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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.

In your first required essay for the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, you need to discuss your professional aspirations, then explain to the admissions committee why the program’s hands-on learning environment is the best way for you to gain the skills and experiences you need to achieve those career goals and succeed professionally in the long term. For Ross’s second essay, you have a choice of four prompts, all of which give you the opportunity to share something about yourself and your life that is separate from your career. A brief optional essay is available as well, should you have any elements in your candidacy that you believe warrant some clarification. Read on for our full analysis of the school’s 2025–2026 essay prompts.

University of Michigan (Ross) Essay Analysis, 2025–2026

Part 1: Career Aspirations 

What is your short-term career goal, and how will Ross’ philosophy in Action-Based Learning help you achieve it? Please be specific. Please answer both parts of this question. (300 words

In most MBA applications, and almost all business school interviews, you will be asked about your career goals. Admissions committees understand that you might later change your mind about your goals and could be interested in different career paths; you might be planning to use the initial portion of your MBA experience to gain insight into which direction to choose. However, the schools still want to make sure that you have given your objectives serious thought. You must convince Ross not only that you have a goal in mind but also that an MBA is necessary to achieve it. Therefore, in responding to the first part of this two-part question, be as specific as possible in presenting your immediate post-MBA goal. The admissions committee knows that recruiting will start immediately after students arrive on campus, so the more you have thought about the role you want to target, the more effective you will likely be in your job search. In describing your target role, you can note your desired industry and function, as well as which companies (or type of companies) you plan to pursue. You might also need to provide context to show why your goal is realistic based on your background and your transferable skills. In addition, make sure that this specific job is feasible for a newly graduated MBA, especially one from Ross. Demonstrating that you have done your research on this post-MBA role will convince the admissions committee that you are confident that investing in this degree will pay off. 

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With MBA graduations right around the corner, many of you will be starting new jobs soon. Getting off on the right foot is critical for job satisfaction and long-term success within an organization (and beyond it).

Whether your new employer offers substantial onboarding and training programs or whether you are expected to take the reins yourself as you forge ahead in your new role, these six tips can help set you up for success:

1. Gain clarity on your responsibilities and your boss’s expectations.

Ask your manager what the metrics of success are for your new position and how your work fits into that of the overall team. Learn about the company’s culture and any unspoken norms; listen carefully to your manager’s directions, and ask colleagues for guidance. 

2. Be proactive. 

Keep your manager up-to-date on the status of your projects; be aware that some managers might have specific preferences on how they would like to be kept in the loop. If you are unsure about how to proceed on a project, consider asking for support with this language: “I am not clear on what my next steps should be, but here’s what I am thinking. Am I on the right track?” or “I am thinking about doing X next but wanted to confirm that with you first.”

3. Ask for and incorporate feedback. 

Get specifics using language like “This week, X happened. I’d love your thoughts on how I could have handled this situation better. Can we discuss it more?” Pay attention to nonverbal feedback; notice the changes/edits made to your work product, and ask why they were made. If you are struggling, request templates or samples of strong work product.

4. Get to know your team. 

Participate in office activities, ask colleagues to lunch, and consider joining affinity groups. Gather information on each person’s working style; ask questions like “What do you need from me to ensure that we’re doing our best work?” Show appreciation for your team’s support and guidance.

5. Maintain a positive mindset. 

Feeling overwhelmed (or even underqualified) when you start a new job is common, so do not worry. If you were an expert at your new job on Day 1, you would be bored by Day 30. Each day is a new opportunity to learn.  

6. Share your new job with your network. 

Add your new role to the experience section of your LinkedIn profile, and post an announcement of it, along with a note of appreciation to those who helped you land it. Send personalized thank-you emails to anyone who assisted you during your job search.

Finally, you worked hard to land your new position, so enjoy the journey! Be curious. Have fun. Build relationships. Learn new things. Find ways to make an impact.

Harvard Business School (HBS) offers an excellent MBA program. This is largely a given, and we are not questioning that. However, what we will call into question is whether HBS (or any other school, for that matter) is right for you. Every year, we get a few calls from confused MBA aspirants who say, “I visited HBS, and I am not sure if there is a fit,” as if that indicates some sort of problem. Indeed, and this may be shocking to some, HBS is not for everyone—particularly those who do not relate well to case-based learning, those who want a lot of flexibility in their first-year curriculum, and those who would prefer a small class size (HBS’s Class of 2026 has 930 students, while the same class at the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, for example, has just 295).