Consulting salaries at the Big Three may have stagnated, but average pay still tops $190k, which is closer to $250k when bonuses are included. Three-month graduate employment rates at the likes of London Business School, Wharton, and Columbia remain around 90%, while the 2024 GMAC Corporate Recruiter Survey revealed that 80% of top global employers are planning to hire MBA grads this year.
So where exactly do MBAs flock to after business school? And which companies are the biggest recruiters of MBA students?
BusinessBecause surveyed some of the world's leading business schools to find out.
Here are 10 companies that hire the most MBAs:
10. Microsoft
Microsoft is a leading recruiter of MBA students. One of the largest employers of MBA grads, Microsoft offers a range of enticing benefits to new recruits.
Microsoft offers MBAs with seven years of prior work experience initiatives such as the MACH Microsoft Aspire Experience, which provides targeted training and resources to help MBAs integrate into the company.
From the most recent graduating class, MBAs from the likes of Wharton, Columbia, Stern and Sloan all accepted job offers at Microsoft.
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9. AT Kearney
Consultancy firm AT Kearney is another prolific recruiter from the top business schools.
For instance, 25 of INSEAD's class of 2024 MBA graduates accepted positions at AT Kearney. MBA graduates from the likes of Ross, Stern, and Sloan also went on to work for Kearney.
AT Kearney appreciates applicants with traditional business and engineering backgrounds, but those with more nontraditional backgrounds—such as nonprofit or liberal arts—shouldn’t be deterred from applying to work there.
8. EY / EY-Parthenon
In 2024, MBA students from Ross, Stern, and Fuqua were all offered roles across consulting and strategy for Big Four accountancy firm EY and the firm’s specialist strategy consulting arm, EY Parthenon.
Working in accountancy requires a comprehensive understanding of finance, problem-solving skills, and the ability to build a strong rapport with people. An MBA gives candidates a comprehensive overview of what it takes to be a well-rounded businessperson, so it’s no surprise accounting firms value the MBA.
7. Accenture
Multinational professional services company, Accenture,...
MBA hires begin with a base salary of $175,000. All first-year associates are eligible for a performance bonus of up to $40,000, with an additional $15,000 awarded to top performers.
READ: Consulting Salaries For MBA & Master's Graduates
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6. Deloitte
Deloitte is another Big Four accountancy and professional services firm that consistently recruits from MBA programs. The company typically hires MBAs to work within its accountancy and consulting arms.
MBA students from the likes of IESE Business School, Kellogg, and NYU Stern secured roles at Deloitte in 2024. Deloitte was also one of the top recruiters from the Fuqua MBA, hiring 10 grads from this year’s intake.
5. Google
Although MBA tech hiring has slowed down in recent years, it remains one of the most popular industries for MBA graduates. Google is one of the sector’s most prolific recruiters, and hired several students from Columbia, INSEAD, Kellogg, Fuqua, and many more schools in 2024.
Like many of the world's top firms, the tech giant does on-campus recruiting, meeting MBA students before they graduate. This is a great way for students to register their interest in summer internships and future roles.
4. Amazon
Amazon is one of the world's largest companies and a top MBA employer. It hires huge numbers of MBAs across a range of different roles each year.
In 2024, Amazon hired 22 MBA students from Kellogg, 14 from Columbia, 16 from Chicago Booth, and nine from LBS.
"[Amazon] looks for MBAs who take ownership, who are obsessed with their customers, and who like to think big and deliver results," according to Amazon's former head of European campus recruitment, Dee Clarke.
Amazon's Pathways Leadership Development Program is a popular option for fresh MBA grads. Over five years, Pathway candidates enter the Amazon workforce as area managers with responsibility for 50 to 100 people, gradually taking on more complicated assignments that test leadership potential.
READ: Bain, Microsoft & The 20 Best Companies To Work For
3. Bain & Company
Although finance and tech have been among the most desired career paths for MBA graduates in recent years, consulting firms remain the leading MBA employers.
Bain recruits MBA students from business schools all over the world. Think heavyweights like Wharton, ranked first in the 2025 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, Sloan, and INSEAD. 41 INSEAD MBAs landed roles at Bain in 2024, making it the school's third-most popular employer.
Bain's head of global consultant recruitment, Keith Bevans, says the majority of a Bain consultant class is made up of MBA grads.
2. Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
Boston Consulting Group was the top recruiter from several MBA programs in 2024, including Fuqua, hiring 27 of its MBA graduates. The consulting firm is also one of the top MBA employers at the likes of INSEAD (41), Kellogg (45), and Booth (48).
It's important to cultivate a professional relationship with BCG even while you’re studying. If you are considering joining BCG after your MBA and want to find out what consulting life is really like, the firm recommends that you consider doing an internship first.
1. McKinsey
Nearly half of McKinsey's incoming consultants have an MBA. Graduates tend to join at an associate level as generalists or practice consultants, earning sky high salaries above $192,000, plus a $30,000 signing bonus.
The MBB consultancy is the top recruiter of MBAs at many of the world's top programs. The numbers speak for themselves: 78 INSEAD MBAs joined McKinsey in 2024, 42 from LBS, 33 from Booth, 31 from Ross and 21 from Kellogg.
“Our summer intern program is especially successful as we make sure our interns have a substantial role on their client teams, so they really get a glimpse into what being a consultant is like," Brian Rolfes, McKinsey’s former head of global recruitment tells BusinessBecause.
McKinsey also encourages students to apply for a 10-week associate intern position during the summer months to register their long-term interest in the firm. Students at US business schools can apply for the McKinsey Early Access program––a networking opportunity for pre-MBAs at selected full-time programs; it's a great way for MBA students to get a foot in the door.
For more information on how to launch careers in consulting, finance, technology, and more, plus free advice from b-school careers experts, download our Business Careers Guide: Expert Advice On Your Job Options After Business School
Article based on a survey of 15 top-ranked b-schools conducted by BusinessBecause in Q1 2020. Updated with latest data in March 2025.
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