MBA: graduate earnings, debt, and careers
MBA programs are generally reported to the U.S. Department of Education under Business Administration, Management and Operations (CIP 52.02) at the master's level. That family also contains other management master's degrees, so its outcomes are the closest official grouping for MBA programs, not an MBA-only figure.
Median earnings, 1 yr after
$86,260
Master's degree Verified data
Median earnings, 4 yrs after
$103,485
Verified data
Typical program median debt
Data unavailable
federal loans Data unavailable
Programs reporting
1,373
111,473 recent graduates Verified data
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's degree | 1,373 | 111,473 | $86,260 | $103,485 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University IL · Private, nonprofit · 169 graduates measured | $267,548 | $244,399 | Data unavailable |
| New York University NY · Private, nonprofit · 141 graduates measured | $221,814 | $232,460 | Data unavailable |
| Dartmouth College NH · Private, nonprofit · 130 graduates measured | $211,114 | $239,178 | Data unavailable |
| University of Chicago IL · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $207,003 | $243,256 | Data unavailable |
| University of London - London Business School · Foreign · 37 graduates measured | $205,144 | $246,761 | Data unavailable |
| University of Pennsylvania PA · Private, nonprofit · 278 graduates measured | $202,471 | $272,321 | Data unavailable |
| Yale University CT · Private, nonprofit · 325 graduates measured | $198,968 | $234,034 | Data unavailable |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public · 298 graduates measured | $198,087 | $224,229 | Data unavailable |
| Cornell University NY · Private, nonprofit · 431 graduates measured | $196,713 | $226,632 | Data unavailable |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public · 111 graduates measured | $186,447 | $203,447 | Data unavailable |
| Duke University NC · Private, nonprofit · 584 graduates measured | $180,247 | $222,160 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public · 392 graduates measured | $171,110 | $194,296 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus WA · Public · 392 graduates measured | $171,110 | $194,296 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus WA · Public · 392 graduates measured | $171,110 | $194,296 | Data unavailable |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · 501 graduates measured | $171,077 | $197,707 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Business Administration, Management and Operations
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief executives | $213,990 | +3.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| General and operations managers | $105,770 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Sales managers | $148,270 | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Fundraising managers | $125,470 | +5.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Administrative services managers | $114,130 | +5.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Facilities managers | $106,660 | +4.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer and information systems managers | $175,140 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial managers | $166,570 | +9.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Industrial production managers | $126,060 | +2.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Purchasing managers | $148,080 | +4.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | $107,230 | +6.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Compensation and benefits managers | $149,230 | +1.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Human resources managers | $149,280 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Training and development managers | $133,000 | +6.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Construction managers | $114,990 | +9.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Education administrators, postsecondary | $104,590 | +1.8% | Master's degree |
| Education administrators, all other | $95,200 | +1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Architectural and engineering managers | $171,270 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling | $79,520 | +6.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical and health services managers | $123,860 | +24.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural sciences managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Social and community service managers | $80,390 | +7.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Personal service managers, all other | $69,770 | +6.2% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Managers, all other | $141,900 | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes | $82,890 | +9.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Cost estimators | $78,740 | -3.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Human resources specialists | $75,940 | +6.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Logisticians | $82,320 | +17.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Project management specialists | $102,320 | +6.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Management analysts | $101,860 | +10.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Fundraisers | $72,550 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists | $78,210 | +6.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Business operations specialists, all other | $83,050 | +3.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Insurance underwriters | $81,370 | -3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial risk specialists | $117,330 | +7.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial specialists, all other | $81,100 | +4.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Actuaries | $130,000 | +9.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Business teachers, postsecondary | $99,080 | +5.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | $48,520 | -3.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | $69,500 | +0.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | $79,860 | +4.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | $74,450 | +1.8% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (17)
- 52.0201 Business Administration and Management, General
- 52.0202 Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
- 52.0203 Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
- 52.0204 Office Management and Supervision
- 52.0205 Operations Management and Supervision
- 52.0206 Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
- 52.0207 Customer Service Management
- 52.0208 E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
- 52.0209 Transportation/Mobility Management
- 52.0210 Research and Development Management
- 52.0211 Project Management
- 52.0212 Retail Management
- 52.0213 Organizational Leadership
- 52.0214 Research Administration
- 52.0215 Risk Management
- 52.0216 Science/Technology Management
- 52.0299 Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other
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