What MEM Students Do After Graduating

Associate Director Steve Tilley talks about the latest MEM graduate data and the program's flexibility.

When prospective students talk with Steve Tilley, Associate Director of Northwestern University's Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program, they almost always ask about career outcomes and the alumni network.

With that in mind, Tilley took time to talk about the latest MEM graduate data, as well as why he thinks the program's flexibility sets up its students for success in the future.

What do you think is the value of a MEM degree on someone's career?

I think it cannot be underestimated how technology has infiltrated almost all aspects of a business. MEM graduates are prepared to leverage their STEM backgrounds with newly found business acumen to lead these technologically sophisticated companies. In addition, a recent article from The Chronicle of Higher Education highlights the growth and demand for the MEM degree since the Great Recession, calling it “a specialized hybrid with an engineering focus but incorporating some MBA-type skills."

What salary information are you able to share about MEM graduates?

The most recent Northwestern MEM graduate salary survey from December 2017 has shown strong salary data for both our part-time and full-time students. It can be slightly challenging to gather salary data for part-time students as they are working during the program and can take two to five years to complete the degree. However, the data revealed between a 25-30% growth in salary from the time a part-time student started the program to when they graduated. This growth is aligned with other data we have seen for engineers who seek a graduate degree.

Full-time students, on the other hand, complete the program in about a year, and we can get a bit more focused data points. This recent data has shown average starting salaries around $105,000. I have to mention that, historically, our students have had strong placement/career data, but our program cannot guarantee any sort of salary or placement upon graduation.

Are part-time students primarily targeting job promotions when they begin the program?

I think whether a part-time or full-time student, they are both seeking growth in their career and specifically looking into more managerial opportunities. Part-time students have the opportunity, and many are, to be promoted during their program. Around 75% of part-time students revealed they obtained new roles and responsibilities during their MEM academic career. In addition, many students found new jobs with new employers during and immediately after their degree.

How would you describe the MEM alumni network?

Northwestern MEM is one of the most successful MEM degrees in the world with a history that spans over 40 years. Historically, our program has been very intimate with about 30 graduates a year and reaching a total of about 850 alumni. Our program has also created an Industry Advisory Board that is comprised of influential alumni and advocates for MEM.  This Advisory Board provides mentorship and feedback to help our students grow in their careers as well as provide insight into updates to the curriculum. In addition, MEM students are at an advantage to utilize the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA) and the overall school alumni network. The NAA provides career mentorship and externship opportunities that many of our students utilize as well.

How connected and engaged are MEM alumni with one another as well as with current students?

I think many MEM alumni and students consider the MEM community much like a family. You get to know almost everyone that is in the program with you, and many alumni stay around the Chicago area after graduating. Interestingly, I just was received a photo of MEM alumni who formed their own alumni group for those living near the Detroit area. MEMers stick together.  

In addition, the MEM program hosts several events throughout the year to engage alumni with our students – the annual PriSim Business War Games Football Tailgate and the MEM Industry Night networking dinner. These events consistently host more than 100 students and alumni.  

In the past year, we have also attempted to set-up alumni company visits so that students can learn more about local Chicago businesses.  These companies have included Baxter, Relativity, Motorola Mobility, and Motorola Solutions.

How does the MEM curriculum compare with the latest industry trends?

We host two separate meetings during the year — a faculty and industry advisory board meeting — that provide us the opportunity to review our curriculum and discuss the latest industry trends that impact our students. In the past few years, this has helped us update our curriculum concentrations to now include “Managerial Analytics” as well as give us the insight to add new elective offerings in the topics of Product Management and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). In addition, since two-thirds of our faculty are industry practitioners, they are bringing their real-world experiences into the classroom each week and updating their course curriculum with the new technologies and trends.

How flexible is the MEM experience?

The two things that have always stood out as great assets to Northwestern MEM are its faculty and program flexibility. About two-thirds of the MEM faculty are industry practitioners – CEO’s, CTO’s, Partners – in their organization and uniquely understand the balance students need for work and life and school. Part-time students have also appreciated the fact that they can put their degree on pause for up to a year if there is a large work project, a need to focus on family — such as a wedding or a new child — or even international travel.  

In addition, students who target our program really enjoy the flexibility in terms of course selection. We have three focused concentrations in Project & Process Management, Design & Innovation, or Managerial Analytics, but students also have the option to create their own path and gain the right skills to grow their career.

In what ways are students/alumni able to quickly apply the lessons they learn into the workplace?

This is what makes our MEM program so special. Students are able to apply what they learn the very next day in the workplace. With the flexibility to choose their electives, students have additional opportunities outside the core classes to gain skills to help them grow and make their companies successful. I also think this is the type of question best answered from a student perspective, and I encourage you to read recent MEM graduate Ian Wiese’s blog post about his MEM experience.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I strongly encourage those students exploring Master’s degree options to know what they want to get out of their experience, not just academically, but personally and professionally.  Northwestern MEM is a tremendous opportunity to connect with amazing students, faculty, and alumni as well as the Chicago technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our students are self-driven, realize the value of higher education and have the passion to become the next generation of engineering management leaders.

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