The big story is clearly technology. In the past five years, the percentage of Stanford MBAs going into the tech industry soared to 33% in 2016 from 13% in 2011. The consulting sector has paid the biggest price for the shift, falling to 16% of this year's class from 27% five years ago.
| Industry | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINANCE | 31%31 | 31%31 | 29%29 | 26%26 | 32%32 | 36%36 |
| PE/LBO | 12%12 | 13%13 | 12%12 | 11%11 | 12%12 | 14%14 |
| Hedge Funds | 5%5 | 5%5 | 4%4 | 4%4 | 2%2 | 6%6 |
| Investment Mgt. | 4%4 | 5%5 | 4%4 | 3%3 | 5%5 | 5%5 |
| Venture Capital | 7%7 | 3%3 | 5%5 | 4%4 | 8%8 | 7%7 |
| I-Banking | 2%2 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 4%4 |
| Other Finance | 1%1 | 2%2 | 1%1 | NANA | 2%2 | 2%2 |
| TECHNOLOGY | 33%33 | 28%28 | 24%24 | 32%32 | 24%24 | 13%13 |
| Internet Services | 3%3 | 6%6 | 6%6 | 4%4 | 18%18 | 8%8 |
| Marketing | 2%2 | 6%6 | 4%4 | 2%2 | NANA | NANA |
| Software | 9%9 | 6%6 | 3%3 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 2%2 |
| Consumer Electronics | 5%5 | 2%2 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 1%1 | 3%3 |
| Education | NANA | 2%2 | NANA | NANA | NANA | NANA |
| Online Retail | NANA | 2%2 | 2%2 | 8%8 | NANA | NANA |
| E-Commerce | 7%7 | 1%1 | 3%3 | 1%1 | NANA | NANA |
| Manufacturing | NANA | 1%1 | NANA | 1%1 | NANA | NANA |
| Hardware | NANA | 1%1 | 1%1 | NANA | NANA | NANA |
| Other Tech | 4%4 | 2%2 | NANA | 3%3 | NANA | NANA |
| CONSULTING | 16%16 | 14%14 | 16%16 | 19%19 | 20%20 | 27%27 |
| HEALTHCARE | 6%6 | 6%6 | 4%4 | 6%6 | 5%5 | 4%4 |
| NONPROFIT | NANA | 5%5 | 5%5 | 5%5 | 2%2 | 1%1 |
| CPG | 2%2 | 4%4 | 8%8 | 4%4 | 6%6 | 7%7 |
| ENERGY | 3%3 | 3%3 | 2%2 | 3%3 | 3%3 | 2%2 |
| MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT | 3%3 | 2%2 | 4%4 | 3%3 | 4%4 | 2%2 |
| RETAIL | NANA | 2%2 | 2%2 | NANA | 2%2 | NANA |
| GOVERNMENT | NANA | 1%1 | 1%1 | NANA | NANA | NANA |
| REAL ESTATE | 1%1 | 1%1 | 2%2 | 2%2 | 2%2 | 1%1 |
| HOSPITALITY | NANA | 1%1 | NANA | NANA | NANA | NANA |
