BusinessWeek has ranked the University of Wisconsin-Madison MBA program 4th in the nation for best investment. While Wisconsin MBA grads will only need about four and a half years to pay back their degree, Harvard grads work an average of 15 years before breaking even. BusinessWeek noted that “it may not pay to attend one of the top-ranked schools; a mid-tier school may be a better bet.”
This ranking is especially reflective of the large increase in placement percentage and average base salaries of Wisconsin MBA grads in 2006. In 2006, 95 percent of the graduates were placed with salaries averaging nearly $83,000. Three-fourths of Wisconsin’s placed graduates received sign-on bonuses averaging $12,700.
In comparison to other top business schools in the nation announced by BusinessWeek in October, the Wisconsin MBA outranked several schools with their 95 percent placement. UC-Berkeley, Michigan and Duke were all in the 93rd-94th percentile in placement. In terms of salary increase, the average base salary for Wisconsin grads increased 11.5 percent from 2005 to 2006, while the average increase for the top 10 schools was nine percent.
The Wisconsin MBA is not only making great strides against the competition, but has also made vast improvements in critical metrics in recent years. Since 2003, the average salary has increased more than 20 percent and placement has increased 25 percent. “Our new specialization model in the MBA programs is seeing great success with the recruitment of our graduates,” commented Blair Sanford, Director of MBA Career Services. “Top companies are taking an interest in our graduate’s experience, and are showing it with competitive compensation packages.”
In 2006, 225 employers actively recruited 110 MBA candidates. Among them were Procter & Gamble, General Electric, General Mills and Robert W. Baird & Co.
Why are Wisconsin MBA grads so popular? Recruiters have commented that a primary factor is that they demonstrate the practical applied experience to perform the quantitative tasks that are needed. Bank of America said that “the specialized program at Wisconsin creates stronger leaders.”
Another popular factor with recruiters is the willingness of recruits to relocate. Graduates are spread from coast to coast as well as overseas. While many grads leave Madison to work in the Big Apple or the Silicon Valley, 60 percent stay in the Midwest, with Milwaukee, Chicago, Cincinnati and the Twin Cities leading the way.
Sanford says it has been easier to attract top employers to recruit Wisconsin MBAs in recent years. “The increased quality of the students we admit coupled with the focused, applied nature of our programs is a combination that is causing leading businesses throughout the nation to take interest.”
