The path to an MBA tends to be a demanding and expensive one. The MBA programs of top-ranked U.S. business schools come with a hefty price tag, not to mention the intensive workload that students navigate throughout their education. For many aspiring MBAs, the end result is what makes it all worthwhile: MBAs are known to earn notably high salaries, starting immediately after graduation. The average post-graduation salaries at all top-ranked business schools are high, but which schools offer the most lucrative financial prospects?
Generally, graduates of top-ranked business schools can expect an average base salary totaling upward of $150,000. For the Class of 2024, graduates of the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) full-time MBA program had the highest average base salary: $187,504. Many of the schools comparable to the GSB reported median salaries instead of average for the Class of 2024—for example, Harvard Business School, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Columbia Business School, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania all reported a median starting salary of $175,000. Out of the schools that reported average salaries, the MIT Sloan School of Management was the closest to the GSB, with an average starting salary of $169,370.
Business schools that typically rank a bit lower but still within the top 20 also often report average starting salaries of $150,000 or higher from their graduates. At Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, the Class of 2024 entered the workforce with an average starting salary of $153,868—comparable to such schools as the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin and the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, where 2024 graduates reported average starting salaries of $151,178 and $151,215, respectively.
Earning an MBA requires notable dedication of time, energy, and finances. However, the return on investment on an MBA from a top-ranked school is often remarkable as well. Whether you are a career changer or plan to stick to the field you were in prior to your studies, the career opportunities that an MBA offers are significant and may very well make the whole journey worthwhile. For more in-depth perspectives on how to maximize your MBA experience, check out the mbaMission OnTrack application platform.
Salary data: Schools’ employment reports.
