be considered when they meet the participating school’s requirements and demonstrate commitment to Forté’s mission.
What Is a Forté MBA Fellowship?
A Forté Fellowship combines a school funded MBA scholarship with membership in the Forté professional community.
To be considered, a candidate must first apply to an MBA program at a participating school. The school reviews the admission application, considers the candidate for its scholarships and then chooses which admitted students will be designated as Forté Fellows.
The usual process is:
- Apply to a participating MBA program.
- Receive an admission offer.
- Receive consideration for the school’s scholarship opportunities.
- Be selected by the school as a Forté Fellow.
- Register with Forté after accepting the award.
All participating schools offer fellowships for full time MBA students. Selected schools also offer awards for part time, executive, dual degree or online MBA candidates. The fellowship is connected to the program that nominated the student and cannot be transferred.
How Much Is the Forté Fellowship Worth?
There is no universal award amount.
One school may provide a modest tuition scholarship, while another may offer full tuition or combine tuition support with a stipend. The amount depends on the institution’s scholarship budget, the applicant and the school’s financial aid policy.
Johns Hopkins Carey Business School states that its Forté Fellows may receive $10,000 to $20,000 per year and that the award can be combined with other scholarships. Emory Goizueta says its MBA scholarships generally range from partial tuition to full tuition plus a stipend, although not every scholarship recipient is necessarily a Forté Fellow.
Applicants should confirm:
- The exact fellowship value
- Whether it is renewable
- Whether it can be combined with another award
- Whether it covers fees as well as tuition
- Whether a stipend or health insurance is included
- What academic or leadership conditions apply
A full tuition fellowship is valuable, but it is not automatically a fully funded MBA. Housing, meals, health insurance, books, international travel and personal expenses may remain unpaid.
Who Is Eligible?
Forté asks member schools to consider applicants who demonstrate exemplary leadership, represent varied backgrounds and career goals, and show a commitment to increasing opportunities for women in business.
Leadership may be demonstrated through professional responsibility, academic achievement, community service, entrepreneurship, team leadership, mentoring or advocacy.
The candidate must also be applying to an eligible MBA program at a Forté member school. Individual schools may add requirements connected to their values, scholarship criteria or application process.
Forté confirms that students of all nationalities, genders and gender identities are eligible. The fellowship is associated with advancing women in business, but applicants are assessed partly on their commitment to that mission rather than nationality or gender alone.
International candidates must also satisfy the MBA program’s admission requirements, which may include a recognised bachelor’s degree, professional experience, essays, recommendations, a resume, an interview and GMAT, GRE or English language results.
Forté does not publish a minimum GPA, test score or experience requirement that guarantees selection.
Forté Partner Business Schools in the USA
The current Forté network includes many prominent American business schools.
Examples include Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, MIT Sloan, Columbia Business School, NYU Stern, UC Berkeley Haas, Carnegie Mellon Tepper, Cornell Johnson, Dartmouth Tuck, Duke Fuqua, Emory Goizueta, Michigan Ross, UNC Kenan Flagler, Virginia Darden, Texas McCombs and Yale School of Management.
Other members include Boston University Questrom, Johns Hopkins Carey, Rice Jones, Vanderbilt Owen and Washington University Olin.
Membership can change, so applicants should confirm that a school remains in the Forté network for their intended entry cycle.
How to Apply for 2026/2027
There is no separate Forté Fellowship application submitted directly to the foundation before admission.
Apply through the participating school’s normal MBA application. Many schools use the same application to decide admission and merit scholarships. Forté itself only asks students to register after they have received an award from the school where they plan to enrol.
School procedures are not identical. Dartmouth Tuck, for example, asks candidates seeking a Tuck Forté Fellowship to complete an optional fellowship section within the MBA application. Applicants should review each school’s instructions instead of assuming that no additional question is required.
There is also no single Forté deadline. The relevant dates are the MBA application rounds published by each business school.
Applying earlier can improve access to scholarship funds at schools that award money while budgets remain available. Emory Goizueta encourages two year MBA candidates seeking scholarships to apply no later than Round 2 for full consideration.
For fall 2027 entry, applicants should prepare during 2026 by completing tests, requesting recommendations, refining essays and comparing the total cost of each program.
How to Strengthen Your Application
A strong fellowship application begins with a strong MBA admission application.
Use the resume and essays to show measurable leadership rather than relying on job titles. Explain the size of the team you led, revenue you influenced, process you improved, community you supported or business problem you solved.
Your commitment to advancing women in business should also be specific. Relevant evidence may include mentoring women entering your profession, supporting women owned businesses, improving recruitment practices, creating leadership programs or sponsoring colleagues for promotion.
Applicants who have not led a formal gender initiative can still discuss actions that created fairer access, stronger mentorship or more inclusive teams.
Recommendations should provide evidence of judgement, influence and leadership. A detailed example is more useful than generic praise.
Tuition, Living Costs and MBA Financing
The fellowship amount should be compared with the complete MBA cost, not tuition alone.
Forté advises candidates to budget for tuition and fees, books, housing, food, living expenses, moving costs, club dues, conferences and travel. Full time students should also consider the salary they may give up while completing the degree.
Common ways to cover the remaining cost include school scholarships, need based grants, employer sponsorship, personal savings, government or private loans and external foundation grants.
Most foreign citizens are not eligible for United States federal student aid unless they qualify as eligible noncitizens. International students should ask each business school about institutional loans, private lender relationships and other financing options.
Health insurance also requires attention. A school may require students to enrol in its health plan unless they have qualifying alternative coverage. The Forté designation itself does not guarantee payment of the insurance premium.
When comparing offers, calculate the remaining annual cost after the scholarship. Include tuition, university fees, insurance, housing, food, books, transportation, visa expenses and personal costs.
A $40,000 scholarship at an expensive business school may leave a larger balance than a smaller scholarship at a lower cost program.
F 1 Visa and Proof of Funds
Most international students attending a full time MBA in the United States use F 1 status.
After admission, the school issues Form I 20 once the student has been entered into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and has met the institution’s financial documentation requirements. The student and an authorised school official must sign the form.
The Forté scholarship letter can reduce the amount the student must demonstrate. If the fellowship does not cover the full cost of attendance, the applicant may still need bank statements, sponsor documents, approved education financing or other evidence for the remaining amount.
The current I 901 SEVIS fee for an F 1 student is $350. Visa and SEVIS expenses are not automatically covered unless the school’s written award specifically includes them.
Scholarship selection and MBA admission do not guarantee visa approval. International students should avoid buying nonrefundable flights until the appropriate visa has been issued.
Benefits Beyond the Scholarship
Forté Fellows receive professional and leadership events, networking with executives and students, access to an online Fellows community, inclusion in a resume book shared with member companies, career opportunities, mentoring and lifetime access to selected Forté resources.
Fellows are also expected to support the mission on campus. They may participate in women in business organisations, serve as ambassadors, mentor prospective applicants and help their schools expand access to business education.
These professional benefits can be valuable to students interested in consulting, finance, investment banking, technology, healthcare management, entrepreneurship and corporate leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Forté Fellowship fully funded?
Not necessarily. Award values vary by school. Some provide full tuition, while others offer partial support.
Can international students apply?
Yes. Students of every nationality may be considered.
Is the fellowship only for women?
No. Forté states that all genders and gender identities are eligible, although candidates should demonstrate commitment to advancing women in business.
Is there a separate application?
There is no central application to Forté before admission. Some schools may include optional fellowship questions in their MBA application.
What is the deadline?
There is no universal deadline. Applicants must follow the MBA rounds of each participating school.
Does the fellowship cover health insurance?
Only when the school’s written scholarship package includes it. Forté membership alone does not guarantee insurance funding.
Final Thoughts
The Forté MBA Fellowship can reduce MBA tuition while providing access to a valuable leadership, employer and alumni network.
Candidates should remember that the business school, not Forté, chooses the Fellows and determines the scholarship amount. Apply to a participating program, meet its admission requirements and present strong evidence of leadership and commitment to expanding opportunities for women.
Compare the fellowship with tuition, health insurance, living costs, education financing and visa funding before accepting an offer.
