NYU Stern Tops 2025 MBA Rankings for Banking

New York University Stern School of Business, located just blocks away from Manhattan’s financial district, continues to be a leading force in preparing MBA graduates for careers in banking. The school’s proximity to global financial institutions offers students unparalleled opportunities for acceleration in the industry, and its recent employment report demonstrates the success of its strategic location.

For the MBA Class of 2024, 35.7% of graduates secured roles in financial services, with 27.4% entering investment banking—a 5-year high. This comes despite a cooling job market, where many other business schools saw declines in finance placements. Stern’s internship results reflect similar strength, with 26.2% of MBA interns placed in investment banking positions. This robust internship-to-full-time offer conversion rate underscores Stern’s strong ties to the banking sector, where summer internships are a critical pathway to permanent roles.

Key Data from Stern’s MBA Class of 2024:

CategoryPercentage
Graduates in Financial Services35.7%
Graduates in Investment Banking27.4%
MBA Interns in Investment Banking26.2%
Internship-to-Full-Time Offer Conversion Rate63.2%

The school’s finance graduates continue to command impressive salaries, with investment-banking MBAs reporting an average base salary of $171,773 and a median of $175,000, reflecting the demand for Stern talent in high-paying roles.

Stern’s success is not only driven by its location but also by its strong curriculum and deep connections within the finance sector. The school’s “IQ + EQ” ethos aligns perfectly with the needs of modern investment banks, which require MBAs who can combine technical expertise with strong client-facing leadership.

Additionally, Stern’s faculty, including renowned experts like Kose John, Edward Altman, and Johannes Stroebel, bring world-class knowledge and industry insight to the classroom, further strengthening the school’s reputation as a top pipeline for banking talent.

With more than 83% of the Class of 2024 securing jobs in the Northeast, where the majority of major investment banks are based, Stern’s focused recruiting efforts ensure consistent results year after year. Even in 2024, when many sectors faced a downturn, banking remained a cornerstone of Stern’s success.

Stern’s influential alumni network, which includes thousands of graduates in senior banking roles, continues to reinforce its presence on Wall Street. This network, along with the school’s commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends, ensures that Stern remains one of the strongest MBA programmes for banking year after year.