EMBA Graduates Pleased with Degree's Career Impact

[Stacey Oyler]

The vast majority of executive MBA (EMBA) graduates report that the impact their programs had on both their careers and their organizations met or exceeded their expectations, the Financial Times reports.

Citing a recent survey from the California-based EMBA Council, the FT reported that an astounding 97 percent of EMBA graduates were satisfied or more than satisfied with the career impact of their degree programs. Indeed, almost a third of survey respondents (32 percent) were promoted and 44 percent received additional job responsibilities during the course of their programs.

The EMBA Council's 2009 Student Exit Benchmarking Survey drew on the responses of almost 3,500 graduates from more than 100 EMBA programs. According to the survey results, average salaries for working managers grew 9 percent upon completion of an EMBA program, from $125,029 to $136,722.

These gains, however, were lower than figures reported in 2008, when graduating EMBA graduates said they saw a 17 percent salary increase, on average, upon completion of their degrees.

Still, this year's gains are still very positive, according to Michael Desiderio, executive director of the EMBA Council. "Raises and payback periods fluctuate with the economy," Desiderio told the FT. "The Executive MBA is a long-term investment, and our member programs are committed to providing an outstanding experience that will have long-term impact on students' careers," he added.

For more about the EMBA Council's Student Exit Benchmark Study: www.emba.org/research_studentsurvey_survey.htm