Can you get promoted to MD without a MBA?

Rather than spending >100k on a MBA program, is someone able to make it to MD/VP through internal promotion by age 30/32? Or, at least through lateral moves to another bank?

Can you tell me how viable this path is?

It just seems smarter to save up money and invest it rather than saving it in your 20s only to spend it on a MBA program.

25 Comments
 

Thank you for educating me. I don't know any of these job titles since I'm still in high school, but a MBA just doesn't seem worthwhile unless I get decent financial aid or if I don't break into banking out of college.

 
Most Helpful

Don't know about majority but certainly pretty close split.

More importantly to the OP, as a more tenured member of the banking community, my advice to you would be if you're in high school, enjoy life. You'll have plenty of time to stress over your career path. Don't forget to look around or you may miss out on good opportunisties in non -banking fields that pass you by.

 

I'm trying to look at other opportunities and nothing seems equally interesting as IB and artificial intelligence. AI is up-and-coming so I am considering doing a major in finance with a minor in AI

 
"MoneyisHappiness" Rather than spending >100k on a MBA program, is someone able to make it to MD/VP through internal promotion by age 30/32? Or, at least through lateral moves to another bank?

Can you tell me how viable this path is?

It just seems smarter to save up money and invest it rather than saving it in your 20s only to spend it on a MBA program.

I did this. Did 2 years in Ops then FO in trading. Started over as a 1st year analyst in IB at another BB. Stayed through third year. They offered an associate promote but I decided to move to a boutique to get out of NYC. Spent around 2.5 years as an associate there and got promoted to VP. I left after 5 years to start a company

 

I mean it isn't too uncommon. If you just stay at the company, perform well, present pitches well, and get lucky, there isn't any reason why you can't get promoted to MD. It might take a while tho, but that's to be expected.

Made ya look
 
  1. No you don't need an MBA
  2. The hardest part will be breaking in, once you are in what matters is your experience, not specific educational background
 

might be interesting to go back and get an MBA? although it may not be necessary, if you look at harvard, for example, their match list includes a few MDs who go straight into consulting or banking every year.

also you might find the MD MBA Association a great resource, take a look at them www.mdmbas.com

 

Libero iste totam sint aliquid consectetur culpa. Dicta et dolorum adipisci. Voluptatem consectetur qui ratione molestias alias beatae. Sed necessitatibus rerum itaque sapiente quos.

Culpa animi sint vel non perspiciatis amet minus. Corrupti quod quis a natus perspiciatis ad porro qui. Distinctio ut ipsam commodi rerum aspernatur. Quia quia ea cum explicabo perferendis.

Occaecati rem dolore maiores eos nemo assumenda sapiente. Illo dolore odio molestias ipsam. Iste quia repellat cupiditate tempora.

Consectetur repudiandae perferendis culpa numquam officia. Magnam et eligendi labore. Et sapiente perferendis blanditiis corporis repudiandae. Esse adipisci odio eveniet eveniet fugiat est quia. Dolorem consequatur quisquam odio cum sed quis amet.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”