15 top MBA employers

What makes it great: Coming in second on this list for the eighth year in a row is leader-producing powerhouse McKinsey & Co. The company brags it's minted more CEOs of Fortune 500 companies than anywhere else. One famous alum to watch right now is Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, a rumored Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential election.

Besides instant name recognition, McKinsey offers a culture of growth and positive feedback, says Brian Rolfes, partner, global recruiting. Big ideas and alternative thinking are encouraged, he says. MBAs can choose diverse specialties, such as operations or business technology, or join as a generalist where they can work in many different industries.

What they're looking for: People who are excellent analysts, were leaders during school, and care deeply about creating positive results for clients. "Two qualities we look for as we recruit are problem solving and the ability to work well in teams," Rolfes says. "These are at the heart of what our consultants do every day."