One of the main reasons people decide to pursue MBAs is to increase their salaries. The good news is that, statistically, the top programs do in fact result in increased salaries. But be careful if you’re already in an industry such as high-tech,where salaries are already high. In this case, you may not see an increase in salary right away, but will instead benefit in the longer run from a wider variety of career options.

Starting salaries for MBAs from the top schools can be in the six figures, depending on the type of work. However, in a down economy, starting salaries may decrease.