Which business schools have the highest MBA salaries?

TL;DR

• Business school can be a significant investment, with tuition fees at top US schools costing an average of more than $163,000
• However, return on investment after an MBA is high, as starting salaries from these top schools average at just over $191,000
• Starting salaries for MBA graduates at leading schools including Stanford, Wharton, and Chicago Booth exceed $200,000 
  
  

One of the most appealing outcomes of studying an MBA is the opportunity to work for globally-recognized companies and increase your salary, often into six-figures. But tuition fees at top business schools also come at a cost.

At the best business schools in the latest US MBA ranking published by US News & World Report, students can expect to pay more than $150,000 in tuition fees for a two-year program.

At Stanford Graduate School of Business, the number-one business school in this year's ranking, the cost of tuition is just over $170,000, while fees at Columbia Business School—in seventh place—are over $180,000.

However, it's important to remember that you’ll also see a strong return on your business school investment after graduation, with the degree helping achieve strong career progression and healthy salary increases.

Here is a breakdown of the highest average MBA salaries at the top 20 business schools in the US, according to the 2026 US News list.

Business schools with the highest MBA salaries

Not only does Stanford top the overall US News MBA ranking, the prestigious institution also comes out on top in terms of the highest MBA salaries. The average base salary Stanford MBA students can expect after graduation is $206,157, including bonuses, US News reports. 

Technology companies are some of the most prolific employers of Stanford graduates, with nearby Silicon Valley providing job opportunities in this sector. These remain among the highest-paid jobs.

Graduates from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (ranked second) and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business also see students land starting salaries of over $200,000—graduates earn an average of $201,902 and $200,968, respectively.

Joint seventh alongside Chicago Booth in this year's US News Ranking, NYU Stern School of Business also boasts one of the most impressive starting salaries, which amounts to $201,106 including bonuses.

Graduates from Dartmouth Tuck School of Business, Harvard Business School, Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, and MIT Sloan School of Management can also expect starting salaries of almost $200,000 a year.

The average tuition fees and costs of the top 20 schools in the US News ranking is just over $163,000 per year. With an average starting salary of over $191,000, you can therefore expect a strong return on this investment—alongside the valuable skills, network, and experience an MBA also provides.