By Dr. Vlad Krotov
AACSB accreditation is widely recognized as the gold standard for business school quality. In addition to being committed to excellence in business education, business schools considering pursuing AACSB accreditation must also be prepared for a significant financial commitment that all accreditation projects require. So, how much does AACSB accreditation actually cost?
Direct AACSB Fees
According to the official AACSB fee schedule, the total direct cost of AACSB accreditation over a six-year initial accreditation period is approximately $73,000. The breakdown of this amount is provided in Table 1 below:
Table 1. AACSB Accreditation Fees
| Fee Type | Description | Amount |
| Eligibility Application Workshop | Starting February 2025, AACSB requires schools to attend a mandatory eligibility application workshop | $1,000 |
| Eligibility Application Fee | One-time fee due after submitting the initial eligibility application | $2,400 |
| Initial Accreditation Committee Process Acceptance Fee | One-time fee due after the Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC) accepts the eligibility application | $7,800 |
| Initial Accreditation Fee | Annual fee applied while the school is in the initial accreditation process. The first payment is due following acceptance of the eligibility application. | $7,140 × 6 = $42,840 |
| Initial Accreditation Visit Application Fee | One-time fee charged following submission of the initial accreditation application | $18,000 |
| Total: | $73,040 |
The total of $73,040 does not include the travel expenses associated with visits by the school’s assigned AACSB Mentor. These mentor visits are required by AACSB and are carried out at the institution’s expense.
Additional Institutional Costs
It’s important to note that AACSB fees are only part of the story. Achieving and maintaining AACSB accreditation typically requires additional investments, which vary by institution. These may include:
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- Hiring Faculty and Staff: Many schools find it necessary to hire new faculty members and staff to meet AACSB’s standards for faculty sufficiency and to manage the added workload associated with accreditation. This includes efforts in faculty credentialing, strategic planning, and assurance of learning.
- Infrastructure and Technology Upgrades: AACSB accreditation often leads schools to improve their digital learning platforms, student services, or physical facilities to align with global best practices.
- Training and Development: Faculty and staff may require AACSB-specific professional development to fully implement accreditation standards—especially in areas like curriculum design and assessment.
- Accreditation Consulting: Some institutions choose to engage external consultants or hire dedicated internal project managers to support the accreditation process and address identified gaps.
These non-fee expenses can vary widely and may easily exceed the direct AACSB fees. A thorough gap analysis—which evaluates the school’s current practices against AACSB standards—is essential for estimating the total cost of the full accreditation journey.
Is AACSB a Worthwhile Investment?
While the direct cost of AACSB accreditation is about $73,000, the true total may be substantially higher when accounting for staffing, infrastructure, and training investments. However, it’s important to note that most of these additional costs go towards organizational improvement, and not AACSB per se. For many business schools, the long-term benefits of international recognition, improved program quality, and enhanced student outcomes make AACSB accreditation a worthwhile investment.