By Kara Sherrer
Class of 2020 graduates from the full-time MBA program at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management reported average base salary earnings of $126,137, an increase of 6% over the previous class’ average salary. Combining the average salary with the average signing/starting bonus of $26,991, the class of 2020 is the highest-compensated class of MBAs in the school’s history.
Financial services was the most common industry, with just over a quarter (27%) taking a job in finance after graduates. Technology came in second at 21%, followed by consulting at 20% and healthcare at 16%. Finance and accounting was the most popular job function, with 32% of graduates accepting a role in the area. Another 23% of graduates accepted a consulting role, 13% accepted an operations role, and 13% accepted a general management role.
Despite the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, employment outcomes ultimately remained strong. Three months post-graduation, 96% of graduates had received a full-time offer, and 90% had accepted. A total of 83% of these offers came from school related activities.
“An overwhelming majority of our employers honored their full-time and internship offers. However, due to health and safety concerns, some full-time employment start dates were delayed to the fall, while many graduates began their new employment virtually over the summer,” said Emily Anderson, Director of the Career Management Center.
For the ninth year in a row, 100% of students seeking an internship accepted by June. These internships took place virtually, many of them on a shortened timeline (vs. the traditional 10-12 week in-person internship). All told, 144 companies hired members from the classes of 2020 and 2021.
“We are extremely grateful to our employer partners for their concern, care, and flexibility during this unprecedented time. We are also so thankful to have alumni that continue to provide mentorship and guidance to current students. Many alums participated in programming during the spring and fall to offer guidance and advice in managing through a period of economic uncertainty,” Anderson said.
A summary of this year’s MBA employment and internship report may be viewed here.
Want to see your compensation reach these levels? Apply to the MBA program here.
