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<p>MBA graduates, on average, earn about 71% more than bachelor’s degree grads; the median base salary for MBAs is $115,000, while <a href="https://nces.ed.gov/">bachelor’s degree professionals</a> earn $54,700. </p><div class="paywall-selector"></div><div class="paywall">



<p>Some top <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-mba-programs/">MBA programs</a>, however, have the power to more than triple your salary. </p>



<p>According to <a href="https://news.darden.virginia.edu/2022/09/06/darden-2022-career-data/">preliminary data</a> from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, class of 2022 students earned record-breaking median base salaries of $175,000. <em>Fortune </em>ranks Darden as having the No. 14 full-time MBA program in the U.S., as well as the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/mba/rankings/best-executive-mba-programs/">No. 12 executive MBA program</a>. According to the preliminary data (official, finalized data will be released later this fall), 2022 Darden MBA grads earned 21% more than 2021 grads, who earned a median base salary of $143,000.</p>



<p>Darden officials declined to comment on the preliminary data specifically. Jeff McNish, assistant dean of the career center, tells <em>Fortune </em>that what makes Darden a <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/what-is-an-mba-and-when-does-it-make-sense-to-get-one/">top MBA program</a> is it draws students from around the world and simulates real-world business decisions using the case method in the classroom. </p>



<p>“Throughout the curriculum, students learn to act decisively despite imperfect information. It’s a wonderful way to learn and translates directly to on-the-job performance,” he says. “Employers know what to expect when they hire a Darden MBA.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-u-va-darden-grads-do">What do University of Virginia—Darden grads do?</h2>



<p>Preliminary career data from Darden’s full-time MAB class of 2022 shows that the top industries for grads were consulting, finance, technology, consumer product goods, and health care. Consulting, finance, and tech, in particular, are typically lucrative careers—especially for MBA grads. </p>



<p>MBA grads hired at the top three firms—McKinsey &amp; Co., Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain &amp; Co.—earn base salaries between $190,000 and $192,000, according to data from <a href="https://managementconsulted.com/consultant-salary/">Management Consulted</a>, a company that offers prep and training for professionals entering the industry. Plus, people who go into consulting make big bonuses that bring their pay packages to nearly $270,000.</p>



<p>“What we’ve seen in the last several years is a really hot job market where MBA graduates in particular have a lot of really great career opportunities available to them—whether that’s in professional services, or industry, or tech or startups. They have more options than they’ve ever had, and they’re well-paying options,” Keith Bevans, a partner in Bain’s Chicago office, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/articles/2022/08/31/new-mba-grads-at-mckinsey-bcg-bain-can-now-land-base-salaries-of-nearly-200k/">previously told <em>Fortune</em></a><em>. </em>“We consider our value proposition as an important part of what it means to be—and stay—the best place to work. Comp is one part of the value proposition.”</p>



<p>Darden’s 2022 career data shows that the top hiring companies were Amazon, Bain, Bank of America, BCG, Credit Suisse, Dell, Deloitte, EY-Parthenon, JPMorgan Chase, McKinsey, <a href="https://fortune.com/education/articles/how-this-first-generation-student-ended-up-at-a-top-mba-program-and-landed-an-internship-with-microsoft/">Microsoft</a>, Strategy&amp;, and Wells Fargo.</p>



<p>Finance jobs can also be extremely lucrative for MBA grads. Other MBA programs report new alumni earning between $150,000 and $400,000, depending on the sector of finance in which they’re working. In 2021, <a href="https://www.darden.virginia.edu/mba/career-support/employment-report">26.4% of Darden’s graduating full-time MBA class</a> went into finance, landing median base salaries of $150,000.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity">



<p><em><em>Check out all of </em>Fortune’<em>s </em><a href="https://fortune.com/education/"><em>rankings of degree programs</em></a><em>, and learn more about specific </em><a href="https://fortune.com/education/careers/"><em>career paths</em></a><em>.</em></em></p>



<div class="wp-block-group pro-tip-box-widget"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained">
<h3 class="wp-block-heading pro-tip-box-heading">Read more</h3>



<li>Choose from our rankings of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-mba-programs/">best MBA programs</a> to find the next phase of your educational journey.</li>
<li>This list helps those looking for <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-mba-programs/no-gmat-gre-required/">MBA program options that do not require submission of test scores</a> to apply.</li>
<li>Our directory of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/most-affordable-online-mba-programs/">most affordable online MBA programs</a> can help you find the school that best fits your budget.</li>
<li>You can work towards your career goals on your own time by selecting from our list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-parttime-mba-programs/">best part time MBA programs</a>.</li>
<li>To help you pick the program that’s the best fit for you, we made this list of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-executive-mba-programs/">best executive MBA programs</a>.</li>
<li>Interested in earning your MBA online? Here’s our ranking of the <a href="https://fortune.com/education/business/best-online-mba-programs/">best online MBA programs</a>.</li>
</div></div>
</div>

Darden saw its 2022 MBA grads earn 21% more than its 2021 grads, who earned a median base salary of $143,000.

This B-School isn't a top 10 program but its new MBA grads still start at $175K median base salaries

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This B-School isn't a top 10 program but its new MBA grads still start out at $175K base salaries

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THIS B-SCHOOL ISN'T A TOP 10 PROGRAM BUT ITS NEW MBA GRADS STILL START AT $175K MEDIAN BASE SALARIES

This B-School isn't a top 10 program but its new MBA grads still start out at $175K base salaries | Fortune Education

This B-School isn't a top 10 program but its new MBA grads still start at $175K median base salaries | Fortune Education

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This B-School isn’t a top 10 program but its new MBA grads still start at $175K median base salaries

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