19 Business Schools With The Highest MBA Salaries

An MBA can swell your salary into six-figures. Out of the best business schools in the USA, find out which graduates earn the biggest MBA salaries

An MBA can be a ticket to the biggest blue-chip companies, and can swell your salary into six-figures. But tuition fees are eye-wateringly expensive at the best business schools.

At the 19 best business schools in the latest US News MBA Ranking, you will fork out at least $100,000 to earn your MBA.

At elite schools such as Stanford Graduate School of Business or Wharton School, the total two-year bill...

e upwards of $200,000 including tuition, fees and the opportunity cost of not earning a wage.

The good news: the return on investment and the graduate MBA salary you're likely to earn after an MBA at a top US business school.

MBA Salary: Who comes out top?

Stanford, which tops the overall US News MBA ranking, also comes out top in terms of highest salaries. The average base salary Stanford MBA students can expect after graduation is $159,544 (not including bonuses).

Technology companies are some of the biggest employers of Stanford grads, who flock to the nearby Silicon Valley. These remain among the highest-paid jobs.

Fellow M7 Business Schools, Harvard Business School and Chicago Booth, come in at second and third respectively for MBA salaries. Harvard grads earn around $150k after graduation, while Chicago Booth alum can expect around $148k.

East Coast business schools dominate the salary rankings. These schools are strongly linked to well paid sectors like consulting and finance, with graduates frequently flocking to the big US cities on the east coast like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.

The table below outlines the average base salaries MBAs can expect to earn if they graduate from the 19 best business schools in the US:

Business Schools With The Highest MBA Salaries

Next Read:

Which Companies Hire The Most MBAs?

This article was first published in March 2018 and updated in April 2021.

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Carnegie Mellon: Tepper

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I've been genuinely impressed with the fusion of creativity and innovation at CMU. The professors are a mixed bag-- some are great and life-changing, but I had a couple (mostly gen eds in freshman year) that were really frustrating. The workload can be intense, and it's no joke. Campus was very lively; clubs, events, etc. – there's something for everyone. Pittsburgh in general has some areas that are great, and others that disappoint-- Oakland is a very nice university town area. Overall, CMU is a hotbed of innovation and learning, but the pace and location do come into play.

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Carnegie Mellon is a demanding academic institution where students are expected to put in a lot of effort. Despite the challenging coursework and constant workload, this environment teaches you how to speak for yourself and stand up for what you believe in. The institution also has a strong graduate network, which helps you succeed in the job hunt both while you are enrolled there and after