COLLEGE CONNECTION: Where to get an MBA for an (almost) guaranteed job

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At the end of 2016, 70 percent of last year’s high school graduates were enrolled in college, according to statistics by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But for many students, even a college degree won’t mark the close of their formal education. Those seeking to gain an edge on the job market and further their academic credentials often seek an advanced degree. An M.B.A. (Masters in Business Administration) is frequently the degree of choice for those hopeful to clinch a high paying job in the world of finance, management, accounting, or other field of business.
When choosing a business school, an important statistics to consider is the job placement rate – the percent of students employed three months after graduation. Five of the ten MBA programs that topped such a list, prepared by U.S. News and World Report, are in New Jersey or neighboring Philadelphia.
It’s no surprise that the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, which tied Harvard academically as the best graduate business school in the country, reported 95.5 percent of its 639 MBA graduates employed soon after graduation. Of course, it’s no easy task to gain admission to this prestigious school which was the U.S.’s very first business school and now has the largest alumni network in the country.
Two other Philadelphia schools, Temple University and La Salle University, ranked first and fourth, respectively, for “percent employed three months after graduation.” Temple’s Fox School of Business reported 100 percent of its 37 MBA graduates secured a job, while La Salle reported 96.4 percent of its 55 graduates accepted a job. As for their academic ranking, Temple secured 32 nd place while La Salle was listed as RNP (Rank Not Published).
Two New Jersey institutions earned high rankings. The 54 MBA graduates at Rutgers University (Newark and New Brunswick) enjoyed a 96.3 percent employment rate while their graduate business school ranked 50th in the country. The 176 MBA graduates at Stevens Institute of Technology bragged a 97.2 percent employment rate while their graduate business school ranked 83rd in the country.
Students looking to spread their wings, while attending an MBA program with a high three month job placement rate, should consider the other colleges/universities that rounded out the top ten list: University of Washington, Washington University in St. Louis, Northeastern University, Dartmouth College and Michigan State University.
Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of SAT Smart in Hillsborough that has been offering PSAT, SAT, and ACT preparation courses, as well as private tutoring by IVY-League educated instructors, for more than 20 years. Visit www.SATsmart.com.