The impact of the MBA and business school tier on career success outcomes: A comparative study of MBA graduates and non-MBA graduates.

摘要

The purpose of this study was twofold. First, the study examined an important yet underinvestigated topic: the effect of the MBA on career success. This study specifically addresses whether or not the attainment of the MBA degree is a significant explanatory factor as it relates to career success by comparing career outcomes achieved by MBA graduates with those of non-MBA graduates. Second, the study examines another area that has not been investigated: the impact of the perceived quality of the business school granting the MBA degree on career success. Salary, managerial attainment, and promotions are three objective career success measures used in this study.; The study concluded that an MBA is a significant predictor of one's salary, promotion status, and managerial status. More specifically, having an MBA is associated with a higher salary and a greater likelihood of being promoted and being a manager. In addition, the likelihood of attending a Tier 1 business school increases with a higher GMAT score and an undergraduate degree from a top tier undergraduate institution. However, the more years worked, the less likely a person is to attend a Tier 1 business school. Furthermore, business school tier was a significant mediator for four of the human capital variables for salary, one of the human capital variables for promotion status, and one of the human capital variables for management status. Better business schools are also associated with better career outcomes and help mediate the effect of some of the human capital variables such as total GMAT score, years worked, second quartile UG status, and other school tier status. Gender was not a significant predictor of business school tier attendance. However, African Americans are significantly more likely to attend higher tier business schools. Gender and race do not influence the effect of MBA attainment on career success.