USC Marshall School of Business

More than 94 percent of full-time MBA graduates of the USC Marshall School of Business had jobs within 90 days of receiving their degree, according to final numbers compiled by the school’s Keenan MBA Career Resource Center.

Those new graduates reported average base salaries of $88,841, with signing bonuses averaging $19,030, bringing total first-year base compensation to nearly $108,000. That represents an increase of roughly 4 percent over the previous year's average compensation figures.

"These employment numbers are a reflection of great students getting a great education at USC Marshall, then being connected with the right companies for great jobs," said USC Marshall Dean James G. Ellis. "We're proud of our students, of the recognition by employers of their quality, and of the work by the Career Resource Center in connecting the two."

The prospects look even brighter for the Class of 2008; more than 98 percent of them found a summer internship if they were seeking one, said CRC Director Pete Giulioni. Such internships often pave the way for offers of permanent positions after graduation, which was the case for many in the 2008 class.

Giulioni attributed the MBAs' hiring success benefited from a strong economy and better tracking by his office. But the school’s graduates are also realizing the benefits of an employer-oriented approach that emphasized connecting recruiters from highly regarded companies with well-matched students.