What’s the best MBA program for your career?

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Explore career outcomes from the top 30 MBA programs. Discover which schools align with YOUR goals—and take the first step toward YOUR dream job.

Packed with over 100 pages of data-driven insights and analysis, MBA Protocol’s SUPER Awesome Official Post-MBA Career Placement Report is the most in-depth guide to understanding how MBA grads land their dream jobs. This report dives deep into career outcomes and placement statistics from thirty of the top business schools in the US, specifically targeted for career-focused MBA applicants looking for the right program that aligns with their career goals.

Hi! I'm Angela, Founder of Career Protocol, MBA Protocol, and Happy At Work – all of which are aimed at helping people build careers they love and that matter. And, yes, a thousand times yes, an MBA is a great way to launch into that career. 

But choosing the right MBA program is a deeply personal decision—and because it can significantly impact your career trajectory, the right question you’re already asking yourself is, What’s the best MBA program? And, how can I be sure that it's the best one for me?

The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might hope. And that’s exactly why we put so much time into this career guide. So let’s cut through the noise and help you discover YOUR best-fit MBA program.

Table of Contents

Your MBA Game Plan: No fluff, just facts


Welcome to your MBA career launchpad

This isn’t just a free report – it’s your secret weapon for MBA world domination. Inside, we’ll spill the goodies on where MBAs actually go after graduation: which industries they conquer, which roles they crush, and which schools have the juice to land you there.

You’re reading this because you’re serious about your MBA journey – and maybe just because you love free stuff. Either way, you’re in the right place. Let’s get to it.

The rankings game

Many applicants obsess over rankings but there is no one best school for everyone, no matter what the rankings try to claim.  Even major publishers don’t agree on who’s best! For instance, in the 2024/25 Poets&Quants composite ranking, Kellogg took the #1 spot for the first time. Meanwhile, US News crowned Stanford GSB, and Wharton reclaimed the top position in the Financial Times global ranking. 

But here’s the thing: No ranking can tell you which school is best for YOU. Even John A. Byrne, the creator of the first MBA rankings and founder of Poets&Quants once said, “I think I created a monster back in 1988. … It's a monster because most of the [ranking] methodologies are flawed. They're imperfect. Yet, I think, over time and over the span of all the rankings, there is a greater truth that emerges.” Byrne aimed to bring that truth to MBA seekers through his composite model of rankings from major publications, weighting each school’s performance in both the U.S. and International lists.

And this is where we come in. Our job is to help you find an even greater truth, one that helps you make the right decision for your career trajectory. But first, here’s the scoop on rankings and how we came up with the schools we’re reporting on:

The truth about rankings

Year over year, you’ll find that the Top 30 to 40 schools remain largely the same. Even over different publishers, you’ll recognize the M7 and dozens of other high performing and selective B-schools will be repeat guests on these prestigious lists… Yes, there will be shuffling within the lists. Some publishers will consistently rank certain schools higher than others; one school will rise and fall a few spots, and there will occasionally be an upset, but over time—like panning for gold—the sparkly ones find their way to the surface and rarely will they fall through the cracks.

What else? Well, there are thousands upon thousands of business schools globally. Some are accredited, others are not. Some are ranked, most are not. If you have found your way to considering an MBA, then yes, we do encourage you to aim high. In fact, with some employers, you MUST hit within the top ten or top twelve.  (Juicy details inside the report!!)  So, aim as high as you can—but only after you’ve considered a few more important things. (We’ll get to that in a second.)

But please know this: while some employers place a high value on certain programs, when you’re scrolling through the lists of the “world’s best MBA programs” in the U.S. or abroad, the majority of the schools ranked in the single- and double digits put a lot of time, experience, and care into designing a curriculum and network that will serve as a launchpad for your personal and professional success.

Ultimately, the “greatest truth” is: The best MBA program depends on your unique goals, needs, and constraints. To make a good choice you need a personalized MBA game plan that unlocks the doors to the opportunities YOU want.

What’s inside the full report?

We’ve aggregated career outcomes from 30 of the top ranked business schools in the US to give you a clear picture of what industries and functions graduates pursue post-MBA, so you can identify the program that will give you the best shot at the career you want.

We’ll cover:

  • Industry Placement: Which schools send the most grads into consulting, finance, tech, healthcare, consumer-packaged goods (CPG), energy, etc.
  • Functional Roles: From management consulting to brand marketing to investment banking—where MBAs actually land and what roles do they fill in those industries, so you know which programs give you the best fit for your goals.
  • Top Employers: The biggest recruiters at each school and how you can leverage their networks to get your foot in the door at top companies.

But first, what jobs does an MBA actually help you get?

The MBA is a really flexible degree – most programs give you a ton of freedom to take classes that reflect your interests and career goals. One MBA student might specialize in finance, another in HR and people strategy, and another in social impact and non-profit.

But despite the MBA’s flexibility, there are some core industries and functions where most MBA grads end up. This is where demand for MBAs intersects with the skills they bring to the table – and we will tell you exactly which schools put you in the best position to tap into those opportunities.

So, where do most MBAs end up? 

Sneak peek at industry and function

The most common way to think about different career options is in terms of industry and function. As you scroll, remember that there’s over 100 pages of data available in the full report. But, without further ado…

Let’s talk industry.

Industry is about the company you work for and what it does – for instance, CPG, oil & gas, and technology are three different industries. But there’s some additional nuance to consider too:

  • A lot of new, young companies work across multiple industries. Think of Uber, PayPal, or Airbnb – those are all tech companies, but they’re also transportation, finance (fintech, for those in the know), and hospitality companies, respectively.
  • Some big conglomerates work across industries as well, so you’d want to be specific about which part of the company you want to work in – for example, GE works across healthcare, consumer goods, and financial services.
  • Consulting is often considered an industry, but within consulting you can specialize in serving clients from other industries, like retail, CPG, or technology – this is important, because different firms and offices within firms will have different profiles of which industries they serve.

As you’re narrowing down your target industry, be specific. Do you want to work at a technology company that makes a product, or at a retail company that sells the product? Or do you know you want to be at a company that does both, like Apple? What industries excite you? What industries do you read articles about? That can help you start narrowing down where you want to be. Be clear about which industry you want to make an impact in, and we will show you which schools give you the best shot at breaking in.

So, where do most MBAs end up? Check out the chart below, which summarizes the industry data for the MBAs graduating in 2023 from our list of thirty of the top schools.

Chart 1: Class of 2023 Graduates Employed by Industry by Percentage.

Functional roles breakdown

The next way to think about career options is by function. This has to do with your day-to-day job responsibilities. So you could be in general management and work in any industry – oil & gas, retail, etc. Functions tend to be industry-agnostic. 

This is important to look at for the schools you’re considering just in case you’re set on doing a less common function like product management or human resources. We will highlight the schools that give you the best shot at landing these roles, so you don’t waste time chasing programs that aren’t the right fit for you.

This chart below shows what percentage of 2023 graduates went into each functional role from each of the thirty schools. You’ll see that consulting, finance, and marketing/sales take up the majority of the graph. You might be surprised to see the school that puts the most graduates into consulting, by percentage, was Georgia Tech’s Scheller School of Business, while the Stanford GSB was one who reported the lowest.

Chart 2: Class of 2023 Graduates by Function by Percentage

In the full report, you can find out which of the top employers of MBAs report recruiting from each campus & which schools have the highest number of companies recruiting on campus–and which have the least.

Now, let’s put it all together!

When you write your career game plan, you’ll want to talk about your future jobs as a combination of industry and function. Knowing this now helps you target the MBA programs that will put you in the best position to succeed post-graduation. 

To help you visually see your post-MBA options, here’s a partial, high-level industry / function matrix:

You can see the industries down the side and functions across the top. Note that ‘Consulting’ and ‘Investment Banking’ are both an industry and a function. Any job you apply for will fall into one box in the white area – it will typically map to one industry and one function. Each job will be a combination of both.

Keep in mind, this is simplified and very high-level – within each industry and function, there are more granular distinctions to make. Within tech, there are companies that do consumer tech, software as service, hardware, software, etc. And similarly, with functions – within finance you’ve got business development, accounting, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, etc.

As you’re writing your personal statement – and thinking about what MBA is best for you – knowing what industry and function you hope to enter post-MBA is a must. And you’ll knock it out of the park if you can name specific roles at specific companies you’re interested in! It will show that you not only know what you want, but you’ve already started doing the work to get there. And yes, schools will love you for having a clear vision of where you want to go, and so will your future employer!

Unlock Your MBA Career Potential with Our FREE Career Placement Report

Now you know the most common post-MBA functions and industries, but what about the rest of them?? Join the community for full access to the report and upcoming spotlights on career searching at B-schools, the best MBA programs by industry, and our Industry Spotlight series on consulting, tech, and brand management. and updates on industry specific careers data for 2023 and 2024.

Ready to build your career game plan?

Imagine you’re buying a very expensive train ticket—an MBA. Before purchasing, you need to know where you’re going. Admissions committees want to see a clear Career Game Plan in your application. Without it, your ticket to the MBA ride might not take you anywhere new.

We’re here to help. Whether you need to clarify your goals, assess your competitiveness, or explore program offerings, our team of experts is ready to guide you.

Download the full Career Report now to start crafting your personalized MBA journey.

Let’s have a conversation!

Start your journey with MBA Protocol today.

Picture of Angela Guido

Angela Guido

Student of Human Nature| Founder and
Chief Education Officer of Career Protocol

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