Stanford’s reputation is known far and wide, so an MBA earned at this prestigious school is almost certain to get you places, and the Stanford GSB employment report is a testament to that.
If you’re interested in taking a detailed look at the GSB employment stats or learning more about what this business school is known for and how to obtain a coveted spot in one of its future cohorts, read on.
Why Apply to Stanford GSB?
A Well-Rounded Education
Before you can begin thinking of the next big job that your MBA will secure for you, you must first complete said degree, and you should do this in a place that offers you a well-rounded education that paves the way for infinite personal and professional growth.
Stanford GSB provides exactly that to each and every one of its students through its rigorous courses, world-class faculty, and bountiful experiential learning opportunities.
A Tight-Knit Community
Joining a future cohort at Stanford GSB also means joining a community made up of “people from all over the world who will become your colleagues and confidants.” Together, you will “become the leaders of tomorrow, supporting and challenging each other every step of the way.”
Stanford is big on teamwork since they believe that innovation is often the product of collaboration. So, joining their MBA program means taking on hundreds of allies who will be your biggest supporters in multiple facets for the next two years.
A World-Class Curriculum
Undertaking an MBA at Stanford GSB may be precisely what you need to turn your long-term and short-term goals and aspirations into realities. " If you have big ideas, there is no better place than Stanford GSB to explore them.” Stanford’s top-quality curriculum and innovative educational practices allow for this.
Over the course of your two-year MBA, you will have the opportunity to “learn through case studies, lectures, small-group seminars, simulations, prototyping, role-playing scenarios, hands-on experiences, project-based courses, and multifunctional teams.”
Stanford GSB has multiple industry-specific courses that will help you expand your knowledge base within specific sectors that are of interest to you. Stanford GSB’s experiential learning courses also “offer hands-on learning about the process of evaluating new venture opportunities.”
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What is Stanford GSB known for?
The Spirit of Entrepreneurship
As a Stanford GSB student, you may focus your learning on a variety of domains. However, Stanford GSB has mastered its grip on curricular and co-curricular training within the realm of entrepreneurship. All students have access to numerous entrepreneurial courses, clubs, and programs throughout the Stanford campus.
Stanford GSB recognizes that “entrepreneurship takes many forms,” and no matter what route you intend to take with your career path after graduating, the “Stanford GSB curriculum allows you to build and expand your entrepreneurial skills to have an impact in many different venues.”
If founding a company is an ambition of yours, there are “many Stanford GSB courses [that] deal directly with the challenges founders face when evaluating a new venture concept, scaling their business, and leading a team." Stanford’s co-curricular venture studio may be another valuable resource for you to meet like-minded peers.
Standing up for Social Chance
Stanford GSB is also known to make social change a primary focus of their MBA. They believe that their graduates will “play important roles in solving many of today’s and tomorrow’s major societal problems, such as improving educational and health outcomes, conserving energy, and reducing global poverty.”
During your time at Stanford GSB, you will “gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to act fearlessly and inspire action” in ways that have an impact on social change.
Stanford’s curriculum contains many courses that go hand in hand with the theme of social innovation.
Who Is Stanford GSB Looking For?
The Stanford GSB Ideals
Stanford has noted that “[their] students and alumni don’t all fit in one mold, and [they] don’t expect candidates to, either.” However, they certainly have some set expectations for anyone interested in applying to their program.
As Stanford’s admissions committee sifts through the thousands of applications that they receive each year, there are three main things that they seek from their applicants: intellectual vitality, demonstrated leadership potential, and personal qualities and contributions.
Two personal essays are required as part of their application process, and these essays are your best shot at proving that you possess these characteristics, which will have sway over whether you become part of a future Stanford GSB cohort or not.
Intellectual Vitality
Stanford claims to have a “pioneering spirit,” which fosters a learning environment that allows them to “approach problems from interdisciplinary perspectives; teach using multiple methodologies; and embrace collaboration to explore new points of view.”
Consequently, they feel that intellectual vitality goes far beyond what your GPA or standardized test scores can measure.
To demonstrate intellectual vitality in your application, you should make room in your GSB essays for reflecting upon “the times you have taken initiative to learn new things, to solve challenging problems, or to develop new insights.” Stanford is interested in knowing what you discovered through these experiences and why they matter to you.
Demonstrated Leadership Potential
Stanford’s motto is “change lives, change organizations, change the world,” and they believe that strong leaders are necessary for bringing about these kinds of change. Stanford claims to offer a “business education that will both challenge you to become a better leader and teach you how.”
The committee will be looking for defined examples of times when you have influenced those around you and inspired them to follow you. The specifics of the examples you decide to mention in your essays aren’t important since all kinds of possible anecdotal situations will highlight leadership skills.
Just make sure that the stories you choose to include draw upon specific behaviors that you have exhibited, such as strategic thinking, initiative, persistence, results orientation, engaging others, and developing others. Your examples should also shed light on how you have used these behaviors to make an impact or create change.
Personal Qualities and Contributions
Stanford GSB’s admissions committee is eager to know precisely how you will contribute to enriching the school’s community, so they are interested in “who you are, not simply what you have done.”
To show them exactly how you will fit in and add value to a future cohort of theirs, you may want to discuss your values, beliefs, and motivations while crafting your essays. It is essential that you remain genuine with your approach to this, but you should also make an effort to stand out and reveal the ways in which you are unique.
Stanford GSB’s Latest Class Profile
Stanford GSB’s latest class is incredibly diverse. The cohort is made up of 36% international students, representing 55 different countries. Of the admitted students, 46% are female.
Students admitted into the program also had an average of 5 years of work experience. The most common professional background within the cohort was investment management, in which 19% of the students reported having work experience in. Consulting followed behind with 17%.
Stanford's MBA Program emphasizes transparency and accountability in diversity and inclusion. Below is a summary of the current student demographics:
These figures represent Stanford's commitment to fostering a stronger and more equitable community.
Although Stanford does not have any minimum requirements for GPAs, the average GPA of their recent cohort is relatively high, sitting at 3.77. For GMAT scores submitted, the average was 738. For the GRE scores submitted, the average was 164 verbal and 164 quantitative. The average TOEFL score submitted by international applicants was 113.
If you’re interested in joining the Stanford GSB community, check out this video.
Stanford GSB MBA Employment Statistics 2023-2024
Now that you know what Standford can offer and how to increase your chances of admission, let’s go over how successful its graduates are by breaking down its most recent employment report.
General Outlook
The graduating class of 2023 entered the job market in a time of economic uncertainty. 2022-2023 say widespread layoffs and drops in venture funding. However, students responded to these challenges with diligence and sought unique opportunities for leadership. For 25% of the class, this meant running their own businesses.
Nonetheless, the mean and median salaries of Stanford grads increased from the prior year. Slightly fewer grads received or accepted offers within three months of graduation, which was partly due to market conditions and students waiting for the perfect opportunity.
2025 Class Demographics
To help you get to know the class of 2025 on which the Stanford MBA stats were based, here are some of their key demographics:
- Women: 46% of the MBA Class of 2024
- U.S. Students of Color: 50%
- U.S. Citizens & Permanent Residents: 50%
- International Students: 36% representing 55 countries
- Languages Spoken: 53 languages
- Total New Students: 431
- Total Applicants: 6,190
- Test Scores:
- GMAT Average Score: 738
- GRE Average Scores:some text
- Quantitative: 164
- Verbal: 164
- TOEFL Average Score: 113
- Average GPA: 3.77
Overall Employment Statistics
Graduates of the MBA Class of 2024 have strong professional experience and academic achievements, making them ready for the job market.
- Average Work Experience: 4.9 years
- Range of Work Experience: 0-18 years
- Top Undergraduate Degrees:
- Engineering: 24%
- Economics: 21%
- Social Sciences: 20%
- Business/Commerce: 19%
- Math/Sciences: 9%
- Arts/Humanities: 6%
- First Generation College Graduates: 11%
- Advanced Degree Holders: 17%
- Previous Educational Institutions:
- U.S. Institutions: 82
- Non-U.S. Institutions: 83
Top Hiring Industries
The MBA Class of 2024 is finding job opportunities in many industries, with some sectors showing higher demand for their skills.
Compensation By Function
The median salary of the 2023 grads was $182,500. The top-paying functions were private equity, general management, product management, investment, and consulting. The compensation for these functions can be broken down as follows:
Keep in mind that these are only starting salaries. Students can expect their Stanford MBA salary after 10 years to increase substantially!
Geographic Distribution
Stanford’s 2023 grads ended up across the globe, but the majority stayed within North America (93%):
- Northeast: 31%
- Mid-Atlantic: 2%
- Midwest: 3%
- South: 3%
- Southwest: 3%
- West: 50%
- Canada: <1%
The other 7% of grads ventured a little further:
- Africa: 1%
- Asia, Australia, and Oceania: 2%
- Europe: 1%
- Latin America and Caribbean: 1%
- South America: 2%
Entrepreneurship and Startups
Among the graduates opting for the entrepreneurial path, 49% ventured into the technology sector, while 12% initiated businesses in healthcare. Another 15% diversified into other sectors, with search funds constituting 12% of this subset.
Additional Insights
Some additional insights to keep in mind about the employment stats of the 2023 class are that the majority (54%) found employment through the GSB network, job boards, events, or internships that converted to full-time positions. This proves that GSB not only provides students with a stellar education but also opportunities beyond graduation!
FAQs
Have more questions about the Stanford GSB MBA employment report? Read on to find your answers.
1. What Are the Components Required for Applying to Stanford GSB’s MBA Program?
All applicants must submit academic transcripts from all undergraduate or graduate institutions attended, GMAT or GRE scores, a one-page professional business resume, two letters of recommendation, and answers to two essay questions. You must also complete an interview.
2. Does Stanford GSB Have Opportunities for Completing a Joint/Dual Degree?
Yes, GSB offers JD/MBA, MD/MBA, MS Computer Science/MBA, or MS Electrical Engineering/MBA degrees. You can also choose to pursue a dual degree for MA Education/MBA, MPP/MBA, or MS Environment and Resources (E-IPER)/MBA.
3. Can I Visit the Campus to Get a Sense of What Life Is Like for Stanford GSB Students?
Yes, students can participate in on-campus information sessions and campus tours through the Knight Management Center to learn more about the Stanford GSB experience and community. Advanced registration is required for these sessions and tours.
4. What Is the Acceptance Rate for Stanford GSB’s MBA Program?
Stanford GSB has an acceptance rate of around 6%. They typically receive 7,000–8,500 applications and usually admit around 430–500 students into the program.
5. Are There Extracurricular Activities to Get Involved With at Stanford GSB?
Yes, Stanford GSB has an incredibly diverse social scene, with more than fifty student clubs and organizations. These clubs are open to all students, and they regularly host meetings, events, and activities on campus and within the broader Bay Area.
6. What Is the Most Popular Industry That Stanford Graduates Usually Go Into?
Stanford GSB graduates have been historically successful in finding jobs within the finance and tech sectors. For Stanford’s most recent graduating class, 38% went into finance, and 24% went into tech.
Conclusion
This detailed look at the Stanford GSB employment report reveals that the majority of Stanford’s recent graduating class was triumphant, despite unfavorable circumstances. They managed to come out on top, with increasing average and median starting salaries. This impressive feat is the ultimate testament to the value of a Stanford GSB MBA.
So, if you’re interested in pursuing an MBA that will almost guarantee success in your future career, follow the tips outlined in this article and get ready to join GSB’s future cohort of global leaders who are ready to change the world.
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