BUSINESS SCHOOLS WITH THE MOST FINANCIAL VALUE AT GRADUATION

Business Schools with the Most Financial Value at Graduation | COLLEGEUP.org

(Credit: TheAdMatrix/Flickr)

Going to graduate school is expensive and getting your M.B.A. is no exception. While an M.B.A. is cheaper than a medical or law degree, the educational cost is still high. Some employers subsidize business school education, but many students seeking an M.B.A. will have to self-finance using student loans. Top M.B.A.s will cost more than $100,000.

Many prospective students are hesitant to make such an investment while the economy is in recovery. The current economic climate has created an environment that has students wondering if investing in an M.B.A. is worth the trouble. The chart below shows the 10 business schools that produce students who earn the most money in their first year versus their student loan debt load:

Business School

Average Starting Salary

Average Student

Debt

Salary

to Debt Ratio

U.S. News 

B-School Rank

CUNY Zicklin School of Business

$68,295

$14,044

4.9

85

University of Georgia Terry College of Business

$66,646

$17,714

3.8

57

University of California—Davis Graduate School of Management

$91,872

$24,196

3.8

28

Texas Christian University Neeley School of Business

$63,763

$18,007

3.5

80

University of Florida Hough Graduate School of Business

$70,668

$22,343

3.2

47

Howard University School of Business

$86,170

$30,176

2.9

91

Florida State University College of Business

$60,132

$21,000

2.9

94

Texas A&M University--College Station Mays Business School

$84,305

$30,577

2.8

32

Georgia Institute of Technology College of Management

$85,373

$30,449

2.8

28

University of Cincinnati College of Business

$61,676

$22,354

2.8

75

This chart does not show the business schools that have the highest starting salaries (Harvard, Columbia, Yale, etc...) This chart shows the business schools with the most initial value using first year salary and student loan debt load as the key indicators.

Grants, scholarships, and federal student loans are the most affordable ways to finance your M.B.A. education. If you need to take a different route to finance your M.B.A., private or commercial loans are options. Going for an M.B.A. is a balance between how much you spend on getting the degree versus the money you will likely be earning after getting your M.B.A. Use this M.B.A. calculator to get a better idea of your return on investment (ROI).

A typical M.B.A. starting income is $70,000 or above if you have an M.B.A. from a respectable business school. With a good starting income and living on a reasonable budget it is possible to pay off a typical ($35,000 to $50,000) business school debt in a few years. This approach will minimize the interest you would pay on your student loan debt. Having an M.B.A. is a valuable asset. If you do lose your job in the future, you will be able to more easily adapt and have a better shot at finding another job.

Having an M.B.A. is worth it if you want the experience of learning about how the business world works. If getting a higher first year salary versus your debt load is what you want, then you should consider the business schools listed on this chart. Check out these videos on how to get your M.B.A.:

To read more about M.B.A.s with Most Financial Value at Graduation, check out the U.S. News article.