There is a possible explanation for this: Gen Z men studying an MBA will see a 75% salary bump—that’s 25% more than women with the same qualification | Fortune
An odd thing about superficial analysis, like the linked article, is a basic logic error. If women cost less to hire than men – for allegedly the same work, companies would be flocking to hire these women!
Perhaps there is more to the story?
The following created with assistance of Co-pilot AI:
Role of Undergraduate Degrees
STEM degrees—especially engineering and computer science—are associated with higher post-MBA salaries due to:
- Easier access to VC, private equity, and product management roles
- Since 40–60% of male MBA grads have STEM backgrounds compared to 25–35% of female grads, this skews initial salary offers and career trajectories.
- Entry into tech, finance, and consulting, which pay more
- Stronger quantitative skills, often rewarded in leadership tracks
A landmark study from Harvard and Chicago Booth found that even when male and female MBAs had identical training, the gap widened over time due to:
- Career interruptions (often related to family)
- Fewer hours worked per week
- Lower likelihood of sponsorship or promotion
Separately – lots of news reports in 2025 saying the demand for MBAs has decreased and many graduates are having difficulty finding jobs.
The MBA is important in finance/banking, health care – but no longer seen as that important in tech, media and e-commerce sectors (which is sort of tech again). Tech has moved away from degrees as certification, to wanting experience/results demonstrated.
(I have both an MBA and an MS in engineering and an undergraduate degree in computer science.)
