Graduation is one of my favorite days of the year. There’s nothing quite like watching our incredible graduates celebrate their hard work and the community they’ve built and look forward to the bright future ahead. The MMS: Foundations of Business (MMS: FOB) Class of 2024 has given us plenty to cheer for, as they remained determined and resilient in a difficult job market. I am excited to share their strong employment outcomes in the MMS: FOB Class of 2024 Employment Report.

Before getting into the details of that report, I want to highlight a few things about the bright graduates I’ve gotten to know over the last year. The Class of 2024 is by far the largest in program history. Nearly 80% of graduates had up to 6 months of work experience prior to entering the program. They had a lot to learn about the job search process, and they stayed persistent and resilient in the face of a challenging job market.  

Offering Timing and Steady Compensation

A major highlight for the Class of 2024 is an improvement in the timing of job offers received and accepted by graduates. Within 6 months of graduation, 8 in 10 graduates (or 80%) had accepted a position, up from 78% last year.

It’s important to note that the 6-month post-graduation mark is a reporting deadline followed by most business schools. Persistence and agility pay dividends in a challenging job market, and the best opportunities don’t always come first. Graduates accepted roles throughout the summer and early fall as firms responded to budget changes, growth, and staff transitions.

Despite a challenging job market, compensation for the Class of 2024 is steady. Graduates reported a median salary of $75,000, matching the second highest for MMS graduates.

While an increase in class size could make it harder to wrangle self-reported employment data, I’m happy to say that is not the case. More graduates reported compensation data compared to last year, making the Class of 2024 Employment Report a more accurate picture of employment outcomes.

Supporting the Search Process

Though it’s easier said than done, students who commit to effective networking can unlock a world of opportunity. There is a band of eager Fuqua alumni ready to help them — all students must do is start the conversation.

Of the job offers accepted by graduates, 28% stemmed from school-facilitated activities. My Career Management Center (CMC) colleagues and I are dedicated to helping students navigate this process, but alumni also play a crucial role in finding and creating meaningful opportunities for our students. The increase in school-facilitated offers, up 4% from last year, can be attributed to the engagement from our alumni network.  

Alumni are key in teaching students about their experiences working at small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These include companies that might not be household names, meaning students likely have a lot to learn about the company’s mission and culture. Feedback from alumni helps students understand that the size of a company is just one factor to consider.

Year over year, large financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, Capital One, and J.P. Morgan, continue to hire MMS graduates. Despite the downturn in tech sector hiring, companies including Epic Systems, TikTok, and Dell returned to hire graduates in 2024.

Lasting Connections

I’d like to wrap up this blog with one of my favorite student success stories of the year. Last summer, an incoming MMS student bought furniture from an alumna as he was moving to Durham and she was moving away. They reconnected later when the alumna shared a job posting on LinkedIn. She became an advocate for him as he interviewed for the job. The student received an offer within two weeks.

While simple, this experience embodies the essence of the Team Fuqua community — where something as small as a transaction with a stranger can lead to a lasting connection.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 — we are incredibly proud of your achievements!