December 08, 2006
by Jessica Santina
Local Education Columnist
Economists and business publications all around the country are trumpeting the good news: today's brisk economy means high employment and hot prospects for MBA graduates. Many experts say they may be hottest in Portland, Oregon.
After worldwide demand for MBAs dropped in 2003 to its lowest level in five years, many business schools worked to diversify their MBA programs, provide more flexible enrollment options, and actively recruit undergraduates. Their efforts, combined with a steadily growing economy and a rebound from the dot-com bust, have all paid off: MBAs are now in greater demand than ever.
In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers projects that this year, MBA graduates will be among corporations' top hiring picks, with average starting salaries ranging anywhere from $60,000 to $120,000 a year. At the country's top 60 business schools, 98% reported significant increases in job offers to their MBA students.
MBA Programs in Portland
The Portland Business Journal reported in June that the executive MBA market may be hotter in Portland than anywhere else in the country. Demand for executive MBAs in Portland's business schools is currently outpacing the rest of the nation, and full- and part-time MBA programs are surpassing the nation's excellent growth trends.
While the reasons for this record success among Portland's MBA programs are unclear, it's not hard to guess them. Portland business schools offer an excellent array of MBA programs, with specialties ranging from healthcare to entrepreneurship, technology, international business, sustainability, marketing, and finance. Portland was even recently ranked the ninth "Smartest City" in America by Bizjournal.com, due to its extraordinarily high number of residents with college graduate and/or professional degrees.
Educated people are flocking to Portland for its commitment to sustainable living and growth, its natural beauty, its strong technology infrastructure, and its large population of young people in business leadership positions. All these things make for a progressive attitude, tremendous career opportunities for those with MBAs, and excellent quality of life.
Sources
About the Author
Jessica Santina is a freelance writer with a background in media and marketing. She also teaches first-year writing courses at the University of Nevada, Reno.
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