Is a luxury MBA in Europe even worth it if ROI is a big concern?

Question

I’ve been thinking about doing an MBA in luxury brand management from Europe, but honestly, the cost is stressing me out. I can’t afford those €40K–€60K fees unless I get a solid scholarship.
I’m 25, did my BBA, and have around 3 years of work ex in digital marketing at a small fashion brand in India. I love the idea of moving into luxury, but I’m scared of ending up with a big loan and no real job leads after.
Do these programs offer decent scholarships that international students actually get?

Which schools have a good balance of cost + career outcomes?

Should I wait and apply with more experience to make it safer ROI-wise?

Jayant M · Accepted Answer

Honestly, if ROI is your top concern, luxury MBAs in Europe aren&rsquo;t the safest bet &mdash; at least not without some funding. A lot of grads start in junior brand or marketing roles, and salaries in luxury tend to be modest compared to consulting or finance. You&rsquo;re looking at &euro;45K&ndash;&euro;60K in most cases, especially early on.
Your background actually fits well,  3 years in fashion and digital is what schools like ESSEC and SDA Bocconi look for. Scholarships are possible, but they&rsquo;re super competitive. Most go to early applicants with clear direction. If you wait another year, it might improve your odds &mdash; but only if you use the time to get deeper experience, like working with a premium or international fashion label.
If budget&rsquo;s tight, also look into schools like POLIMI or EMLYON. They&rsquo;re cheaper, still offer luxury electives, and may give you more room to breathe financially while breaking into the industry.

Mohit C · Answer

Luxury MBAs can be tricky in terms of ROI. Salaries after graduation are usually lower than in tech or consulting &mdash; starting offers often sit around &euro;40K&ndash;&euro;55K, even from top programs. It&rsquo;s not terrible, but it doesn&rsquo;t wipe out a loan quickly either.
Scholarships are there, but full funding is rare for international students. Most people get partial waivers, and you&rsquo;ll still need to budget for living costs in expensive cities like Milan or Paris.
Bocconi and ESSEC are strong options, but also look at IFM (Institut Fran&ccedil;ais de la Mode) or think about doing internships first to test the waters. Some general MBAs offer luxury-focused electives &mdash; that path gives you more job flexibility without locking you into one niche.
Waiting a year could help. More experience might strengthen your profile and give you time to save or find funding options. In luxury, timing and network often matter more than rushing in.

S Raghav · Answer

Totally get the hesitation,  luxury MBAs in Europe aren&rsquo;t cheap, and the ROI isn&rsquo;t as straightforward as it is for, say, consulting or finance MBAs. Programs like ESSEC, SDA Bocconi, and EMLYON are the popular ones in this space. They do offer scholarships, but they&rsquo;re competitive and often partial , something like 20&ndash;50% tuition off if your profile is strong.
Since your background is in digital marketing and fashion, you&rsquo;re actually aligned with what these schools look for. But placements in luxury aren&rsquo;t always structured,  roles in LVMH, Richemont, or Kering tend to come more through networking than direct campus hiring.
If ROI is a real concern, consider applying next year with 4+ years of work experience and a stronger portfolio. That way, you&rsquo;ll have a better shot at both scholarships and post-MBA roles with better pay. Luxury is network-heavy, so the more credibility you bring in, the easier it gets.

B.K Sharma · Answer

Totally get where you're coming from, the idea of getting into luxury is exciting, but the cost can be a serious hurdle. ESSEC is probably the strongest option if you're aiming for LVMH, Chanel, or similar. They&rsquo;ve got real partnerships and offer luxury-specific projects, and every year a few students do land internships or even full-time roles at brands like Dior, Guerlain, or Louis Vuitton. But jobs aren&rsquo;t handed out. Most grads start around &euro;45K&ndash;&euro;60K, so if you&rsquo;re paying full tuition plus living, it takes time to recover that.
As for scholarships,  yes, they&rsquo;re available, and people do get them. Apply in Round 1 and have a clear career story. Full rides are rare, but 30&ndash;50% awards are realistic with your background.
If ROI is stressing you out, waiting a year might help,  more experience could strengthen both your application and your scholarship chances. But if you&rsquo;re already sure about luxury, apply now and defer if the offer doesn&rsquo;t make financial sense.