Business Schools Whose Graduates Earn the Most Nationwide

A study conducted by business advice company Venture Smarter analyzed data from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited schools regarding the earnings of their business course graduates. The average earnings of business course graduates from these schools were established for both one and four years after course completion.

1. University of Virginia: The University of Virginia comes out on top with astonishing average graduate earnings. One year post-graduation, business course alumni of the university earn an average salary of $88,048. Four years after graduation, this rises to $112,758. These figures are 93% and 87%, respectively, above the average for AACSB schools nationally. Many alumni of UVA populate the upper echelons of the business world. Graduates from the school include, among others, a former CEO of Procter & Gamble, a former president of the NASDAQ stock exchange, and the billionaire founder of New River Pharmaceutical.
2. Emory University: Private research university in Atlanta, Emory University, makes second place on the list. Graduates from Emory earn, on average, $78,394 one year from graduation and $107,945 four years after this time. Alumni of the university include the founder of Callaway Golf, a former CEO of Burger King, and the late former CEO of Smith & Wesson.
3. Southern Methodist University: Another private research university, Southern Methodist University, in Texas, produces the third highest-earning business graduates. Alumni of the university have average earnings one year post-graduation of $51,068. While this is the lowest figure for one year graduates among the top ten, earnings average $105,314 four years post-graduation. This places Southern Methodist University graduates as the third highest earners on the list. Notable alumni from the school include former first lady of the United States, Laura Bush, and the CEO’s of businesses such as British Airways and AT&T Business Solutions.
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina makes fourth place in the list with one year graduates earning, on average, $76,943. Four year graduates average salaries of $105,246. Graduates of the business administration course at UNC include wildly successful business people such as Michele Buck, CEO of The Hershey Company, and Peruvian billionaire owner of Belcorp, Eduardo Belmont Anderson.
5. George Washington University: In fifth, graduates of George Washington University earn on average $58,070 one year out of school, and after four years, their earnings average $101,930. GWU alumni include the former chairman of the Samsung Group and current CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby.
6. Stevens Institute of Technology: New Jersey’s Stevens Institute of Technology makes sixth place with graduate earnings averaging $70,597 one year out of school. Four years post-graduation this rises to $100,049, being the last university in the list with four year earnings averaging over the $100,000 mark. Notable alumni of the institute include businessman and serving governor of Montana Greg Gianforte and pioneering aerospace engineer Amber S.Gell.
7. Washington and Lee University: Business graduates of this private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, average earnings of $63,631 one year after completion of their education. Four years post-completion average earnings sit at $98,403. Alumni of Washington and Lee include the former owner of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, and magnate Rupert H.Johnson, vice chairman of Franklin Resources.
8. Georgetown University: Business graduates of Georgetown University, Washington D.C, have the second highest earnings of these schools one year post-completion, the average sitting at $82,850. Four years post-graduation average business graduate earnings are $94,935. Notable alumni of Georgetown include the current CEO of JPMorgan Chase & Co, as well as two former United States Presidents, Lyndon B. Johnson and Bill Clinton.
9. Texas Christian University: This private research university in Fort Worth makes the penultimate top ten spot. Average earnings one year out of school are $57,155, with this increasing to $93,488 four years post-graduation. Former students of TCU include CEO of BNSF Railway, Kathryn Farmer, and billionaire entrepreneur John Davis.
10. Elon University: Elon University of North Carolina ranks tenth as the second NC institution in this prestigious top ten. Graduates of Elon average earnings of $54,936 one year post-graduation and $92,616 four years after completion. Notable alumni of the university include an array of politicians and military figures such as Admiral William E.Gortney.