Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding of the added value of management studies, as the current state of research in the field has focused principally on studies undertaken at prestigious institutions. In addition, this study tests the extent to which career-related attitudes and chance events have influenced career success. Design/methodology/approach – The authors used data provided by 1,228 graduates from an average-ranked academic institution. Findings – The findings suggest that such management education can result in significant tangible and intangible outcomes for graduates’ careers and their employing organizations. Both intellectual ability and career attitudes influenced the career success outcomes to differing levels. The contribution to the literature is both to theory and to managerial practice, in response to the recent critique of management education as well as the growing need for new cadres of managers, which cannot be supplied by high-prestige, leading business schools alone. Originality/value – Testing career impact of MBA from an average-ranked university, and the impact of chance event – both understudied. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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