A Detailed Look at the NYU Stern Employment Report

The New York University Stern School of Business is one of the most prestigious business schools in the country. NYU Stern was founded in 1900 and is one of the world’s first business schools, providing essential business training to its students since its inception. According to Stern’s employment report, most MBA graduates find work in consulting, finance, and investment banking. Roxanne Hori, Stern’s Associate Dean of Corporate Relations and Career Services, said that Stern “continues to be seen (in the MBA world) as one of the key schools for Wall Street.” Considering that Stern is a 10-minute subway ride from the New York Stock Exchange, it’s no surprise that Stern has a strong presence on Wall Street. 

However, the financial industry is not the sole destination for Stern MBA graduates. Many graduates will also find rewarding work in other areas such as entrepreneurship, entertainment and media, luxury and retail, marketing, and many other industries. If you’re interested in what an MBA from Stern can do for you, we will explore all about Stern in this article, including why you should apply and class profile data. We will also take an in-depth look at the NYU Stern employment report to show you how the Stern MBA can open opportunities to many industries and career paths. 

Why Apply to NYU Stern? 

Stern prides itself in being an institution dedicated to its vibrant community, “creating leaders who embrace uncertainty and drive change.” Stern understands that the world around us changes rapidly and teaches students the skills they need to navigate the innovative solutions required for today's business world. As an institution, Stern has four core values that it hopes to impart upon MBA students: 

• Excellence, Unbound by Tradition: Students are encouraged to dare to be fearless and innovative while striving for excellence. 

• IQ + EQ: Stern fosters an environment focused on student success and learning that also “reveres diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging of all people and ideas.”

• Radically Responsible: Stern understands that solid and capable business leaders can improve society; this belief is central to Stern’s culture and curriculum.

• Uncommonly Connected: Stern’s location in New York City means that students have access to NYU’s global network and can create and build connections with industries on a worldwide scale. 

Stern’s New York City location makes it a great school to earn your MBA, surrounded by the rich culture, cuisine, media, art, and entertainment that the city has to offer. NYC is home to the most Global 500 companies in the United States, making Stern a great place to get recruited by large companies and corporations. Learning at Stern can connect you to numerous people, industries, and job opportunities while you enjoy all that The Big Apple has to offer. 

Stern’s MBA program offerings are also incredibly diverse, ensuring that your scheduling needs are met while offering highly specialized classes to different areas of interest. Stern currently offers five MBA paths for its students: full-time, part-time, Tech, Fashion & Luxury, and dual degrees.  

Who is NYU Stern Looking For? 

Like most business schools, NYU Stern approaches the admissions process holistically. The great news is that although Stern requires candidates meet the minimum requirements needed to apply for an MBA, the admissions committee is willing to look beyond test scores and academics and assess your characteristics. For example, if your GMAT or GRE scores aren’t necessarily as high as you like, it may not be a barrier to acceptance into Stern’s programs. Stern does look for students who demonstrate intellect through these requirements, but it also emphasizes each candidate’s emotional intelligence (EQ). 

Stern looks for students who will enrich the school’s culture and program. You should convey what your acceptance will add to the program and how you see yourself fitting into the student mosaic in your application. Stern MBA students have a deep sense of community and helping one another as they “constantly [develop] new resources for knowledge sharing and interpersonal development.” You should have an idea of any extracurricular activities or clubs you might want to join and describe how they fit in with your interests or talents. The admissions committee is interested in your potential to contribute to the Stern community and how Stern can help you achieve your goals.

Class Demographics 

In terms of class profile, the Stern Full-Time MBA program is comprised of a highly diverse pool of students. According to recent data, Stern accepted 29% of applicants and enrolled 317 MBA students. Other class demographics were listed as follows: 

• 43% female students 
• 32% students with international citizenship 
• 32% minorities 
• 12% underrepresented minorities 
• 4% U.S. military veterans/ active duty 
• 30 countries represented in the class 
• Average student age of 28 

Undergraduate Majors 

Stern accepted a wide range of students from different undergraduate backgrounds. At 29%, a majority of the accepted students held a business-related undergraduate degree, 23% had degrees in engineering, math, or science, 20% in social science, 14% in economics, and 14% in arts, humanities, or other disciplines. 

GPA

Students accepted into Stern’s full-time program had an average undergrad GPA of 3.60 and a median GPA of 3.61. All GPA scores submitted ranged from 3.01 to 4.00, while the middle 80% ranged from 3.30 to 3.83. 

GMAT Scores 

Students accepted into Stern’s full-time program submitted an average GMAT score of 723 and a median score of 720. All accepted students’ GMAT scores ranged between 640 and 780, and the middle 80% ranged between 690 and 760. 

Remember that Stern views applications holistically and that your GPA and GMAT scores alone do not guarantee your acceptance or rejection from the program. If your GPA or GMAT scores are lower than you would like, be sure to emphasize the rest of your application and possibly explain the gaps. Remember that you can retake the GMAT up to eight times in one year! You can easily boost your score if that’s something you want to do. 

Professional Experience 

Students accepted into Stern’s full-time program had an average of 5.2 years of pre-MBA work experience, and then the range of time spent working for all students was between 0 and 14 years. Ninety-seven percent of students enrolled had at least some work experience. 

Prior Industries 

Students accepted into the program came from over 24 various industries, but most students (27%) worked in financial services before enrolling at Stern. Below is a breakdown of which industries students worked in before their enrolment. 

In-Depth Look at the NYU Stern Employment Report

The NYU Stern employment report collected data from a different cohort than the one described above because those students have not yet graduated. Below we will explore Stern’s employment profile, including the timing and source of job offers, an overview on compensation, as well as compensation by industry. 

Employment Profile Overview

The NYU Stern employment report shows that out of the 374 total graduates, 320 sought employment after graduation. As for the remaining majority of graduates, either no information was available, they were not seeking employment, or they were sponsored to complete their MBA by their company. A small number of graduates, 27, decided to continue their education, postpone their job search, start a new business, or had other reasons not listed for not seeking employment. 

This data suggests that most students coming to the Stern Full-Time MBA program aim to seek employment after graduation. Only one graduate decided to start their own business, implying that overall, graduates did not consider entrepreneurship upon completing the MBA program. 

Timing of Job Offers 

The majority of full-time Stern MBA students were offered employment opportunities before they graduated. The NYU Stern employment report shows that approximately 83% of students received a job offer before graduation, and over 79% of students accepted a job offer before graduation. Almost 92% of graduates received a job offer three months post-graduation, and nearly 89% of students accepted a position from these offers. 

These numbers speak to the success of NYU Stern’s Office of Career Development, a resource dedicated “to partnering with [employers] and [their] company to provide seamless access to all levels of MBA talent.” The career development office aims to partner with businesses to recruit talented students into competitive industries even before they graduate. Employers and recruiters can choose to participate in recruiting opportunities on campus, such as coffee chats, corporate presentations, career fairs, and more. Employers can choose to list a job offer for current MBA students or Stern alumni and can view the resumes of Stern’s graduating second-year class to fill a position. If an employer or recruiter is interested in an MBA student filling a position, they can inter

view them one-on-one by scheduling an interview through the Office of Career Development. 

The fact that so many students are offered employment opportunities before graduation demonstrates the efficiency of this recruitment effort. Stern graduates are highly sought after for their versatility, talent, and skills. 

Source of Job Offers 

The NYU Stern Employment report shows that although students accepted job offers from several sources, almost 83% of accepted offers were facilitated by Stern. As described above, Stern has numerous resources available for students and employers to benefit both parties mutually. Employers are matched with fresh, talented Stern graduates while students have the opportunity to work in the industry of their dreams. 

Stern’s full-time curriculum dictates that students participate in a summer internship in their first year of study. The school facilitates a recruiting program to match students with employers from around the world. Stern’s assistance in this process is a testament to the success students reap, as a staggering almost 57% of accepted offers are sourced from these school-facilitated internships. 

Compensation Overview 

The NYU Stern employment report displays that all students, whether U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or international students, can enjoy high salaries after graduation. Most MBA students hope to achieve higher wages after graduation, especially after the lost wages of completing a full-time MBA program for two years. 

Thankfully, graduates can generally expect the more significant compensation that comes with a more diverse skillset and higher-ranked positions. Stern graduates have a larger pool of opportunities for career advancement, so it is no surprise that they can expect to earn more, hefty signing bonuses not included. MBA graduates can more than double their earnings after graduation, so Stern graduates should expect to leave the program with a wealth of knowledge and high-paying job opportunities.  

Compensation by Industry 

The NYU Stern employment report shows that the average salary across all reported industries was over $110,000 annually, not including signing bonuses. The majority of graduates (65.2% total) pursued positions in consulting financial services industries after graduation. Aside from law, graduates in these industries had the highest annual average salary. 

It is not surprising that most Stern graduates go on to have lucrative careers in consulting or financial services. New York City is a hotbed of corporations under the umbrella of these industry categories, so graduates interested in these career paths can choose from a wide variety of nearby corporations. No matter what industry a Stern graduate decides to break into, they can generally expect to make a six-figure salary to start.

FAQ

1. Does Stern have an employer list to see some of the employment options I may have after graduation?

Yes, Stern has an employer list for full-time MBA students. This list includes numerous corporations from a wide array of industries. 

2. If Wall Street or Silicon Valley isn’t my goal, does going to Stern still benefit me? 

Yes, an MBA from Stern can work for you even if your goal is not to pursue technology or investment banking. Many graduates go on to lucrative careers in numerous other industries, including law, energy, entertainment & media, and luxury & fashion. While Stern is an excellent choice if you are interested in financial services or consulting, your Stern MBA will go a long way in other industries. 

3. If I’m an NYU Stern MBA student, how do I get employers to notice me while studying? 

If you want to increase your chances of recruitment while you’re in your second year of the MBA program, you can attend numerous types of events to network with employers and other professionals. You can sit in on a coffee chat, visit corporate presentations, attend a career fair, partner with a student club, or work at specific professional events. Taking the initiative and taking the time to network can increase your chances of an employer noticing you and your talents!

4.  Are there any perks to being a Stern alumnus?

Yes! Not only do Stern alumni get access to job postings from corporations looking for Stern talent, but you are also connected to over 10,500 graduates in over 120 countries. Stern alumni also have access to the Career Centre for Working Professionals (CCWP) that offers “lifelong career development programs and services.”

5. Can I access NYU Stern employment reports from every year? 

Currently, anyone can view NYU Stern employment reports dating back to 2017. These reports offer comparisons in data from year to year as well. 

6. How do on-campus interviews work? 

The Office of Career Development will schedule students and create resume packets for the day of the on-campus interview. The majority of employers will interview students in private, one-on-one for either 30, 45, or 60 minutes.

Conclusion 

NYU Stern is an excellent business school to complete your MBA, especially if you are interested in the financial services or consulting industries. Stern’s five MBA options ensure that you have a great deal of choice in your MBA education, and the full-time MBA is a great way to specialize in particular disciplines. The class profile information that Stern posted reflects the diverse pool of MBA students and how you can network with different people to gain new and exciting business perspectives. 

In terms of employment after graduation, the NYU Stern employment report states that you have a higher than 90% chance of receiving a job offer within the first three months. Employers highly seek Stern graduates, and the chances are you may be recruited before you even finish your MBA. Stern’s employment resources mean that students have a greater chance of finding a job through Stern’s internship programs, job boards, and events. 

 The NYU Stern employment report reflects that your annual compensation will be industry-dependent, but you can expect to retain a higher salary in a high-ranked position no matter the industry. NYU Stern is a fantastic choice of business school to complete your MBA, and you are bound to have numerous opportunities come your way after graduation.