When the cost of a Full-time MBA program is comparatively lower, it would also mean the post-MBA salary would follow the same pattern. The base salary is a respectable $115,000 but when it comes down to choosing between top MBA programs, do not go by cost. Use net present value as we have demonstrated in our research guide.
If you can manage to reduce the borrowing cost, bet on the post-MBA salary and diversity of career choices. UCLA Anderson is heavily biased towards Technology, Consulting, and Finance – a pattern we have seen in other programs based in California.
Candidates entering the Financial Services sector led the earnings chart with $172,000 total median salary, primarily attributed by a $47,500 signing bonus. Consulting leads with a mean base salary of $135,000, ahead of Financial Services ($125,000) and Technology ($117,000). 
Two job functions popular among UCLA Anderson MBA candidates – Finance and Marketing/Sales were also the top two functions for total median salary - $157,500 and $130,000 respectively.
Reference: UCLA Full-time MBA Career Report
About the Author
I am Atul Jose, Founding Consultant of F1GMAT, an MBA admissions consultancy that has worked with applicants since 2009.
For the past 15 years I have edited the application files of admits to the M7 programs: Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Wharton School, MIT Sloan, Chicago Booth, Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia Business School, together with admits to Berkeley Haas, Yale School of Management, NYU Stern, Michigan Ross, Duke Fuqua, Darden, Tuck, IMD, London Business School, INSEAD, SDA Bocconi, IESE Business School, HEC Paris, McCombs, and Tepper, plus other programs inside the global top 30.
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