- The University of Virginia produces the highest earners both one year and four years after graduation.
- Graduates of Stevens Institute of Technology business school are the sixth-highest earners after four years, earning an average of $100,049.
- Graduates of the top seven schools have average earnings of more than $100,000 four years after graduation.
Research has revealed the business schools whose courses produce the highest-earning graduates.
Ranking The Business Schools That Produce The Highest Earners
A study conducted by business advice company Venture Smarter analyzed data from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited schools regarding the earnings of their business course graduates. The average earnings of business course graduates from these schools were established for both one and four years after course completion.
Graduates of the business school at Stevens Institute of Technology are the sixth-highest earning in the country. The average salary among alumni sits at $70,597 just one year post-graduation, this figure increases to $100,049 after four years. These earnings are 55% above the nationwide business school average at the one year stage, and 66% at the four year stage.
1) University of Virginia
The University of Virginia comes out on top with astonishing average graduate earnings. One year post-graduation, business course alumni of the university earn an average salary of $88,048. Four years after graduation, this rises to $112,758. These figures are 93% and 87%, respectively, above the average for AACSB schools nationally.
Many alumni of UVA populate the upper echelons of the business world. Graduates from the school include, among others, a former CEO of Procter & Gamble, a former president of the NASDAQ stock exchange, and the billionaire founder of New River Pharmaceutical.
2) Emory University
Private research university in Atlanta, Emory University, makes second place on the list. Graduates from Emory earn, on average, $78,394 one year from graduation and $107,945 four years after this time.
Alumni of the university include the founder of Callaway Golf, a former CEO of Burger King, and the late former CEO of Smith & Wesson.
3. Southern Methodist University
Another private research university, Southern Methodist University, in Texas, produces the third highest-earning business graduates. Alumni of the university have average earnings one year post-graduation of $51,068. While this is the lowest figure for one year graduates among the top ten, earnings average $105,314 four years post-graduation. This places Southern Methodist University graduates as the third highest earners on the list.
Notable alumni from the school include former first lady of the United States, Laura Bush, and the CEO’s of businesses such as British Airways and AT&T Business Solutions.
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina makes fourth place in the list with one year graduates earning, on average, $76,943. Four year graduates average salaries of $105,246.
Graduates of the business administration course at UNC include wildly successful business people such as Michele Buck, CEO of The Hershey Company, and Peruvian billionaire owner of Belcorp, Eduardo Belmont Anderson.
5. George Washington University
In fifth, graduates of George Washington University earn on average $58,070 one year out of school, and after four years, their earnings average $101,930.
GWU alumni include the former chairman of the Samsung Group and current CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby.
6. Stevens Institute of Technology
New Jersey’s Stevens Institute of Technology makes sixth place with graduate earnings averaging $70,597 one year out of school. Four years post-graduation this rises to $100,049, being the last university in the list with four year earnings averaging over the $100,000 mark.
Notable alumni of the institute include businessman and serving governor of Montana Greg Gianforte and pioneering aerospace engineer Amber S.Gell.
7. Washington and Lee University
Business graduates of this private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, average earnings of $63,631 one year after completion of their education. Four years post-completion average earnings sit at $98,403.
Alumni of Washington and Lee include the former owner of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, and magnate Rupert H.Johnson, vice chairman of Franklin Resources.
8. Georgetown University
Business graduates of Georgetown University, Washington D.C, have the second highest earnings of these schools one year post-completion, the average sitting at $82,850. Four years post-graduation average business graduate earnings are $94,935.
Notable alumni of Georgetown include the current CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co, as well as two former United States Presidents, Lyndon B. Johnson and Bill Clinton.
9. Texas Christian University
This private research university in Fort Worth makes the penultimate top ten spot. Average earnings one year out of school are $57,155, with this increasing to $93,488 four years post-graduation.
Former students of TCU include CEO of BNSF Railway, Kathryn Farmer, and billionaire entrepreneur John Davis.
10. Elon University
Elon University of North Carolina ranks tenth as the second NC institution in this prestigious top ten. Graduates of Elon average earnings of $54,936 one year post-graduation and $92,616 four years after completion.
Notable alumni of the university include an array of politicians and military figures such as Admiral William E.Gortney.
|
Rank |
Name |
Average business course graduate earnings 1 year post completion |
Average business course graduate earnings 4 years post completion |
|
1 |
University of Virginia |
88,048.00 |
112,759.00 |
|
2 |
Emory University |
78,394.00 |
107,945.00 |
|
3 |
Southern Methodist University |
51,068.00 |
105,314.00 |
|
4 |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
76,943.00 |
105,246.00 |
|
5 |
George Washington University |
58,070.00 |
101,930.00 |
|
6 |
Stevens Institute of Technology |
70,597.00 |
100,049.00 |
|
7 |
Washington and Lee University |
63,631.00 |
98,403.00 |
|
8 |
Georgetown University |
82,850.00 |
94,935.00 |
|
9 |
Texas Christian University |
57,155.00 |
93,488.00 |
|
10 |
Elon University |
54,936.67 |
92,616.00 |
A spokesperson from Venture Smarter commented on the findings: “With business school constituting an obvious step for many aspiring entrepreneurs, it’s interesting to have established the schools whose graduates are set to accrue the most wealth.
The prestige and alumni of these schools speak for themselves, but this top ten is certainly something for young students-to-be to take note of.”
About Venture Smarter
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