LinkedIn ranks Rutgers MBA among 50 best programs for long-term career success

LinkedIn recently released its inaugural report on the “Top MBA Programs 2023: The 50 best U.S. business schools to grow your career.” The Rutgers Full-Time MBA was ranked No. 35 overall in the nation, No. 11 among U.S. public business schools, and  No. 4 in the Big Ten [see report].  

The fundamental question that LinkedIn aimed to answer through their ranking study was, “Which MBA programs best set up their alumni for long-term career success?” To achieve that outcome, they built their list from exclusive LinkedIn data looking at career outcomes of MBA alums, such as job placement rates, advancement to senior-level positions, network strength, and the 2022 Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™) survey of 3,600 graduates [see methodology].

“We appreciate the standing our MBA program achieved in the inaugural LinkedIn ranking,” said Lei Lei, dean of Rutgers Business School. “It highlights the emphasis we put on student success – preparing our MBA students to successfully change careers and achieve career advancements – and reflects the strength of the Rutgers MBA program, career management, alumni and corporate engagement.”

The Full-Time MBA program supports students with an intensive First-Year Experience, including corporate presentations, on-campus interviews, and meet & greets with employers to help students become competitive candidates for summer internships and, during the second year, compete for full-time jobs in their field of study.

The MBA Office of Career Management also provides individual support with one-on-one career coaching, résumé and cover letter reviews, and mock interviews for students to become practiced and comfortable when speaking with recruiters and interviewing for jobs.

“The MBA Office of Career Management is keenly aware that the MBA is a professional degree,” said Dean Vera, assistant dean and director, MBA Office of Career Management. “To that end, we begin the first semester with the mandatory Career Management Course to help students become competitive candidates for the summer internship and full-time job search. The CMC is complemented by one-on-one career coaching. Summer internship to full-time conversion rates are very high at RBS for formal internship programs. Moreover, I’ve built very strong relationships with alumni for the last 17 years, which has helped my office ensure strong employment outcomes each year.”

Learn more about the Rutgers MBA Program during a Graduate Program Open House on March 2 at Rutgers Business School in Newark. 

Sharon Lydon, Ph.D., associate dean of Alumni and Corporate Engagement, said, “The LinkedIn ranking is unique in that it is solely based on alumni long-term career success rather than traditional prestige markers like acceptance rates or test scores. We are indebted to our outstanding alumni for this ranking.”

“Networks and connections forged through the Rutgers MBA continue long after graduation,” Lydon said. “Our students support each other throughout the program to their mutual success, and our alums continue this mindset in myriad ways. Whether sharing experiences and lessons learned informally in the workplace, returning to campus for the RBS Distinguished Speaker Series, or other mentoring opportunities, RBS alumni support others’ long-term career success while pursuing their own goals.”

The Rutgers Business School global alumni network of over 40,000 individuals encompasses every field of business. Alumni events hosted by RBS and corporate partners strengthen relationships and foster new connections.