An MBA can be a ticket to the biggest blue-chip companies, and can swell your salary into six-figures. But tuition fees are eye-wateringly expensive at the best business schools.

At the 19 best business schools in the latest US News MBA Ranking, you will fork out at least $100,000 to earn your MBA. 

At elite schools such as Stanford Graduate School of Business or Wharton School, the total two-year bill will be upwards of $200,000 including tuition, fees and the opportunity cost of not earning a wage.

The good news: the return on investment and the graduate MBA salary you're likely to earn after an MBA at a top US business school. 

MBA Salary: Who comes out top?

Stanford, which tops the overall US News MBA ranking, also comes out top in terms of highest salaries. The average base salary Stanford MBA students can expect after graduation is $159,544 (not including bonuses).

Technology companies are some of the biggest employers of Stanford grads, who flock to the nearby Silicon Valley. These remain among the highest-paid jobs. 

Fellow M7 Business Schools, Harvard Business School and Chicago Booth, come in at second and third respectively for MBA salaries. Harvard grads earn around $150k after graduation, while Chicago Booth alum can expect around $148k.

East Coast business schools dominate the salary rankings. These schools are strongly linked to well paid sectors like consulting and finance, with graduates frequently flocking to the big US cities on the east coast like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. 

The table below outlines the average base salaries MBAs can expect to earn if they graduate from the 19 best business schools in the US:

Business Schools With The Highest MBA Salaries

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This article was first published in March 2018 and updated in April 2021.