Emory Goizueta MBA Jobs & Salary Review

Founded over 100 years ago, Emory University’s Goizueta Business School today ranks among the top 20 business schools in the US. 

Considering its rich history and strong ranking, it’s no surprise the school boasts prestigious alumni, including former and current CEOs of brands such as Lowe's, Subway, Burger King, Yahoo, and Sears. 

Named after Roberto Goizueta, former CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, the Goizueta Business School aims to turn students into global leaders and change makers. The location in Atlanta, Georgia, helps—75% of Fortune 1000 companies have corporate offices in the city. 

The school's flagship two-year MBA program puts students in touch with prestigious companies in the Atlanta area for experiential learning opportunities, and students can choose from more than 20 concentrations to specialize their degree.  

So, if you’re thinking about heading to Atlanta to undertake the Emory MBA, here’s a breakdown of where graduates end up—including average salaries, top locations, and popular industries—based on the school’s most recent employment report. 

Popular industries for Emory MBA graduates

An impressive 96% of 165 Emory MBA participants accepted job offers within three months of graduating in 2023. According to the Financial Times MBA rankings, this puts the school in the top five MBA programs in the world for graduate employment. 

Among international students in the program, 88% accepted employment offers within three months of graduation. 

Unsurprisingly for a top-ranked MBA program, consulting was the most popular industry for Emory MBA grads. Over half of the 2023 class took jobs in the industry, owing to a strong consulting and strategy concentration in Emory's MBA program. 

Following consulting, the most popular industries for grads were technology (14%) and financial services (12%). 

At Emory, MBA students have ample opportunities to meet companies in Atlanta and elsewhere. The IMPACT program, for example, enables students to work with real business clients on strategic problems, alongside leadership coaches. 

Plus, Emory hosts three business research facilities—the Center for Alternative Investments (CAI), the Marketing Analytics Center, and the Business & Society Institute—where students can gain access to networking and career development opportunities.   

With 16 Fortune 500 headquarters and 75% of Fortune 1000 companies possessing offices in Atlanta, this makes the city a hub for MBA career opportunities. Most Emory MBA graduates receive offers from multinational companies but 62% choose to stay in Atlanta, Georgia, or in the wider Southern region due to the low cost of living and temperate weather. 

However, Emory MBA grads are also well-represented across the US, and 3% of graduating students find jobs internationally, with the most popular international destination being Asia.

Companies Hiring Emory Goizueta MBAs

In total, 87% of all graduating 2023 MBAs at Emory received job offers as a result of school-facilitated activities such as campus networking events, school referrals, and in-program internships. 

The Career Management Center utilizes Emory’s intimate size—the student to faculty ratio is 5:1—to get to know each MBA student on an individual level, allowing the team to match everyone with the right career opportunities. 

Naturally, Emory has strong links with sought after businesses. MBA recruiters include Atlanta-headquartered companies like UPS and Delta Air Lines, plus global firms including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.

The top consulting firms are also among top recruiters of Emory Goizueta MBAs. In fact Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), EY, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, and PwC hired three or more Emory MBA graduates in 2023 for full-time roles. 

Average Emory MBA salary ($)

The opportunity to take on a rewarding, impactful role after graduation is a key draw for MBA students. Eventual salary is also a crucial factor—especially considering the cost of pursuing an MBA program.

The Emory MBA comes with a total price tag of $151,689. However, average salaries for graduating students exceed this, giving the program a strong return on investment (ROI). 

The average median salary for 2023 graduates was $165,000, rising to $193,000 including bonuses. Graduates in consulting earn the most, picking up base salaries of $175,000, but in some consulting functions, even higher salaries can be expected. 

For example, Emory graduates working in management consulting take home a median annual base salary of $190,000. Likewise, finance and healthcare consulting can both come with salaries of $175,000. 

Just beneath consulting graduates in the earnings rankings are MBAs working in financial services. They earn an average base salary of $173,000, followed by graduates in energy, who earn $150,000. Graduates working in other industries such as healthcare, technology, and retail all earn between $120,000 and $130,000. 

Emory MBA Success Story

Former US Army Officer Cade Ricker didn’t want to limit his career options after leaving behind his career in the military. So, he decided to pursue the Emory MBA, where he felt he could gain the hands-on experience and personal support necessary to transition to a new career path. 

During his MBA, Cade completed an internship at EY-Parthenon, which cemented his desire to land in the consulting industry after graduating. He’s now a senior associate at a consultancy startup in Atlanta, a lead he gained through his internship. 

“Seeing the value of the Emory MBA come into full force through tapping into your own network has been invaluable,” he says. 

Who is the Emory MBA for? 

If you’re looking to start a career in a growing US business hotspot, then Emory is a great choice. Combining a small, close-knit community feel with convenient access to networking, students can really spend time finding the right career for them. 

The school is renowned for its careers service, which helps students find their dream roles after graduating—96% of MBAs accept job offers within three months for the class of 2023. 

In particular, Emory has strong links with consulting, technology, and finance companies—80% of MBA graduates go onto work in these industries. However, Emory University also has a strong healthcare background, and other students go onto work at multinational companies in the energy, logistics, and retail sectors.