Students who pursue MBA degrees tend to do very well financially, with the average salary for a recent graduate at around $150,000. Even though tuition can be expensive, over $70,000 per year at some top schools, the return on investment for an MBA program is usually very high. For example, the Princeton Review estimates that Stanford University’s 10-year ROI for MBA graduates is 325%.
In addition, MBA programs can provide a host of other benefits for students. Students report increased confidence in their skills, the ability to put their knowledge to work in new industries, and better networking capabilities.
Not all MBA programs are equal, however. The ideal program provides the combination of a high return on investment, quality instruction, and a good personal experience. To determine the best MBA programs in the U.S., WalletHub compared nearly 100 schools across 10 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the annual tuition for students and the average base salary for graduates to gender diversity, ratings from professors and average GMAT scores. Read on for our findings, along with additional commentary from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.
