After being the No. 1 industry employer last year, tech slid eight full percentage points to claim just 25% of Stanford's MBA Class of 2017. That drop paved the way for finance to be the top industry choice for graduates, with 31% taking jobs in mainly private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and investment management firms.
| Industry | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINANCE | 31%31 | 31%31 | 31%31 | 29%29 | 26%26 | 32%32 | 36%36 |
| Private Equity | 15%15 | 12%12 | 13%13 | 12%12 | 11%11 | 12%12 | 14%14 |
| Hedge Funds | 4%4 | 5%5 | 5%5 | 4%4 | 4%4 | 2%2 | 6%6 |
| Investment Mgt. | 3%3 | 4%4 | 5%5 | 4%4 | 3%3 | 5%5 | 5%5 |
| Venture Capital | 7%7 | 7%7 | 3%3 | 5%5 | 4%4 | 8%8 | 7%7 |
| I-Banking | 1%1 | 2%2 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 4%4 |
| Other Finance | 3%3 | 1%1 | 2%2 | 1%1 | NANA | 2%2 | 2%2 |
| TECHNOLOGY | 25%25 | 33%33 | 28%28 | 24%24 | 32%32 | 24%24 | 13%13 |
| Internet Services | 2%2 | 3%3 | 6%6 | 6%6 | 4%4 | 18%18 | 8%8 |
| Marketing | 3%3 | 2%2 | 6%6 | 4%4 | 2%2 | NANA | NANA |
| Software | 5%5 | 9%9 | 6%6 | 3%3 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 2%2 |
| Consumer Electronics | 1%1 | 5%5 | 2%2 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 1%1 | 3%3 |
| Education | 1%1 | NANA | 2%2 | NANA | NANA | NANA | NANA |
| Online Retail | NANA | NANA | 2%2 | 2%2 | 8%8 | NANA | NANA |
| E-Commerce | 6%6 | 7%7 | 1%1 | 3%3 | 1%1 | NANA | NANA |
| Manufacturing | 1%1 | NANA | 1%1 | NANA | 1%1 | NANA | NANA |
| Hardware | NANA | NANA | 1%1 | 1%1 | NANA | NANA | NANA |
| Other Tech | 3%3 | 4%4 | 2%2 | NANA | 3%3 | NANA | NANA |
| CONSULTING | 20%20 | 16%16 | 14%14 | 16%16 | 19%19 | 20%20 | 27%27 |
| HEALTHCARE | 4%4 | 6%6 | 6%6 | 4%4 | 6%6 | 5%5 | 4%4 |
| NONPROFIT | 3%3 | NANA | 5%5 | 5%5 | 5%5 | 2%2 | 1%1 |
| CPG | 4%4 | 2%2 | 4%4 | 8%8 | 4%4 | 6%6 | 7%7 |
| ENERGY | 1%1 | 3%3 | 3%3 | 2%2 | 3%3 | 3%3 | 2%2 |
| MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT | 1%1 | 3%3 | 2%2 | 4%4 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 2%2 |
| RETAIL | 2%2 | NANA | 2%2 | 2%2 | NANA | 2%2 | NANA |
| GOVERNMENT | NANA | NANA | 1%1 | 1%1 | NANA | NANA | NANA |
| REAL ESTATE | 3%3 | 1%1 | 1%1 | 2%2 | 2%2 | 2%2 | 1%1 |
| HOSPITALITY | NANA | NANA | 1%1 | NANA | NANA | NANA | NANA |
