Employability

• Corporate recruiters intend to employ 18% more MBAs in 2006 than in 2005; with finance and marketing skills being highly demanded [1].
• Surveyed employers had intentions to hire 25% more MBAs in 2006 than in 2003 and 2004 combined [2].
• Longitudinal empirical evidence suggests that both part-time and full-time MBA students make significant improvements in leadership, quantitative analysis, sense making and goal setting skills while in their programs [8].

Advancement Opportunities

• Following the completion of an MBA, 71.5% of graduates received promotions [3].
• More than 74% of MBA graduates are managers and 45% have received a promotion since graduation. Most (94%) alumni feel that obtaining an MBA was a good decision [7].
• Individuals with a Master's of Accountancy or MBA have higher job performance than people who do not have these degrees [10].

Financial Impact

• Average salaries, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, have increased 49% from 1996 versus 29% for liberal arts majors and 39% for engineering students [4].
• Recipients of undergraduate degrees in business administration and management have an average salary offer of $45,723, a 6.2% increase over previous years [5].
• MBA starting salaries increased 4% from 2005-6 and more jobs are expected for MBAs. The salary for new MBAs is projected to average $80.8k, and total compensation $99.7k, in 2006 [6].
• The MBA yields a positive return on investment (ROI) according to three studies [9, 11, 12].
• The MBA has a significant and long-term positive impact on earnings and employability [11].

1)  Graduate Management Admission Council. (2006). Employers project more jobs for MBAs in 2006. News Release. Retrieved June 20, 2006.

2)  National Association of Colleges and Employers (2006).

3)  Zhao, J. J., Truell, A. D., Alexander, M. W., & Hill, I. B. (2006). Less success than meets the eye? The impact of master of business administration education on graduates’ careers. Journal of Education for Business, 81(5).

4)  Walker, P. (2006). Starting out young. CNN Online. Retrieved June 7, 2006,  LexisNexis Academic. Web site.

5)  National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2006). Starting salary offers to new college grads on the rise. Retrieved July 11, 2006.

6) GMAC (2006). Corporate Recruiters Survey 2005-06 Survey Report. Retrieved, December 6, 2006. 

7) GMAC (2006). MBA Alumni Perspectives Survey April 2006 Comprehensive Data Report. Retrieved, December 6, 2006. 

8) Boyatzis, R.E., Stubbs, E.C., & Taylor, S.N. (2002). Learning cognitive and emotional intelligence competencies through graduate management education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 1(2):150-152.

9) Carmichael, T. & Sutherland, M. (2005). A holistic framework for the perceived return on investment in an MBA. South African Journal of Business Management, 36(2):57-70.

9) Van Auken, S., Wells, L.G., & Chrysler, E. (2005). The relative value of skills, knowledge, and teaching methods in explaining master of business administration (MBA) program return on investment. Journal of Education for Business, 81(1): 41-45.

10) Wier, B., Stone, D.N., & Hunton, J.E. (2005). Does Graduate business education contribute to professional accounting success? Accounting Horizons, 19(2): 85-100.

11) Davies, A. & Cline, T.W. (2005, January/February). The ROI on the MBA.  BizEd: 42-45

12) Holtom, B.C. & Inderrieden, E.J. (2007, January/February). Investment Advice: GO for the MBA. BizEd: 36-40