GMAT scores have increased steadily throughout the nineties and scores at the top business schools are up significantly from 1996. It's easy with the computer adaptive test to put it off until it's too late to retake the exam if you don't like the score. Paying For School Business school was extremely expensive. The cost of tuition at Columbia, Duke, MIT, Wharton, Chicago and Kellogg is only a hundred dollars or so less. Last year, two thirds of MBA students required loans.
Aid does exist.
It's also important to keep up to speed on the changing federal and state regulations that affect financial aid. New tax creditsinclude the Lifetime Learning Credit which applies to tuition and fees for undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education coursework. As the demand for MBAs increases, employers have expanded their tuition reimbursement programs. Since most MBA candidates have had a few years of work experience, it is easier to research such corporate programs. There are billions of dollars available to support graduate study.