Enrollment and Employment Data Survey
(Conducted in 2008-2009)
Employment Data
The MBA graduates we researched who had a background of military service are currently earning an average annual compensation package of $109,720, which includes an annual salary offer and signing bonuses. Annual compensation for Military MBAs breaks down as follows: $92,970 yearly salary plus $16,750 in signing bonuses. Overall, this represents a 6.8 percent increase since our Initial Employment Data Survey, which was the last time we gathered employment data.
To put these employment numbers in the proper context, please compare them to the entire market of MBA graduates. According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, which reported salary information across the entire pool of MBA graduates, new MBA graduates during this time period were earning $92,360 in first-year compensation. Military MBAs also continue to see 100% rates of employment with a minimum of 1 standing job offer upon graduation.
For the second time we've conducted employment data research, MBA graduates with backgrounds in the military are once again outperforming the entire MBA graduate pool. They continue to be strongest sector as it relates to job offers and employment demand. These findings also validate that former, current or reserve "military experience" as a defined student segment have the most to gain from earning their MBA degrees. Here is a more detailed financial analysis which includes tuition, loans and payback periods that further support this conclusion.
Enrollment Data
This year we added a new section on MBA enrollments and enrollment growth among military personnel to our survey. Business schools participating in our survey reported, on average, a 48 percent growth in enrollments of students with military backgrounds during the period of analysis. Using overall class size from schools who reported as the basis for calculation, MBAs with backgrounds in the military represented 4.7% of the overall MBA student populations. The most-committed MBA business schools, and those with a reputation of educating the military, dedicated 8% of their incoming enrollments to military students.
Our survey ran across 750 MBA students. It was conducted with at least 2% of military students in the MBA graduate pool, which makes the findings both statistically valid and reliable.