Graduates of top MBA programs look forward to careers that have annual salaries of around $150,000 in addition to yearly bonus payouts of approximately $30,000. Salaries upon graduating from top MBA programs are about twice the starting salary of those with an undergraduate degree alone.* When it comes to pay, employment rate, and placement, all top MBA programs schools pave the way to lucrative post-MBA careers.
“Applicants see an MBA as a long-term investment in their future,” says Beth Tidmarsh, a former Kellogg School MBA Admissions Officer, now on the Stacy Blackman Consulting team.
Comparing MBA career data across the top programs can help applicants identify right-fit programs for their aspirations. Industry and geographic outplacement data are outlined here, and you can locate the MBA program career placement reports hyperlinked by school name below.
Here’s a deep-dive analysis of Is finance good career path and why? and also The Lure is More than Salary for Investment Banking
Our insights about MBA admissions for finance industry candidates was through a client study we did several years ago about success factors for getting admitted to Harvard, Stanford and Wharton for private equity applicants. We wrote about the merits of the investment banking career path in a conversation with SBC consultant. As well, you’ll find this overview on management consulting careers valuable.
Check out this interesting conversation about tech industry recruiting with Tory on our SBC team:
Do tech companies need Harvard grads?
For details on MBA program application deadlines, check out our comparison chart here.
Request a free consultation with a Principal on our team to assess school fit and admit odds.
Jobs & Pay Data |
||
MBAs employed 3 months after commencement |
91% |
|
Consulting Industry |
24% |
15% |
Finance Industry |
34% |
34% |
Tech Industry |
19% |
28% |
Health Care |
7% |
4% |
Northeast Location |
41% |
20% |
West Coast Location |
25% |
60% |
Southwest Location |
6% |
4% |
South |
3% |
3% |
Mid Atlantic |
3% |
1% |
Midwest |
8% |
2% |
International |
15% |
11% |
Jobs & Pay Data |
||
MBAs employed 3 months after commencement |
94% |
95% |
Consulting Industry |
36% |
38% |
Finance Industry |
15% |
30% |
Tech Industry |
28% |
16% |
Health Care |
5% |
4% |
Northeast Location |
14% |
23% |
West Coast Location |
34% |
25% |
Southwest Location |
7% |
6% |
South |
4% |
3% |
Midatlantic |
4% |
2% |
Midwest |
29% |
33% |
International |
8% |
9% |
Jobs & Pay Data | Wharton | Columbia |
MBAs employed 3 months after commencement | 94% | 90% |
Consulting Industry | 24% | 34% |
Finance Industry | 36% | 33% |
Tech Industry | 16% | 19.8%* |
Health Care | 7% | 4% |
Northeast Location | 42% | Not
Available |
West Coast Location | 27% | |
Southwest Location | 3% | |
South | 4% | |
Midatlantic | 8% | |
Midwest | 3% | |
International | 13% |
*CBS combines Media and Tech
Jobs & Pay Data |
||
Job offers at 3 months after commencement |
93% |
93% |
Consulting Industry |
31% |
41% |
Finance Industry |
18% |
19% |
Tech Industry |
27% |
20% |
Health Care |
8% |
2% |
Northeast Location |
27% |
30% |
West Coast Location |
25% |
15% |
Southwest Location |
17% |
15% |
South |
16% |
13% |
Midatlantic |
7% |
23% |
Midwest |
9% |
5% |
International |
6% |
5% |
Jobs & Pay Data |
||
MBAs employed 3 months after commencement |
95.50% |
89.50% |
Consulting Industry |
31.10% |
25.10% |
Finance Industry |
18.50% |
14.50% |
Tech Industry |
27.60% |
32.40% |
Health Care |
5.60% |
11.60% |
Northeast Location |
44.10% |
7.70% |
West Coast Location |
29.70% |
74.90% |
Southwest Location |
4.90% |
1.90% |
South |
4.20% |
1.00% |
Mid Atlantic |
2.80% |
1.40% |
Midwest |
2.80% |
3.90% |
International |
9.3% |
10% |
Jobs & Pay Data* | INSEAD | LBS |
MBAs employed 3 months after commencement | 89%* | 91% |
Consulting Industry | 48% | 28% |
Finance/Accounting Industry | 14% | 25% |
Information Technology/telecommunications | 23% | 13% |
Health Care/Pharmaceuticals/Biotechnology | 3% | 5% |
North America | 7% | 23% |
UK | 14% | 9% |
Europe (not the UK) | 37% | 15% |
Asia Pacific | 25% | 19% |
South/Central and Western Asia | 10% | 13% |
Middle East and Africa | 7% | 7% |
* “89% is the 2020 stats that includes the 20J class who graduated in a pandemic. Over the past years, INSEAD has consistently increased this figure by 1% reaching a record number of 92% in 2019,” shared a representative from INSEAD’s MBA program.
*Data is for MBA 2020 graduates and industry categories are approximate.
*Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), 2019
Top INDUSTRIES people go into after earning an MBA:
• Consulting • Financial services • Consumer products • Education
• Government • Nonprofit • Energy • Health Care • Manufacturing •Technology
Top ROLES people go into after earning an MBA:
• Senior leadership • Entrepreneur • Marketing • Strategy
• Finance • General Management • Operations • Technology
Request a free consultation with a Principal on our team to assess school fit and admit odds.