Partner Sites


Logo BusinessBecause - The business school voice
mobile search icon

Duke Fuqua School of Business MBA Jobs & Salary Review

Which companies hire MBAs from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business? What do Duke Fuqua MBAs earn? Find out in our Fuqua MBA Jobs & Salary Review

Thu Aug 19 2021

BusinessBecause
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business is nestled within the buzzing business hub of Durham, North Carolina, and is ranked among the top business schools in the US.

The school was founded in 1969 and is known for its strengths in healthcare education. Still, since the Duke MBA offers tracks and certificates in areas like technology management and finance, the program offers MBA grads an array of career paths. 

The school has also attracted some impressive alumni, including Melinda Gates and CEO of Apple, Tim Cook. Having produced such high-flying alumni, it comes as little surprise that Duke Fuqua ranked ninth in the world in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking in 2021.

Aside from educating future CEOs and philanthropists, Fuqua School of Business believes in the value of collaboration, with team exercises featuring as a core element in their MBA classrooms.

The school is also famous for its global outlook and exposes students to new cultures and ways of working by facilitating visits to international organizations and exchange partner programs across 28 countries.

When they graduate, Fuqua MBAs can also expect an array of job opportunities and impressive compensation. So which companies hire Duke MBA graduates? And what's the average Fuqua MBA salary?


a6a75028d2efd391177feb5b8c197f49a16cdc97.png


Companies hiring Fuqua MBAs


MBA grads from Fuqua School of Business join top companies across a range of industries. Big tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Big Three Consulting Firms McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Bain are among the top Duke MBA employers of the class of 2020.

Big finance companies like Bank of America and JP Morgan are also among the top employers of Fuqua MBA grads, as are healthcare companies Sanofi Genzyme and Optum. 

Grads impressively weathered the Covid storm, with 90% of Fuqua School of Business MBA grads receiving offers for full-time employment by graduation, up from 84% in the previous cohort. 93% of Duke MBA grads received job offers three months after graduation.

Duke MBA grads leveraged the school’s strong career links, with the school facilitating 80% of the accepted full-time job offers through providing internships, interviews, and activities organized by the career center. 


70f650ce3e1ec3d9d5c067df1d2fecc4a36bd084.png


Most popular industries for Duke Fuqua MBAs


Fuqua School of Business placed 31% of its MBA grads into the well-paying field of consulting. Grads were also attracted to the growing tech sector, with 27% of Duke MBAs joining the industry—an increase of 4% from the previous class.

Financial services featured as the third most popular route for MBA grads: 18% entered the high-paying finance field. Unsurprisingly, due to Duke’s strong links with healthcare, 8% of MBAs joined the healthcare industry, making it the fourth most popular sector.

A further 5% of the class of 2020 landed roles in consumer packaged goods in 2021. Retail, media, transportation, and energy were also among the top industries MBAs entered.


Duke MBA: Most Popular Industries



Average Duke Fuqua MBA Salary


As a top 10 global business school, the salaries attained by Duke MBAs are equally as impressive as the school’s top ranking.

The mean base annual salary for Duke MBAs in the class of 2020 three months after graduation was almost $136k, while grads picked up a signing bonus of around $35k—a slight increase from the previous year’s signing bonus of roughly $33k.

The highest paying industry for Duke MBA grads was consulting, with grads landing a mean salary of around $154k. Grads who joined financial services had the second-highest salaries, with a mean MBA salary of around $139k. Meanwhile, in the tech sector, Fuqua MBAs landed the third highest salary by industry at roughly $128k. 

These high salaries are sure to be comforting for those calculating the costs of an MBA. The Duke MBA costs $70k in tuition fees per year, with an estimated total cost including living expenses of just over $195k.



Duke Fuqua MBA career destinations


94% of Duke MBAs, including international students, overcame Covid and US visa-related issues to pursue careers in the US in major destinations like New York, Seattle, Chicago, and Silicon Valley. There are also 24 Duke MBA grads who are planning to work outside of the US in countries such as South Korea, Japan, China, Mexico, Chile, and Brazil.

For the class of 2020, those who landed jobs in North America gained the highest salaries of around $139k, while those working in Latin America and the Caribbean reached strong salaries of around $88k. In Asia, MBA grads reached salaries of roughly $86k. 


Duke MBA Success Story


192eff09b6dd1b4798de9e4a09e2b4d2204a4020.png


Before joining the Duke MBA, Susan Sasu worked in customer marketing at Unilever in Ghana and South Africa, but after deciding she wanted to pivot into a fast-paced tech role, she embarked on an MBA in a country at the forefront of the tech sector: the US.

The Duke MBA stood out to Susan as they offered a Management Science & Technology Management (MSTeM) track, which provides students with the technical aptitude and experience needed to succeed in the burgeoning tech industry.

“It gave me a lay of the land, particularly in terms of how the technology industry is evolving,” she says.

Armed with this tech-focused knowledge, alongside an awareness of managerial principles, Susan has used her MBA to land a role as a product marketing manager for surface devices at Microsoft.

Her Fuqua MBA not only improved her tech knowledge, but she credits the global nature of the program for helping her to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and thrive at a US-based tech company.  


Who is the Duke MBA for?


6f6c6080ffb2d6ca26b8df28b591d08b74862582.png If you’re after an MBA program that could help you launch a career in the top three MBA industries of consulting, tech, and finance, the Duke MBA could be for you. The degree places over three-quarters of grads into these industries. 

A key focus on healthcare also means the industry is a key destination for MBA grads from the school. If you want to enhance or launch your career in the sector, this could also be a strong MBA choice for you. 

The Duke MBA also fosters a sense of community and has smaller class sizes compared to many top US MBA programs, and provides a strong international cohort. That means plenty of international networking opportunities throughout your time on the program. 

If you’re dreaming of a career within a major city in North America, the Duke MBA is a great place to enhance your business acumen, network with employers, and gain subject-specific knowledge through the many concentrations and certificates on offer at the school.

d8f5c18ecf9f736d0fb9b123206c2f0161f86b0a.png


Next Read: 

Find out how this grad aced the Duke MBA application

Student Reviews

Duke University Fuqua School of Business

Student

Verified

31/10/2023

On Campus

Supportive atmosphere

The professors at Duke university exhibit exceptional commitment to the success and well-being of their students by ensuring their academic growth and fostering a supportive social atmosphere. Moreover, the entire community is recognized for its amicability and inclusiveness.

Maxwell

Verified

30/03/2023

On Campus

Diversity

The people or the students are without a doubt Duke's greatest asset. While all students are driven to succeed, they are also enthusiastic about a variety of hobbies. You run across a huge lot of diversity. It is the ideal example of a school with well-rounded students and the ideal balance of campus life in a metropolis.

Anabelle

Verified

27/02/2023

On Campus

Happy to school

All I could ever hope for is Duke University. That really epitomizes the "work hard, play hard" philosophy that elite colleges frequently pursue. Even though you'll have a lot of schooling to complete over the week, it's simple to keep focused because all of your friends are putting in similar amounts of effort. Many events taking place on and around campus on the weekends provide a great way to unwind. The combination of demanding academics and traditional college fun strikes the perfect balance.

Monica

Verified

27/02/2023

On Campus

Good schooling

Living, eating, learning, and developing who you want to be as an adult are all fantastic at Duke. I participated in student athletics, and I couldn't have asked for a better interaction with the faculty and other students. I appreciate all of the help I get from the Duke community more than anything. Furthermore, the teachers take the time to get to know you, and the lectures are diverse and demanding (if you do the same). I'd give it a 10 out of 10.

Aline

Verified

26/11/2022

On Campus

Beautiful School, Nice Classes

DU remains one the greatest and best universities that I have ever stepped in. The school is beautiful and neat. The classes are spacious and also very nice. I enjoyed attending my Lectures in those lecture halls. I also loved the Lecturers because of the good work they did. The university also has very good dorms that are given to students on first come first serve basis and they are affordable

Student

Verified

29/06/2022

Blended

Amazing experience

I received my B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Global Health with a minor in Chemistry from Duke University. I was able to grow as a student, scientist, and global health advocate with the help of my friends, professors, and other mentors I met along the way. A lot to learn if you look and ask, a great place to learn for those who want to learn.

Student

Verified

29/06/2022

Blended

whirlwind of growth and change

An amazing 2 years, with covid and everything else happening Duke has been a place of growth for me. The courses , classes were one of a kind, online and on campus. But the valuable lessons learned in the classes are irreplicable. The students are amazing here, so much diversity , I had no problem fitting in. The teachers are down right brilliant and so helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them anything. Graduated with my MBA with Duke and now my future awaits.

Student

Verified

29/06/2022

On Campus

One of the best for Business students

Graduated with an MBA. The classes were very insightful and engaging. The staff are very easy to deal with. The teachers and students, are truly amazing people. Grateful to all the people I've met along the way at Duke. I've learnt a great deal that will help me in my future endeavors. The campus itself is a marvel, it is beautiful.

Student

Verified

16/06/2022

On Campus

The university campus is awesome

I graduated with a masters degree in Religious Studies from Duke University. One thing I really liked about the university is its huge campus. It is spread in a large area with a lot of greenery and also have the facilities of reading rooms for single person also. My department building was very well taken care of. The library is immensely populated with books for all your needs. The faculty is very nice to students. The classes are equipped with latest technology to cater the needs of students. The University also provides room rentals for international students. They are very well maintained and priority is given to the International students for a comfortable stay there. There are weekly events conducted by the University as well as Student clubs for the entertainment of students. Anybody can take part in them and show their talents. I enjoyed my degree and I graduated in 2021 and was very happy that I had graduated from a reputed University.

Dhanush

Verified

12/07/2024

On Campus

Program Flexibility and Vibrant Campus Life

Duke University is renowned for its rigorous academic programs and vibrant campus life. The university offers a diverse range of majors and research opportunities, supported by world-class faculty. What I particularly liked about Duke was its strong sense of community and the wealth of extracurricular activities available to students. The campus is beautiful, with top-notch facilities and a supportive atmosphere that fosters both personal and academic growth. Overall, I would highly recommend Duke University for its excellent educational offerings and strong alumni network. If you're looking for a place that challenges you academically while offering numerous opportunities for personal development, Duke is an excellent choice.

RECAPTHA :

6c

a0

69

d2