Indiana Kelley ($$$$) vs Darden ($)

Hello everyone,

I have been fortunate enough to gain admission to several different business schools. While there are others out there, it has really come down to these two schools. I have been offered the Dean's Fellowship at Kelley which includes full tuition and health insurance. I have also been offered 50% tuition at UVA Darden. The cost difference over the entirety of the MBA program would be roughly $72,000 more if I attended Darden.

My post-MBA goal is management consulting. Obviously, I would try to get into an MBB firm. I know that placement at these firms are far better at Darden, but that by no means guarantees a position at one of those firms if I attend UVA. Back-up goal is with a Deloitte/Accenture/PwC firm or a leadership development program at an industrial company.

I enjoyed both schools. For me, Bloomington and and Charlottesville would both be great places to spend two years. I was more attracted to Darden during my campus visits based on classroom environment, faculty, and caliber of student body.

Short-term post-MBA, location does not matter; I wouldn't mind some warmer weather. Long-term (~10 years out) I would like to be in the Midwest at an industrial company in a marketing/business development/strategy role.

Do you think the Dean's Fellowship at Kelley (both the tuition and the intangibles) outweigh the 50% scholarship at Darden given my career goals? Looking forward to hearing your opinions.