15 top MBA employers

What makes it great: Jumping to #14 on the list from #27 last year is Big Four auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers. MBA students increasingly are attracted to consulting and professional services, and PwC's rise illustrates that trend, says Kevin Troy, Universum Global's head of research and insights, Americas.

The company has a global client reach and its sphere of influence is expanding further thanks to its acquisition of global management consulting firm Booz & Company earlier this year. PwC's highly entrepreneurial environment creates clear advancement opportunities, says Alissa Danaher, the U.S. advisory campus recruiting leader. Employees can expect a focus on corporate responsibility as well as a push to take their well-earned vacation time.

What they're looking for: The company expects MBA hiring to increase this year. Because MBA grads are recruited as high-level consultants at PwC, sector expertise is key.

New hires "tend to have entrepreneurial poise, fantastic presence, and professional maturity," Danaher says. "We look for someone who is a global citizen and has intellectual curiosity."