The Top 10 Executive MBA Programs for a Salary Uplift

Salary increase: 70 percent

Global EMBA ranking: 99

Nottingham University Business School also scores highly for salary uplift, with an average 70 percent salary increase post-graduation. In the rankings, it achieved high scores for career outcomes and diversity.

Participants can complete the part-time program in between two and four years. Modules take place on weekends and evenings, with some week-long intensive elective options. Fees for the program are £24,975 (approx. US$32,646).

The MBA Personal and Professional Development Program combines individual career consultations and networking events. The average student has 12 years’ work experience, with seven years’ managerial experience.

Salary increase: 75 percent

Global EMBA ranking: 30

Mannheim Business School – which achieved a perfect score for career outcomes – is ranked sixth. The program, although based in Mannheim, also incorporates one study trip to Asia and one to the US.

Fees for the 18-month program are €49,500 (approx. US$55,949). Participants will spend a total of 44 days out of the office, with classes taking place Friday – Saturday (and occasionally Sunday).

You will need a minimum of 8 years’ professional experience to apply. The current cohort has an average age of 37, with 12 years’ work experience. Participants can undertake an optional career development track which offers individual career counselling sessions.

Salary increase: 77 percent

Global EMBA ranking: 63

Middle of the table for salary uplift is Grenoble Ecole de Management, where students saw an impressive salary increase of 77 percent. The program achieved a perfect score for career outcomes.

The program takes place either in Medellin, Colombia (24 months), Moscow, Russia (22 months) or Tbilisi, Georgia (22 months). The Moscow-based program is taught 75 percent in English and 25 percent in Russian. The Tbilisi and Moscow programs are taught on weekends whereas the Colombia program is taught in 4-day intensive sessions every five weeks.

Students on the program have an average of 10 years’ work experience, eight of which are managerial. Around 60 percent of the class have c-suite experience.

Salary increase: 84 percent

Global EMBA ranking: 1

The Wharton School is the highest ranked EMBA program in the world, and is ranked fourth for salary uplift, with students averaging an 84 percent salary increase post-graduation. It achieved perfect scores in career outcomes and thought leadership, plus the highest score globally for employer reputation.

The two-year program meets on campus every other weekend, plus several extended sessions and a Global Business Week experience. There are three terms per year, with participants studying at Wharton’s Philadelphia or San Francisco campus.

Wharton’s Class of 2020 has an average age of 35, with 11 years’ work experience. Fees for the program are US$210,900, which also incorporates the Land Package for the Global Business Week.

Salary increase: 100 percent

Global EMBA ranking: 94

In third place, and the first of only three programs ranked globally where students achieve a salary increase of 100 percent or above, is Leeds University Business School – which achieved particularly high scores in career outcomes and executive profile.

The two-year program, only available to UK/EU residents, has fees of £24,000 (approx. US$31,371), and is delivered in intensive three-day blocks, Thursday to Saturday.

Professional development is a key part of the program, with tailored one-on-one career guidance, skills workshops in topics including social media, entrepreneurship and negotiating, plus careers support after graduation. Participants have an average of 12.3 years’ work experience.

Salary increase: 103 percent

Global EMBA ranking: =11

The silver medal for salary increase goes to the MBA for Executives program at Yale School of Management, which has the highest salary increase in North America with 103 percent. The school achieved a perfect score for career outcomes and the second highest score in our salary top 10 for employer reputation.

Based in New Haven, the program starts with a two-week in-residence session, then classes are held every other weekend on Friday and Saturday for 22 months. Fees for the program are US$187,500, which includes tuition, class materials, meals and some accommodations.

Yale SOM’s Class of 2020 has 71 students, with an average of 12 years’ work experience, as well as five years’ managerial experience.

Salary increase: 114 percent

Global EMBA ranking: 27

The top school for a post-EMBA salary increase is Warwick Business School, where participants have a huge 114 percent average uplift post-graduation. Unsurprisingly, the school achieved a perfect score in the rankings for career outcomes.

The two-year program (which can be extended up to four years) takes place either at Warwick’s Coventry campus or their London campus in the Shard. Fees are £45,230 (approx. US$59,122), which included tuition, study materials and accommodation for one overseas module, in locations including Mexico, India and China.

Warwick’s career services offer unlimited career consultations with their CareersPlus experts plus three free one-hour sessions of Executive coaching. The average age for the most recent cohort is 36, with 12 years’ work experience.