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Working While Earning Your MBA

It's difficult to give up a steady paycheck. Fortunately, tightening the belt for B-school has a big payoff at the end: on average, a Tippie grad's salary increases 133% within 5 years of graduation.

You may still be able to work in some capacity while pursuing your MBA. We do not recommend that you work more than 10 hours per week during the first semester of the MBA program. There are many activities you'll want to undertake that will enrich your MBA experience, and the course load is the heaviest you'll face during B-school. Moreover, the adjustment of returning to academic life will require most of your time. Some employment options are outlined below.

  • Graduate assistantships (GAs)—Some students receive graduate assistantships as part of their financial aid package. These require 10 hours of work per week, and can involve a variety of activities depending upon the needs of the department.
  • Teaching assistants (TAs)—Academic departments in the Tippie College of Business often hire second-year MBAs as teaching assistants. If you are interested in this kind of position, apply directly to the department of interest in March of your first year.
  • Part-time work for previous employer—As technology improves, students are able to work remotely for their pre-MBA employer during school to earn extra money. Provided you can balance your workload with school and you do not have a GA or TA assignment, this may be an option for you.
  • Other part-time work—If you do not receive a graduate assistantship and would like to find local part-time employment that will be relevant to your future career, MBA Career Services can help you identify such opportunities. Please contact MBA Career Services before beginning your job search.