All articles tagged with #mba
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates rose to 6.30% (from 6.19%), driving a 19% weekly drop in refinance applications and a 10.9% overall decline in mortgage activity, even as purchase applications edged up 1%; the rate spike, the highest since December 2025, is tied to higher Treasury yields and geopolitical tensions, with spring housing market starting to show slightly more inventory and some affordability improvement.
MIT Sloan School of Management has topped the Financial Times’ Global MBA Ranking 2026 for the first time, overtaking Insead and Wharton as schools sharpen their focus on value and AI-enabled leadership. The FT ranking assesses post-graduation salaries, salary growth, research output, career services and alumni outcomes. Sloan’s rise comes as it strengthens ties with MIT and emphasizes AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, jobs, with other top schools like IESE, London Business School and HEC Paris also featuring in the top tier. The ranking highlights ongoing debates about MBA cost and value amid mixed employment conditions, while alumni report high satisfaction overall.
US mortgage rates fell last week to some of the lowest levels in years, with the 30-year fixed rate at 6.18% (down 7 basis points), the lowest since September 2024 and among the lowest since 2022. The 5-year ARM slid to 5.42%. Cheaper financing helped lift activity: the Mortgage Purchase Index rose about 16% to its second-highest level since February 2023, while refinancing surged more than 40%, signaling renewed housing-market momentum.
Mortgage demand jumped 28.5% for the week, with refinance applications up 40% (128% year over year) and purchase applications up 16% (13% YoY) as the average 30-year fixed rate for conforming loans fell to 6.18% from 6.25% (0.56 points). The spike followed late-week rate drops linked to White House remarks about the government buying MBS, though-rate movement started the new week higher again, aided by CPI data showing inflation in check.
While MBAs from top schools like Harvard and Stanford still secure roles in venture capital, their dominance is waning as firms increasingly value technical experience from companies like OpenAI and SpaceX, reflecting a shift in VC hiring practices. The traditional MBA-to-VC pipeline is weakening, with a growing emphasis on technical expertise over business school credentials.
Wharton has reclaimed its position as the top provider of MBAs in the world, according to the latest FT ranking of global business schools. The assessment takes into account various measures including value for money, alumni study aims achieved, gender and international diversity, academic research quality, and environmental policies. Despite a drop in MBA applications and employment rates, Wharton leads in research and alumni salaries, with Stanford and Harvard following closely. The ranking also highlights the shift towards part-time and online MBA programs, as well as the predominance of male students in MBA classes.
Shadi Farhangrazi, a neuroscientist and biochemist, is the CEO of S. M. Discovery Group (SMDG), a biotech company specializing in delivering therapeutic molecules to the brain. Farhangrazi's transition from academia to industry was prompted by a desire to see her research have real-world applications. Her international work experiences in Africa and India, as well as her MBA, prepared her for her current role. As a female CEO in the biotech industry, Farhangrazi faces challenges but is determined to bring life-saving therapies to people with neurodegenerative conditions and children with neurological diseases.
Companies are reducing or postponing their hiring of M.B.A. graduates this fall, marking a significant departure from previous years' robust recruiting seasons. Business students are now considering alternative career options if top-tier companies do not extend job offers.
McKinsey & Company's MBA Class of 2022 is a diverse group of professionals who are driven by a desire to make a difference and have a positive impact. These MBAs are attracted to McKinsey's reputation for operational excellence and its ability to create change. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring unique perspectives to the firm. McKinsey's commitment to continuous learning and its global scale are key factors that attract these MBA hires. The firm's focus on potential over pedigree and its collaborative and inclusive culture set it apart from competitors.
MBA graduates from top business schools such as Harvard and Stanford can expect high starting salaries, with some earning over $200,000 in base and bonus during their first year. However, pay does not always align with school rankings, as graduates from lower-ranked schools like NYU Stern and Cornell can still earn competitive salaries. The choice of occupation also plays a role, with Stanford GSB graduates earning the highest starting packages in General Management and Finance, while Northwestern Kellogg is known for Marketing. Consulting offers the highest immediate payout, with many top programs offering starting salaries of $150,000 or more. The data on MBA pay by occupation and industry can help applicants understand which fields are emphasized by different schools and negotiate better salaries.
Private equity firms are placing less emphasis on MBA degrees as costs rise and they seek more diverse recruits. This shift is giving more opportunities to candidates without an MBA degree, who can demonstrate their skills and experience in other ways. This trend is also driven by the high cost of MBA programs, which can leave graduates with significant debt.
U.S. News has released its 2023-2024 MBA ranking, with Stanford Graduate School of Business ranking sixth, Harvard Business School in fifth place for the third consecutive year, and Wharton slipping to third position from first. Dartmouth Tuck jumped five places to sixth, up from 11th a year ago, largely due to U.S. News' decision to increase the emphasis on outcome measures and reduce the weight it places on reputation. The changes in methodology caused plenty of wild swings up and down the ranking, particularly for smaller MBA programs with larger numbers of international students.