Babson’s MSBA and MSF Class of 2023 Hit Top Employment Mark Again
New graduates faced harsh odds in 2023, combating layoffs, reduced hiring, and rapid industry change. And yet, time and time again, business leaders turn to Babson’s Master of Science graduates to solve their most pressing problems.
For the second year in a row, 100% of job-seeking Master of Science in Finance (MSF) graduates found work within six months of graduation, earning an average salary of $83,540 among U.S.-based graduates.
Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) graduates joined them in 2023, with 100% employment six months after graduation of those seeking, a 6% increase from the year before. U.S.-based MSBA graduates also earned 6.8% more than the previous year, $88,714 on average.
Those who earned their Master of Science in Management in Entrepreneurial Leadership (MSEL) also continued to perform well after graduation, as 88% of job-seeking 2023 graduates either found employment within six months of graduation or returned to a family business.
In-demand Specialists
Babson’s MS graduates have experienced consistently high employment rates in the months following graduation, a trend that has remained steady for years. When given a choice, employers continue to show that they value the experiences and insight that MS graduates have to offer. But, what is it that really sets these graduates apart from those with more generalist backgrounds?
“Perhaps it is because graduates of these programs end up with a deeper understanding of a specialized function of a business, yet their targeted functions span multiple industries. It appears that a lot of companies appreciate that expertise.”
Margaret Jones, senior associate director of Babson’s Graduate Center for Career Development
“I think one of the distinct characteristics that differentiate MS graduates from MBAs is the content focus of their programs,” says Margaret Jones, senior associate director of Babson’s Graduate Center for Career Development (CCD), one of several team members within the Graduate CCD who works one-on-one with MS students.
“MBA programs cover a broad range of business concepts, while specialty graduate programs focus on a specific area of business as their core field of study,” she adds. “For example, our MSF program primarily concentrates on delivering a strong quantitative finance curriculum. It complements and enhances what students may have studied in their undergraduate years.”
As hiring markets change and employer priorities shift, Jones says that MS graduates prove particularly resilient within the job market.
“Perhaps it is because graduates of these programs end up with a deeper understanding of a specialized function of a business, yet their targeted functions span multiple industries,” Jones says. “It appears that a lot of companies appreciate that expertise.”
Alumni Successes
Get to know several graduates from recent years and discover how their MS degree has impacted their careers.
Jack Pirkl ’22, MSF’23, Finance Rotation Associate, Boston Scientific: “MS graduates at Babson achieve remarkable success in their job searches, attributed in part to the outstanding support from the Grad CCD team. A special shoutout to Margaret Jones, whose invaluable guidance during the job search process was instrumental. The strength of the Babson network also played a crucial role. While securing the initial role can be challenging, leveraging the Babson network proved pivotal, ultimately leading me to the position I currently hold.”
Pirkl took part in the Management Consulting Field Experience (MCFE) as an undergraduate student at Babson, working closely with an alpine luxury skiwear company. “In my job search,” he said, “I leaned on the lessons learned through the program to gauge whether I would be a good fit in a certain role or want to work in a certain industry.”
Rishabh Pincha MSF’23, CFO’s Office, Wilson Language Training: “I firmly believe Babson MSF graduates stand out for finance acumen. Throughout the program, I had the opportunity to tackle real-world financial cases, gaining valuable exposure to the industry. Moreover, I received huge support from the professors, especially Laurie Krigman, Glenn Migliozzi and John Morgan. Babson professors are readily available and easy to approach. I am also grateful for the support of Margaret Jones, who made the job search easier for me. The Babson brand is well-known and set me apart during my interviews. My CFO spoke highly of the Babson curriculum during my interview.”
Pincha also participated in MCFE as a graduate student, analyzing stocks and presenting them to the portfolio managers at Essex Investment. Utilizing the Cutler Center resources, he gained real-time exposure to markets and won the stock pitch competition at Babson.
Matteo Stelluti MSBA’22, Business Intelligence Engineer, Amazon: “I think Babson MSBA students stand out for their ability to translate business opportunities and organizational challenges into data-driven solutions since the program strikes a perfect balance between consulting-style thinking, business knowledge, and deep analytical expertise. What is more, most students partake in hackathons, projects, and other extra–curricular activities, which are perfect stories to share during job interviews.”
During his time at Babson, Stelluti got involved in as many experiential learning opportunities as he could, including the first edition of the Butler Institute for Free Enterprise Through Entrepreneurship (BIFETE) Data Hackathon, the Wayfair Hackathon, and the MSBA Capstone Project, where he learned how to analyze, clean and process “dirty” data for a real company and how to present his findings to both technical and non-technical folks.
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