What Careers Can You Have as a Stanford Graduate?

Every MBA program is different – and so are the careers that candidates can land after graduation.

TopMBA analyzed data from the latest QS MBA by Specialization Rankings 2021 to find out which business schools offer MBA grads the best chance of landing a job in a specific industry.

This series will take a closer look at the careers MBA grads landed post-graduation in seven fields at a number of top-tier schools.

Here are the top fields Stanford MBA graduates got their foot through the door to kickstart their career.

Financial services

The majority of Stanford MBA graduates – a whopping 33 percent – went into a career in the financial services sector, one of the economy’s most influential industries. Financial firms deal with a wide range of economic activities, including banking, insurance, real estate and investing services.

MBA graduates can land a number of high-paid jobs within this industry. Some of the top roles (and their average median salaries) include:

• Vice President (VP) Finance: US$151,732
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO): US$135,741
• Investment Banker: US$100,783
• Senior Financial Analyst: US$81,081
• Private Banker: US$70,245

Technology

The second most-popular field among Stanford MBA graduates is the technology sector, with 24 percent landing tech positions in the past year – a figure that underlines how advantageous the school’s location near the Silicon Valley really is.

Here are some of the top roles MBAs can land after graduation:

• Senior Product Manager: US$125,384
• Technical Program Manager: US$124,636
• Information Technology Director: US$120,788
• Senior Project Manager (IT): US$114,822

Consulting

Consulting is one of the top career choices for MBA grads across b-schools – and Stanford MBAs are no exception, with 18 percent of graduates going into the field. Some of the biggest consulting employers worldwide include Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), McKinsey & Company and Strategy&.

Here are the highest-paid consulting jobs available:

• Strategy Consultant: US$150,000
• IT Consultant: US$150,000
• Management Consultant: US$149,000
• Financial Advisory Consultant: US$130,000

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is another popular field among Stanford MBAs, with some 15 percent of graduates starting their own business after leaving the business school. Stanford’s location is ideal for a career in entrepreneurial space, with some of the biggest entrepreneurs and venture capitalists residing in the area.

Aside from starting a business, MBAs with an entrepreneurial mindset can land a wide range of leadership jobs in organizations of all sizes.

Some of these include:

• Strategy Consultant: US$150,000
• Director of Strategy: US$129,187
• Senior Product Manager: US$126,000