The MBA job market in 2025 required a different approach than in previous years. Extended recruiting timelines and “just-in-time” hiring practices became a common practice across top business schools, creating an environment where patience and strategic decision-making proved more valuable than speed.
Our graduates adapted well to these market dynamics. Rather than rushing into the first available opportunities, they used the extended timelines to build stronger employer relationships, explore various options, and make thoughtful career decisions that aligned with their long-term goals.
Impressive Salary Growth
The pre-to-post MBA salary growth our students achieved stands out as a key program outcome. US citizens and permanent residents saw their salaries increase 68% (from $91k to $153k), while international students experienced a remarkable 198% jump (from $52k to $156k).
The financial results tell an equally compelling story: graduates achieved abase salary of $154,053, complemented by an average of $34,279 signing bonuses, of which both improved from previous years. This strong compensation reflects continued robust acceptances in consulting, technology, and investment banking. For international students, the base salary reached a mean of $156,343 and a median of $165,000 – a strong signal that employers value both a McCombs education and the global perspectives our international students bring to their organization.
From a placement perspective, 80.2% of job-seeking graduates for the Class of 2025 received offers within six months, with 78.2% accepting positions. While 91% of internship-seeking students for the Class of 2026 secured internships.
Industry Distribution Reflects Various Interests
Consulting continues to attract the largest share of our graduates at 28%, followed by technology at 22% and financial services at 19%. Notably, the number of students finding high-paying roles in technology has remained consistent over the past three years, despite challenging market conditions overall, demonstrating the continued strength of our relationships and reputation in the sector.
Outside of the top three industries, the next cluster was remarkably balanced – Energy, Retail, and Healthcare came in at 6% each, with Retail just behind at 5%. Healthcare, in particular, represents a bright spot, showing the largest percentage growth in student interest and offers. While smaller in absolute numbers, this growth reflects both evolving student interests and our program’s ability to open doors in emerging sectors.
Taken together, this distribution underscores the versatility of the Hildebrand MBA; supporting student success across both established and emerging sectors, from healthcare and retail to consulting and energy.
Geographic Impact: From Texas to Global Markets
The Class of 2025 continues our tradition of contributing to the thriving local economy, with 71.6% of our students choosing to remain in Texas. Of those students, we saw about half choose to stay close to their McCombs roots in Austin, about a quarter move to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and another quarter find jobs in Houston. Our employer ecosystem also connects students to opportunities across the country, with the most popular destinations being the West Coast (8%) and Northeast (7%), and Midwest (6%). These placements span major metropolitan areas including San Jose, Palo Alto, Seattle, and Los Angeles on the West Coast; New York City in the Northeast, and Chicago and Minneapolis in the Midwest.
Summer Internships as Career Launchpads
Over half of our graduates (56%) secured their full-time roles through internship conversions. In an increasingly competitive “just-in-time” hiring environment, the internship pipeline provides students with an exclusive entry point that isn’t available to other job seekers. When companies convert nearly half of their interns to full-time hires, it demonstrates both the value our students deliver and the strategic advantage our program provides in accessing opportunities.
Looking Forward
The Class of 2025’s approach offers lessons for future students and insight into the evolving nature of MBA recruiting. In an environment where speed once ruled, patience and selectivity proved to be winning strategies. Our graduates showed that when you combine strong preparation with resilience, you can succeed even when the market shifts.
Throughout these extended timelines, our career team remained closely partnered with students, adapting support strategies as market conditions evolved. This partnership doesn’t end at graduation. Our alumni career coaches continue the relationships and guidance that began during the program, recognizing that career growth and transitions happen throughout your professional journey.
As these graduates begin their post-MBA careers, they carry with them not just technical skills and network connections, but the confidence that comes from navigating uncertainty successfully. This mindset will serve them well as they advance in their chosen fields.
Check out our Full-Time MBA Employment Report for more data on the Class of 2025 employment Outcomes.
Visit Texas McCombs MBA to learn more about our programs and upcoming events or take a peek into student life on Instagram. For any inquiries, don’t hesitate to reach out to the MBA Admissions Team. We look forward to connecting with you on your journey to success.
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