Share this article on...
Contact Us
- Report errors or inaccuracies topmba@qsnetwork.com
- Contribute articles contribute@qsnetwork.com
- Advertise advertise@qsnetwork.com
Female American MBA Aspirants Top 50% for the First Time
The number of American women interested in MBA programs is booming. The QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey 2007, the most complete report on international trends among aspiring MBAs, published yesterday, shows that American females attending the world’s top business school fairs, the QS World MBA Tour, reached 55% in 2007 - significantly, the first time more than half of attendees were women.
The survey analyzed responses from 5,000 prospective MBA applicants who attended the QS World MBA Tour in Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. It provides a unique insight into the mindset of the international business leaders of the future. Examples of the data available:
- US (1) and Canada (3) remain in the top 3 most popular destinations for international MBA study (UK - 2)
- America is the only region in which Career Placement Record is the most important criterion for selecting a business school
- Americans have the longest period of work experience (5 years) than any other region before applying to MBAs
- Only 20% of Americans consider an MBA course less than 18 months
- Rankings have slipped in importance to 9th place for American MBA seekers, reflecting a shift away from faith in traditional ranking systems
The QS TopMBA.com Applicant Survey 2007 contains a wealth of findings of interest to editors, journalists and anyone involved in business schools. The table below is a sample of that information, showing current and target salary information and salary uplift:
| Current Average Salary (Ranking) | Country | Average Post-MBA Target Salary |
| $70-75,000 (1- Highest current salary) | UK | $120 - 125,000 |
| $55 - 60,000 (4) | Germany | $115 - 120,000 |
| $55 - 60,000 (3) | USA | $100 - 105,000 |
| $35 - 40,000 (9) | Spain | $100 - 105,000 |
| $55 - 60,000 (2) | France (5) | $100 - 105,000 |
| $45 - 50,000 (7) | Canada | $95 - 100,000 |
| $30 - 35,000 (11) | Brazil | $75 - 80,000 |
| $20 - 25,000 (18) | Mexico (15) | $75 - 80,000 |
Source: TopMBA.com Applicant Survey 2007
Scholarships and Loans are the most important criterion for American MBA candidates (most important for most Brazilians); the table below shows how Americans, Canadians and Brazilians, as a comparison, expect to fund their MBA study. It is interesting to note that Canadians are almost three times as likely as Americans to use their own savings:
| Funding | Company Sponsorship | Loan | Savings | Relatives | Scholarship |
| Brazil | 15.3% | 9.4% | 13.5% | 5.9% | 55.6% |
| Canada | 2.8% | 34.9% | 33.4% | 7.4% | 20.9% |
| USA | 4.8% | 44.3% | 12.2% | 7.0% | 30.6% |
Nunzio Quacquarelli, Managing Director of the QS World MBA Tour, says, “This is the largest survey of the aspirations of MBA applicants ever conducted and allows regional comparisons to be made for the first time, using the US, as world leader in this field, as the benchmark. The results provide details about the status, attitudes and ambitions of MBA applicants, how the employment/education market for young professionals is changing and valuable insight into the changing trends of worldwide MBA applicants.” The survey’s detailed findings on MBA course location & duration, finance options, gender, salary expectations and many more, are cross-referenced against other criteria. It is possible for the first time to show, for example, changing career perspectives as American ‘millennials’ widen their career search away from the traditional consulting, banking industries and show a growing interest in overseas study.
The QS Applicant Survey 2007 is available now through your regular QS Account Manager or by contacting:
Simona Bizzozero
Media Relations Manager, QS
Email: simona@qsnetwork.com
Tel: +44 (0)20 7284 7248 (Direct)
Fax: +44 (0)20 7284 7202 (Direct)
Web: www.qsnetwork.com
- Ends -
Notes for the editor:
About QS
QS provides guidance for higher education and career choices. With exclusive events, publications, research and interactive web tools, QS links undergraduate, graduate, MBA and executive communities around the world with recruiters and education providers. Our communities include: QS TopUniversities.com, QS TopMBA.com, QS Global Workplace.com.
The QS team of over 80 individuals from the four corners of the world represent the experience and goals of the achievers we aim to assist. They include internationally recognized experts in the higher and business education arena. QS operates globally from offices in London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing, Sydney, Washington DC, and Johannesburg.
