100% Of This Top Program’s 2021 Grads Found Jobs — At Record-Breaking Salaries

100% of Vanderbilt MS Finance graduates accepted jobs within 6 months of graduating this year, the school says. Vanderbilt photo

Class of 2021 graduates from the Master of Science in Finance program at Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management reported median base salary earnings of $85,000 — highest in the program’s history — and a median signing bonus of $10,000. But even more impressive is that the MSF program continued its excellent track record of employment outcomes even amid the ongoing challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, with 100% of students receiving an offer by graduation and 100% accepting an offer within 6 months of graduation.

“I am incredibly proud of the Vanderbilt MSF Class of 2021,” says Megan Nichols, senior associate director of Vanderbilt’s Career Management Center. “They worked exceptionally hard, engaged early with the career center, set a record for the school, and have already begun giving back to the Class of 2022.”

More than half (56%) of the MSF Class of 2021 entered the investment banking industry. Graduates also accepted positions in a variety of other functions, including investment and research, real estate, consulting, corporate finance, and private equity. Thirty-five percent of students stayed in the South, 38% relocated to the Northeast, and the remaining 26% spread out to various parts of the country. One student also accepted an offer in the United Kingdom.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host 5th annual MBA Case Competition

On December 2, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation will host the 2021 MBA Case Competition, an annual event that provides MBA students with an opportunity to solve real-world challenges facing the business community, hear from corporate executives, and compete for a combined total of $20,000 in prize money. This year’s competition will challenge students to create solutions that increase access to capital for Black entrepreneurs.

During the virtual event, three finalist teams from New York University’s Stern School of Business, Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, and Temple University’s Fox School of Business will present their solutions live to a panel of judges. The audience will be given opportunities to vote for “Best Q&A” and “Best Presenters.”

Maryland launches 9-month Data Science and Business Analytics certificate program

upGrad, a leading global online higher education company, announced a partnership today with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business to offer a Professional Certificate Program in Data Science and Business Analytics to help professionals better understand and make data-driven business decisions. The nine-month fully online program, which begins in January, 2022, brings together qualified faculty and industry leaders who are known in the fields of data science and business analytics and includes industry-driven assignments and a capstone project. Additionally, 100+ hours of live sessions and robust mentor and student support is provided to help learners experience a seamless learning journey and build a rewarding career.

The program’s academic director, Dr. Kislaya Prasad, says the launch is especially timely. “We live in the age of data. The storied companies of our times — such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix — are all powered by data science.”

“It’s not just Tech,” says Prasad, a research professor who also is academic director of Maryland Smith’s Center for Global Business. “All industries are realizing the value in data-driven decision making. So it is not surprising that data skills have become critical for advancement in corporate careers.”

“Data is the new global currency and fluency in data analytics creates exponential opportunities for career enhancement,” said Karan Raturi, General Manager, North America, upGrad. “There has never been a better time to reinvent and recharge your career. As professionals return to an office or re-evaluate their work-life goals, upGrad, in partnership with University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, is offering professionals an opportunity to expand their skill sets and find or create new opportunities to build meaningful and progressive careers.”

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