Cornell Johnson MBA - Class of 2025 Employment Data
The employment outcomes of the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management MBA Class of 2025 highlight the program’s strong positioning in finance-driven career pathways, particularly in relation to the New York market.
Placement outcomes are solid, and compensation levels remain competitive with top-tier MBA programs. A defining characteristic of Cornell Johnson is its strong concentration in financial services, which consistently accounts for a significant share of graduate employment. Consulting remains the second-largest career path and offers the highest average base salary among major industries.
The program also demonstrates a high degree of regional concentration, with approximately 60% of graduates employed in the Northeastern United States. This reflects Cornell’s strategic proximity to New York City and its deep integration with leading finance and consulting employers in the region. Overall, around 95% of graduates remain in North America, underscoring the program’s primary strength in the U.S. job market.
Outcomes vary by work authorization status, with graduates holding U.S. work authorization reporting higher job offer rates than international students. However, even among international students, Cornell Johnson demonstrates relatively strong placement performance in the U.S.
While some figures may vary slightly year to year due to reporting methodologies and sample sizes, the overall trends remain consistent: Cornell Johnson delivers strong compensation outcomes, a clear finance-oriented career pipeline, and exceptional access to New York–based opportunities.
In summary, the program is particularly well suited for candidates targeting careers in investment banking, asset management, or other finance-related roles, especially those seeking to leverage proximity to one of the world’s most important financial hubs.
Source: Cornell MBA Employment Report
Two-Year MBA / Class Year: 2025
Job Offers (within 3 months) - Received Offers:85%
US Work Authorization: 91%
Non-US Work Authorization: 77%
Job Acceptances (within 3 months)
- Accepted Offers:83%
Base Salary
- Median: $175,000
- Average: $158,426
- US Work Authorization: $160,449
- Non-US Work Authorization: $154,963
Signing Bonus
- Average: $39,795
Top 3 Industries
1. Financial Services: 41%
2. Consulting: 28%
3. Technology: 11%
EMPLOYMENT BY FUNCTION
Finance & Investment Banking 43%
Consulting 29%
Marketing 12%
Management 9%
Human Resources 3%
Operations/Logistics 3%
Other 2%
Detailed Function Breakdowns
1. Finance & Investment Banking
- Investment Banking: 69%
- Corporate Finance: 12%
- Research/Equity Research: 6%
- Private Equity/Venture Capital: 4%
- Real Estate: 1%
2. Management
- Rotational/Development Program: 67%
- General Management: 22%
- Project/Program Management: 11%
3. Marketing
- Brand/Product Management: 42%
- Business Development & Sales Management: 33%
Top 3 US Regions:
1. Northeast: 60%
2. West: 12%
3. Midwest: 9%
TOP HIRING COMPANIES
- Accenture
- Amazon
- Bain & Company
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
- Citi
- Deloitte Consulting
- EY (Ernst & Young)
- EY-Parthenon
- Guggenheim Partners
- Jefferies Group
- JP Morgan Chase & Co.
- McKinsey & Company
- Microsoft Corporation
- Moelis & Company
- Morgan Stanley
- Royal Bank of Canada
- Wells Fargo & Company
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
✅ Strong Median Salary:** $175,000 (maintained from 2024)
✅ Financial Services Dominance: 41% employment
✅ Consulting Strength: 28% employment, highest average salary ($171,625)
✅ Northeast Concentration:60% remained in Northeast (NYC proximity advantage)
✅ Investment Banking Focus:69% of finance roles in IB
✅ Balanced Function Mix: Finance 43%, Consulting 29%, Marketing 12%
✅ High US Retention:95% remained in North America