12 MBA Programs Offering A High Return On Investment

Tuition fees are high, but MBA grads from the world’s top-ranked business schools can boost their salaries by over 100%

With tuition costs for MBA programs often clocking in at hundreds of thousands of dollars, finding adequate return on investment (ROI) is a chief concern for many prospective students.

According to the Financial Times’ Global MBA Ranking 2017, graduates from the world’s top 30 MBA programs will rake in between $128,000 and $194,000 per year, only three years after graduation. Many will enjoy a salary uplift of over 100%.

Studying at top-ranked US business schools like Harvard and Stanford will cost the average MBA over $100,000, but both two-year MBA programs offer a strong ROI. Stanford MBAs can expect to earn a whopping $193,534 three years after graduation. Harvard MBAs, $177,541.

Global applications to traditional two-year MBAs are in a state of decline. Especially in Europe, one-year MBA programs are on the rise, with INSEAD topping the Financial Times' MBA rankings for the second consecutive year.

But for the world's top-ranked two-year MBA programs, the allure of high rates of return mean application numbers continue to grow. In 2016, Harvard MBA applicants grew by 2.45% to 9,543, while applications to the Stanford MBA reached a record 8,116.

If the returns are good, MBA applicants are willing to spend. Here’s 12 top-ranked business schools where MBAs grads can expect to earn some serious return on investment:

1. Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, USA

Average salary three years after graduation: $166,722; Salary percentage increase before and after graduation: 105%

2. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, USA