Scholarships

Thunderbird has a rich history of providing the finest international business management education in the world. The quality of the Thunderbird experience is reflected in the fact that more than 40,000 of our graduates play leading roles at the best businesses in 141 different countries worldwide.


Scholarships

Entering Student Merit Scholarships

Applicants interested in being considered for a scholarship need to submit a one page (maximum) statement explaining why you believe you would be a strong candidate for a Thunderbird scholarship. Selection is based on the essay as well as documentation submitted with your application.

Qualifications
The scholarship competitive applicant will present the following credentials:

  1. A GMAT of no lower than 630 or GRE of 1250
  2. A university record of no lower than a 3.0 or the equivalent
  3. Active in organizations and clubs in previous educational or professional experience
  4. International exposure or residence

Listed below are the levels of scholarships for which entering students are eligible:

  • Thunderbird Tower Scholarship: 50% of one trimester's tuition
  • Provost Scholarship: 25% tuition of the program of study
  • Founder's Scholarship: 50% tuition of the program of study
  • Trustee's Scholarship: 75% tuition of the program of study
  • Presidential Scholarship: 100% tuition of the program of study

The following categories of scholarships exist within the levels listed above. Submitted applications must include evidence of the applicant meeting specific criteria associated with the relevant category.

  • Global Citizenship: Awarded at all levels, this scholarship is for those who clearly demonstrate past accomplishments, indicating a commitment to Global Citizenship
  • Global Mindset: Awarded at all levels, this scholarship is for those who present experiences in which the development of a Global Mindset is clearly demonstrated.
  • Global Entrepreneurship: Awarded at all levels, this scholarship is for those who show evidence of past entrepreneurial interest and solid future plans for an entrepreneurial career path.
  • AIESEC Scholarship: Awarded at all levels, competitive applicants must show evidence of a minimum of an ongoing membership and a leadership role in AIESEC at the local, national or international level. The application must have a letter of recommendation from a member of the AIESEC Board of Advisors or Board of Directors.
  • Peace Corps Scholarship: Awarded at all levels, this scholarship is restricted to volunteers who have served a complete term of enlistment in the Peace Corps. Service must be validated by a recommendation letter, written on official PeaceCorps stationary, by an official Peaces Corp official.
  • Arizona Universities Scholarship: Awarded at all levels, this scholarship is available to graduates of the University of Arizona, Arizona State University or Northern Arizona University.
  • Veteran's Scholarship: Awarded at all levels, this scholarship is available to honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Services. A copy of your discharge documents must be submitted for validation.
  • Golden Key Scholarship: Awarded at all levels, competitive applicants must show evidence of a minimum of an ongoing membership and a leadership role in Golden Key at the local, national or international level. The application must have a letter of recommendation from a Golden Key chapter advisor or Associate Director.

Foundations, alumni and other members of the Thunderbird community who share Thunderbird's vision to educate global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide have established awards to support our Entering Student Merit Scholarship program in whole or in part.

  • United States Steel Scholarship
    This is an entering student scholarship for a full-time enrolled student who is a U.S. citizen. Students should be selected based on academic performance in undergraduate studies and leadership qualities. Sons or daughters of the USS Corporation or its eligible subsidiaries should be given preference. If no sons or daughters apply, the scholarship may be given to another U.S. citizen who meets the academic and leadership criteria.
  • Karen & Gary Brukardt Scholarship
    Currently used to provide full or partial tuition scholarships to two to three top caliber (as measured by undergraduate GPA and test scores) mature new students entering Thunderbird's Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Management and Master of Science in Global Management programs.
  • Enterprise Scholars
    This award was established to promote the entrepreneurial spirit of Thunderbird students.
  • Sherman Hazeltine Endowed Scholarship
    Qualified candidates should have experience in banking. Preferred candidates will have international banking experience and seek to continue a career in international banking.
  • The President Roy A. Herberger, Jr. Fellows Endowment
    The Scholarship Committee will seek to identify candidates with superior academic achievement, high leadership potential, and innovative or unique professional or personal life experiences that would substantially contribute and enhance the quality of the Thunderbird experience for students, faculty, staff and alumni. All scholarship recipients must meet the institutional requirements for a scholarship.
  • J.M. Klein Veteran Scholarship Fund
    This scholarship is for a veteran of the armed forces or a dependent of such who is an entering or continuing student. Candidates will have financial need, scholastic achievement and extracurricular achievements demonstrative of leadership qualities.
  • Ena Craig de Luksic Foundation Scholarship
    Established in 2001 by Board of Trustees member Guillermo Luksic in hopes of attracting students from Universidad Finis Terrae (where he is also a board member) in order to forge an alliance between the two schools. Prospective recipients must meet Thunderbird's general admissions requirements: a minimum of two years of work experience in a global setting, undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher, GMAT score of 610 or higher, and TOEFL score of 600 or higher. Qualified Chilean applicants who have graduated from Universidad Finis Terrae will be given first priority. For other qualified applicants, preference will be given first to employees of Grupo Luksic, next to other Chileans and finally to Latin Americans.
  • James Parshall & Joseph Smith Memorial Scholarship
    For an entering or continuing student. Applicants must be U.S. Marine Corps veterans and possess a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

Grants

Merit–based financial awards offered on a competitive basis, as follows:

  • Domestic Diversity Grant: a grant providing 50% tuition coverage to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents belonging to a U.S. ethnic group that is under-represented in the Thunderbird student body, qualify for this award. This program is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation, the Hearst Foundation and by the school.