SubscribeSubscribe Now
  • Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
We have independently evaluated the products and services below. We may earn affiliate revenue from links in the content.
Right Arrow Button IconLeft Arrow Button Iconeducation
Right Arrow Button IconLeft Arrow Button IconBusiness
Right Arrow Button IconUC Berkeley MBAs are landing $185K-plus pay packages right after graduation

UC Berkeley MBAs are landing $185K-plus pay packages right after graduation

By
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
By
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
Sydney LakeSydney Lake
and
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
Jasmine SuarezJasmine Suarez
October 28, 2022 at 9:31 PM UTC
A bicyclist passes Berkeley Haas signage on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California, as seen in August 2022. (Photographer: David Odisho—Bloomberg/Getty Images)
A bicyclist passes Berkeley Haas signage on the University of California, Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California, as seen in August 2022. (Photographer: David Odisho—Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Students who graduated from MBA programs in the spring are now in the workforce—and early reports indicate that 2022 was a big year for MBA recruitment. In fact, top-ranked business schools reported salary increases nearing the 10% mark. 

Ivy League business schools tend to get a lot of attention due to their branding, the rigor of their programs, and the success of their graduates, but West Coast schools also produce strong MBA grads. And the University of California—Berkeley Haas School of Business reports a more than 6% increase in pay packages for its 2022 MBA graduates. Fortune ranks UC Berkeley as having the No. 13 full-time MBA program in the U.S.

Advertisement

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA

STEM-designated. Tar Heel ROI. No compromises.

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA is designed for experienced professionals looking to take their career to the next level. Students have access to lifelong career benefits and a global network of 51,000+ business school alumni. Earn your MBA online in as few as 18 months or up to three years. MBA Fellowships Available.

Learn More
UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA
Learn More

The average base salary for 2022 MBA grads from UC Berkeley was nearly $153,000, almost $10,000 more than the 2021 average. Plus, nearly 75% of the class earned average signing bonuses in excess of $33,000, and 43% of the class received stock grants or options in their compensation packages. 

Learn more: How much do grads on the other coast at NYU Stern make?

“What made this year so exciting is the extraordinary demand for our MBA graduates and the appetite for their skills, including an ability to lead and innovate in a changing, diverse world,” Abby Scott, assistant dean of MBA career management and corporate partnerships, said in a statement announcing the 2022 salary report.

The median base salary for UC Berkeley’s class of 2022 was $155,000. By comparison, the median base salary for all MBA graduates is $115,000, according to the Graduate Management Admissions Council. That’s a nearly 30% premium for attending a top business school.

Popular career paths for UC Berkeley grads

This year, the most popular career path for UC Berkeley grads was technology, with about one-third of the class pursuing the field. The mean base salary for UC Berkeley grads who landed tech jobs was more than $150,000 with an average signing bonus of about $41,000; that brings their starting pay package to nearly $200,000 immediately after graduation. 

“Our students do well at tech companies because of our strong general management education,” Scott previously told Fortune. “The analytical rigor of our program serves them well in environments where they will be called upon to lead cross-functional, global teams and to make decisions based on data.”

The top three hiring firms for 2022 UC Berkeley MBA grads were Amazon, Bain & Co., and McKinsey & Co. Consulting is another field popular among UC Berkeley grads, much like other top business schools. At UC Berkeley, 28% of the 2022 graduating class took a job in the field, earning a mean base salary of almost $167,000 (or a median base salary of $175,000) and a mean signing bonus of more than $30,000. 

Financial services also had a strong showing with almost 14% of the class landing a job in the field. They earned mean base salaries of nearly $142,000 and signing bonuses of more than $31,000.

Cost and competition for a UC Berkeley MBA

UC Berkeley has one of the top business schools in the country and in 2021, the full-time MBA program had an acceptance rate of just 17.6%, one of the lowest among the top 20 schools, as ranked by Fortune.

The UC Berkeley full-time MBA class of 2024 (students who enrolled in 2022) has 247 students. The average GMAT score for these students was 729, and students had, on average, more than five years of professional work experience and a 3.64 undergraduate GPA. 

Pro tip

Not a good test taker or no time to study for either the GMAT or GRE? There’s a good amount of MBA programs where you don’t need to submit scores.

In terms of cost, earning an MBA from UC Berkeley can set you back close to $232,000. One year of tuition is $67,424 for California residents and $76,433 for non-residents. Other costs include housing, supplies, transportation, health insurance, and personal expenses, which can bring the cost to $107,168 for California residents and $116,178 for non-residents per year.

Learn more: What are the most affordable online MBA programs?

UC Berkeley does offer merit-based and supplemental scholarships to full-time MBA grads. For the 2021-2022 academic year, the Haas School of Business awarded $13 million in scholarships to its full-time MBA students.


Check out all of Fortune’s rankings of degree programs and learn more about specific career paths.

Read more

  • Choose from our rankings of the best MBA programs to find the next phase of your educational journey.
  • This list helps those looking for MBA program options that do not require submission of test scores to apply.
  • Our directory of the most affordable online MBA programs can help you find the school that best fits your budget.
  • You can work towards your career goals on your own time by selecting from our list of the best part time MBA programs.
  • To help you pick the program that’s the best fit for you, we made this list of the best executive MBA programs.
  • Interested in earning your MBA online? Here’s our ranking of the best online MBA programs.
  • Advertisement

    The Online MBA From Rice Business

    Rethink Your Approach to Business

    GMAT waivers are available for the online MBA from Rice Business, ranked a Top-20 Online MBA by U.S. News & World Report. Ranked #1 in graduate entrepreneurship in the U.S. by the Princeton Review for 2024, aspiring entrepreneurs can earn their MBA in as few as 24 months.

    Learn More
    The Online MBA From Rice Business
    Learn More

    About the Contributors

    Sydney Lake
    By Sydney LakeAssociate Editor
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Sydney Lake is an associate editor at Fortune, where she writes and edits news for the publication's global news desk.

    See full bio
    Jasmine Suarez
    Reviewed By Jasmine SuarezSenior Staff Editor
    LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

    Jasmine Suarez was a senior editor at Fortune where she leads coverage for careers, education and finance. In the past, she’s worked for Business Insider, Adweek, Red Ventures, McGraw-Hill, Pearson, and more. 

    See full bio

    Top Articles

    alt text
    10 free data analytics courses you can take onlineByRich GrisetApril 18, 2024
    alt text
    2024 real estate school review: AceableAgentByPreston ForeJune 24, 2024
    alt text
    Yes, social workers can earn six-figures. Here are the top-paying companies right nowBySam BeckerAugust 7, 2024
    Advertisement

    UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA

    STEM-designated. Tar Heel ROI. No compromises.

    UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA is designed for experienced professionals looking to take their career to the next level. Students have access to lifelong career benefits and a global network of 51,000+ business school alumni. Earn your MBA online in as few as 18 months or up to three years. MBA Fellowships Available.

    Visit Website
    UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA
    Visit Website
    Rankings
    • 100 Best Companies
    • Fortune 500
    • Global 500
    • Fortune 500 Europe
    • Most Powerful Women
    • Future 50
    • World’s Most Admired Companies
    • See All Rankings
    Sections
    • Finance
    • Leadership
    • Success
    • Tech
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Environment
    • Fortune Crypto
    • Health
    • Retail
    • Lifestyle
    • Politics
    • Newsletters
    • Magazine
    • Features
    • Commentary
    • Mpw
    • Ceo Initiative
    • Conferences
    • Personal Finance
    • Education
    Customer Support
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Customer Service Portal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms Of Use
    • Single Issues For Purchase
    • International Print
    Commercial Services
    • Advertising
    • Fortune Brand Studio
    • Fortune Analytics
    • Fortune Conferences
    • Business Development
    About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Press Center
    • Work At Fortune
    • Diversity And Inclusion
    • Terms And Conditions
    • Site Map

    © 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.