2009 Student Results

Executive MBA Programs Meet or Exceed Students’ Expectations for Impact on Their Career

ORANGE, CALIF., Feb. 11, 2010 – Almost all students – 97 percent – who took part in the Executive MBA Council 2009 Student Exit Benchmarking Survey say their programs met or exceeded their expectations for impact on their career. Ninety-seven (97) percent
of students also say their programs met or exceeded their expectations for impact on their organization.

The Executive MBA Council conducts the Student Exit Benchmarking Survey to track the perceptions and opinions of Executive MBA program graduates and to help measure the return on investment of the degree. The survey included 3,348 students from 112 programs.

Students’ average salary at the start of their Executive MBA program was $125,029, up from $115,177 the previous year. Upon completion of the program, students’ average salary was $136,722, a 9 percent increase. In 2008, students’ salaries on average increased 17 percent. The 2009 graduating students expect a payback period of 49 months, up from 43 months, the expected payback period for 2008 graduates.

Approximately one-third (32 percent) of Executive MBA students were promoted and 44 percent received additional job responsibilities. In 2008, 40 percent of students were promoted and 49 percent received new responsibilities.

“Raises and payback periods fluctuate with the economy. Despite these extraordinary times, the data is still very positive,” says Michael Desiderio, executive director of the Executive MBA Council. “The Executive MBA is a long-term investment, and our member programs are committed to providing an outstanding experience that will have long-term impact on students’ careers.”