How much is the salary difference between top-tier and mid-tier MBA programs in the UK?

The gap in terms of compensation may also become pretty impressive between those who have graduated from a top-tier versus a mid-tier MBA in the UK. Individuals who have graduated from top schools in the UK, such as London Business School, Oxford's Said Business School, and Cambridge's Judge Business School, grab considerably higher starting salaries, which often range from £80,000 to £120,000. Such programs are said to be known for securing a global reputation, networking opportunities, and having affiliations with top employers of finance, consulting, and technology. For many of these MBA students, good employment opportunities will abound in investment banking, private equity, management consulting, and other related sectors whose very salaries can mushroom quite steeply as experience accumulates. Bonus and equity also boost the total compensation to levels much higher than a basic salary.

On the other hand, students out of middle-class MBA colleges such as universities that do not make the elite club get an opening salary between £45,000 to £70,000. Such programs continue to offer good career opportunities but probably do not provide the same prestige access to highly regarded employers or global networks. Some graduates may find themselves in smaller firms, regional offices, or lower-paying industries. However, for many middle-tier graduates, salaries tend to grow steadily over time even if they move into management-type positions.

Though, again, the difference in compensation is more than just prestige, it also reveals that top-tier schools tend to attract more work-experienced candidates with greater pre-MBA salaries, partially explaining why the salary gap persists after graduation. Moreover, an advanced alumni network and recruitment contacts at the top schools give its graduates an edge in the workplace.