Harvard Business School’s newly released class of 2025 employment data suggest that, at least for its mbas, the degree is still paying off.

The median base salary for HBS‘s 2025 graduates rose to $184,500, up from $175,000 the year before. Of the 65% of the class seeking employment, 90% received at least one job offer within three months of graduation, and 84% accepted-both improvements from the classes of 2024 and 2023.

Data from PayScale, analyzed by Poets & Quants, estimates the median lifetime income of an HBS graduate at over $8.5 million.

And yet, despite promising salaries on the horizon, the class of 2025 also set a record for graduates who did not seek conventional employment: 35% chose to not pursue a postgrad job, driven largely by a surge in entrepreneurship.

Seventeen percent of graduates said they plan to start their own business, the highest share on record, up from 8% in 2021 and 13% in 2023, according to Kristen Fitzpatrick, senior managing director for career and professional development at HBS.

Why more MBA grads are snubbing the corporate grind-and turning to entrepreneurship

the turn to entrepreneurship reflects a broader shift. AI tools have lowered the barrier to entry for launching a business-streamlining tasks like market research,product development,and customer acquisition. It’s now easier and cheaper than ever to test ideas and build a minimum viable product.

“We’re seeing a lot more students who are thinking about creating their own opportunities rather than waiting for someone else to give them one,” Fitzpatrick says. “They’re seeing AI as an enabler, not a threat.”

This trend isn’t limited to HBS. Across top business schools, ther’s a growing interest in entrepreneurship. Students recognize that AI will disrupt existing industries, and many want to be the ones building the next generation of companies.

However, starting a business isn’t without risk. Many startups fail, and the path to success is often long and arduous. But for those willing to take the leap, the potential rewards are meaningful. An MBA can provide a strong foundation for entrepreneurship, equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the challenges of building and scaling a business.

Ultimately,the value of an MBA in the age of AI depends on individual goals. For those seeking a traditional career in a large corporation, the degree remains a valuable asset. But for those with entrepreneurial ambitions, an MBA can be a powerful springboard for launching their own ventures.