HBS’ Case Method In Elementary Schools?

Female MBAs Doing Better Than Ever

How do you measure progress?

Usually, it can be assessed statistically. When it comes to progress made by women, the key statistics are education and income.

For the past 10 years, the percentage of women who’ve earned MBAs has hovered between 34.5% and 36.8%, according to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. You might infer from the statistic that progress for women is stalling. In some places, it might be. But progress is rarely straightforward, let alone steady. According to a recent infographic from Best Healthcare MBA Degrees, women with MBAs are actually thriving now. Just check out these statistics:

• Women comprised 43% of students who took the GMAT in 2012 (up from 39% in 2009)

• Women also accounted for 43% of MBA applicants in 2012 (up from 31% in 2011)

• Women with MBAs earned 93 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts

• 2012 female graduates from Harvard, Yale, and Texas (McCombs) grossed starting salaries of $115,651, $98,240, and $105,590 (with McCombs women averaging higher salaries than male graduates)

• 84% of women from the class of 2011 were employed by graduation, with 9 of 10 claiming they landed the job they wanted

Sure, there are income and participation gaps. But the trends are moving in the right direction. Want further proof? Talk to up-and-coming students like Fuqua’s Sarah Feagles, who touts the support available to campus women in a recent Huffington Post column. For her–like many others–these slow-moving changes will only accelerate as female MBAs are promoted to positions where they can re-tune business culture:

“Although I have never expected special treatment because of my gender, it is important for me to be in an MBA program that allows students to have candid conversations about male and female relationships. Increasing awareness about subtle biases that both genders have will pay off great dividends when current MBA candidates are 10-20 years into our careers and have the privilege of hiring, promoting, and retaining qualified candidates.”

To learn about the best MBA programs for women, click here.

Source: Black Enterprise