Where are MBAs earning the highest base salaries collectively? Surprisingly, you’ll find these graduates in the Midwest…just not from Midwestern schools. Technically, NYU Stern grads nabbed the biggest paychecks here, with base averaging $155,400. However, this number is formulated from just five students. Wharton’s $151,133 average – based on 30 graduates – is far more credible. The same can be said for Harvard Business School, where 42 graduates earned $142,167 on average. Beyond the Top Five, Midwest programs kick into gear, headed by Northwestern Kellogg ($133,405), Chicago Booth ($132,950), and Michigan Ross ($131,105). Overall, 14 programs experienced base pay increases of $10,000 or more since 2015, with grads from Harvard ($300K), Wharton ($250K), and Michigan Ross ($243K) scoring major paychecks.