ROI of a UF MBA is third best in the nation, according to US News
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Over the past five years, the University of Florida’s MBA program has been named among the top 5 in the nation for return on investment for graduates earning $100,000-plus in a ranking from U.S. News and World Report.
With a salary-to-debt ratio of 4.4-to-1, UF MBA is the third best program in the nation for return on investment. In 2021, UF MBA reported graduates earning an average salary and signing bonus within three months of graduation of $124,704 while their average debt was $28,521.
“ROI is a pillar of the business curriculum, so it isn’t surprising that students are focused on this metric related to their experience,” said John Gresley, Assistant Dean and Director of UF MBA. “These results from U.S. News indicate that UF MBA is among the best at accelerating the return for our graduates by limiting the debt load, which is an important consideration as prospective students look for ways to make their dollars go further.”
In comparison to similarly ranked schools on U.S. News’ list of 2023 Best Business Schools, UF MBA’s average debt is markedly lower.
Overall, the UF MBA program is ranked the No. 29 business program in the nation and the No. 10 public MBA program by U.S. News. With this ranking, it is the second best ranked full-time MBA program among national programs with strong ROIs, just behind the University of Washington.
Publications beyond U.S. News recognize the exceptional value of an MBA from the University of Florida. For the fifth consecutive year, Financial Times has named UF MBA the No. 1 program in the world for Value for Money, based on alumni salary, course length, tuition, other costs and lost income during the MBA. UF MBA is also the best program for career services, according to Financial Times.
For MBA alumna Kylie Lowell (MBA ’22), earning an MBA changed the trajectory of her career. Prior to joining the UF MBA program, Lowell worked in the themed entertainment industry designing theme parks. While it was her dream job, there was less opportunity for career and personal growth as well as a lower salary. Once the pandemic hit, she thought an MBA would give her leverage for a bigger role.
“The University of Florida opened my eyes to opportunities I had never envisioned,” she said. “I found that I could use some of the same skills I previously used, such as collaboration and problem solving, in conjunction with my new MBA skills, as a consultant.”
Lowell was able to do just that and is now a consultant with Boston Consulting Group. Not only did her UF MBA education help her expand her career horizons, but she was also able to do so without taking on debt.
In the Full-Time MBA program, Lowell earned a merit scholarship and completed the program in one year. Despite losing a year’s salary to return to school full-time, Lowell has found it to be worthwhile.
“The true return of this one-year investment in myself is increased confidence, capability and analytical skills,” she said. “The UF MBA program was so much more than just classes. I also gained resume building, interviewing, networking and case competition skills. A dramatic increase in salary was certainly an added bonus!”
