The financial services industry saw a significant shift in 2024, with investment banking accounting for nearly one-fifth (17.1%) of graduating class placements.

This trend was driven by a surge in capital market activity, particularly in North America, where deal values rebounded in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025. Despite overall deal counts remaining low, large transactions dominated the industry, with banks competing for top talent to support execution-intensive deals such as megadeals and private equity-backed ventures.

As a result, investment banks prioritized hiring MBAs for key associate roles in New York, while maintaining strict headcount limits elsewhere.

The stable median base salary of $175,000 and guaranteed compensation package of $50,000 reflect the urgent need for skilled professionals in this high-stakes market.

The competition has broadened with traditional IB schools like Columbia, NYU Stern, and Cornell offering most recruits, while middle of the ranking Tuck has been challenged by M7 and T15 schools, whose consulting representation has been disrupted. Schools have strategically pivoted to Investment Banking to balance their overall median base salaries.

Studying the Investment Banking Salary and Placement trends is crucial.

Next Step

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4) Prepare for Columbia MBA Admissions Interview with F1GMAT's Mock Interview Service

Reference

• F1GMAT's Columbia MBA Salary and Placement Analysis (By Industry) (For 2025 Graduating Class)

Today, we’re breaking down trends in consulting hiring at Columbia Business School for the 2025 graduating class – what it means for you, a prospective MBA candidate, and how you can position yourself for success.

Consulting recruitment for the Columbia MBA Class of 2025 landed at 33.2%. This year's developments reflect a measured recovery from a slightly lower intake last year (30.6%), but importantly, it's still below the peak of 36.3% we saw in 2023. This tells us that Columbia continues to drive consulting offers, but firms are taking a thoughtful, strategic approach to recruiting talent.

What’s driving this shift in hiring volume?

The consulting industry has undergone a significant transformation.

We're seeing a massive acceleration in enterprises’ adoption of AI.

Clients are prioritizing projects focused on AI roadmap design, optimizing operational models, rethinking supply chains, and navigating regulatory changes, particularly with the implementation. Crucially, firms are realizing that many AI initiatives are still in the pilot phase, creating an interesting “AI ROI paradox.”

A lot of investment had limited immediate results.

This isn’t to say that AI has no future, but in understanding where the implementation will have the most impact.

Consulting firms are responding by reshaping their delivery models.

We're seeing firms like BCG and Bain reporting faster project timelines - 20-25% - thanks to internal AI tools. They’re prioritizing candidates with demonstrable expertise in analytics, digital operations, and, most importantly, the ability to translate complex ideas into actionable AI-enabled solutions. The stabilization in hiring numbers reflects this increased precision in the talent they’re seeking.

The median base salary for Columbia MBA consultants is $190,000, which reflects industry-wide adjustments. However, firms are strategically holding back on guaranteeing high upfront compensation, with a total median pay of $220,000 remaining a standard for M7 MBA programs. This shift towards outcome-based or sprint-based contracts highlights the demand for measurable results.

So, what does this mean for you, as a prospective Columbia MBA candidate?

1) Develop a deep understanding of AI
2) Build a strong analytical foundation
3) Cultivate a track record of delivering results - strategically and by implementing complex projects

Next Steps

1) For evaluating your fit with the Columbia MBA Program, subscribe to F1GMAT's Career Planning Service

2) If you are applying to the Columbia MBA program, Download F1GMAT's Columbia MBA Essay Guide, where we have included Essay Examples, Case Studies, and Actionable tips for your application

3) For a 5-year analysis of Columbia MBA Salary and Placement Trends, subscribe to F1GMAT Premium

You have to look at this question from two contexts:

1) The industry trends
2) Reality of placements into PE firms with an MBA program

In 2025, PE entered the "$1 trillion club". This marked the end of a multi-year period of relative hibernation.

US dealmaking shifted into high gear during the second half of 2025, fueled by renewed market confidence and a clearer macroeconomic outlook.

Full-year PE deal value reached an estimated $1.2 trillion, marking only the second time in the industry's history that it has surpassed the trillion-dollar threshold.

The other being the record-shattering outlier of 2021.

Like 2021, when there was a boom in investments around vaccination, and buying distressed assets affected by the pandemic, the latest fund deployments are all around AI, healthcare, and sustainable infrastructure.

Unlike 2021, now PE firms can reasonably predict the interest rate changes. This has given them the confidence to deploy a record $1.1 trillion in dry powder, with the combined private equity and venture capital deal value rising 42.57% year-on-year in 2025 to reach $468.51 billion.

For a professional targeting a top MBA, this trend is a "green light" for the sector's talent needs.

The transition from "defensive asset management" to "aggressive capital deployment" means that firms are no longer just focused on keeping current portfolio companies afloat. They are now in a heavy investment phase that demands sophisticated operational and integration talent. You are likely to join an industry that is actively building and requires Associates who can navigate complex "platform" acquisitions and the integration of massive, billion-dollar assets into existing fund strategies.

See also: PE Q4 2025 Trends

But just because the industry is doing well doesn't mean all top MBA programs can place you into PE firms. While I was editing F1GMAT's salary and employment analysis, I could see a few trends.

One insight I want to share is to rely on schools with a reputation for placing candidates into PE firms. The reputation takes time.

That is why we have a 5-year placement trend in F1GMAT Premium.

You may subscribe and access the in-depth analysis at premium.f1gmat.com/subscribe.

The heartbreaking insight from the analysis is that even though some schools have high Finance placements, the school is likely to facilitate more candidates in Investment Banking over Private Equity.

Getting admitted to Harvard or Stanford is worth your effort.

Any school outside these two doesn't have a strong and consistent reputation for attracting PE firms.

It could change this year with the Career Service team taking on a more proactive role.

But analyze the placement trends at F1GMAT Premium.