The Best MBA Programs for Technology

 

2023 was a tough year for graduating MBAs looking to enter the technology industry. As a result of hiring too many people during the pandemic and the threat of a recession, major tech companies that reliably recruited MBAs instead implemented hiring freezes while laying off over 250,000 workers.

The good news is that the technology industry is expected to recover in 2024 as the economy improves and over-hiring adjusts. Disruptive technologies such as AI and machine learning are also creating more tech roles and the need for leaders who have the skills and knowledge to responsibly apply technology in business.

Whether you have been working in tech for years or looking to launch your career in tech as a product manager or entrepreneur, this ranking of the best MBA programs for technology can help you select the programs that will maximize your chances of landing in the area of tech that is the best fit for you.

The Best MBA Programs for Careers in Technology

Note that while we have assigned a ranking of sorts, each of the programs below offers strong technology curriculum, resources, and recruiting track records. For our ranking methodology, we took into account the overall ranking of the institution, the prominence of each school’s technology offerings, internal client feedback, and post-MBA placement statistics.

1. University of California Berkeley – Haas (30% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

You can’t underestimate the power of location when it comes to getting a leg up in recruiting for tech. Haas’ location in the San Francisco Bay Area gives its small 300-person MBA class incredible access to networking and experiential learning opportunities in the tech sector.

In addition to a robust curriculum in data analysis, design thinking, and product management, Haas’ impressive list of experiential learning opportunities offers opportunities to collaborate on innovative projects with Berkeley faculty, students in engineering and science, and local tech companies like PayPal, Cisco, and Autodesk. Startup accelerators like SkyDeck and LAUNCH also allow aspiring entrepreneurs to build and gain momentum for their ideas.

You can learn more about Haas’ tech offerings here and why it’s the best MBA program for technology.

2. Stanford GSB (24% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

Stanford’s location next to Silicon Valley means that it is in the backyard of technology’s biggest innovators and disruptors. This proximity provides students unbeatable access to industry leaders, networking opportunities, and cutting-edge research.

GSB’s elective curriculum includes management-focused coursework in AI and data science as well as one-of-a-kind human-centered courses like Designing AI to Cultivate Human Well-Being, Building Trustworthy Products in a Divided World, and Business and AI: Lessons from Entrepreneurs, Executives, and Investors.

Read more about Stanford’s thought leadership in tech here.

3. Kellogg School of Management (30% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

Formerly known as the business school for aspiring brand managers and consultants, Kellogg has invested in and transformed its curriculum and resources in the tech sector so effectively in the last decade that tech is now the second most popular career path after management consulting.

Kellogg has done this by offering a Technology Management Pathway in its 2-year program in addition to two other highly tech-oriented MBA degrees: MMM and MBAi. The MMM is a dual degree program that integrates business and design thinking. Students earn a Master’s in Design Innovation from the McCormick School of Engineering and an MBA from Kellogg. The MBAi program, recently established in 2020, is an AI-focused MBA program that builds competency in disruptive technologies like machine learning, applied AI for business, and data science. Nearly 50% of graduates of the MMM and MBAi programs in the last two years accepted tech roles, either as product managers at large tech firms or design and innovation roles in retail and consulting.

Even for those choosing the 2-year MBA program, students in the MMM and MBAi programs contribute to a more vibrant tech culture and robust tech network at Kellogg.

Learn more about Kellogg’s tech-focused MBA programs here.

4. MIT Sloan (24% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

The MIT Sloan MBA prides itself on its focus on technology and entrepreneurship. Sloan offers a multitude of opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation such as the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy and the MIT Regional Acceleration Program.

In addition, Sloan also offers an entrepreneurship and innovation MBA track focused on learning how to launch and develop innovative technology companies. Though more entrepreneurship focused than specifically tech, the curriculum emphasizes teamwork in real-world entrepreneurship projects while balancing theory and hands-on learning.

Learn more about Sloan’s entrepreneurship and innovation track here.

5. UCLA – Anderson (26% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

UCLA Anderson’s Technology Management concentration offers coursework in product management, AI and machine learning, innovation in media and entertainment technology, and healthcare technology. Industry guest speakers sharing current real-world scenarios are also an integral part of the coursework.

Anderson students have been hired across the technology industry in functions such as product management, marketing, business analytics, finance, operations, business development and strategy.

Learn more about Anderson’s technology program here.

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6. Carnegie Mellon – Tepper (29% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

If you value the role of data and analytics in decision-making, Tepper’s MBA program may just be a good fit for you. Intentionally designed to develop business leaders who can leverage technology, data, and analytics, Tepper’s “STEM MBA” uses a combination of lecture and case-based teaching to develop students’ analytical orientation in leadership and decision-making.

International students may find Tepper particularly attractive as its STEM designation provides the opportunity to extend OPT (optional practical training) to work in the U.S. for longer.

Learn more about Tepper’s STEM MBA here.

7. University of Washington – Foster (39% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

When it comes to placement in tech, Foster just might have cracked the code. Out of the top 25 business schools in the world, Foster sends the highest percentage of students into the tech industry (in 2018, that number was 60%!) Its location in Seattle close to top MBA-hiring tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft may have something to do with it.

The Technology Management MBA program, an 18-month accelerated and blended in-person/online curriculum, may also be attractive to working professionals focused on advancing their careers in tech.

Top technology companies that recruit at Foster include Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Adobe, among many others.

Learn more about Foster’s Technology Management MBA here.

8. University of Texas – McCombs (15% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech, 30% in 2022)

Over the last five years, the number of tech companies in Austin, TX, grew 52%. McCombs has responded to this growth in both the makeup of its student body (many of whom target careers in product management) as well as its resources for technology and entrepreneurship.

Texas Venture Labs, the Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, and a very active student-run Entrepreneurship club offer students interested in technology, entrepreneurship, and startups experiential learning and community. In addition, events such as Austin Startup Week and SXSW provide incredible networking opportunities.

Top technology companies that recruit McCombs students include Dell, Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla. However, typically hovering around 30%, the percent of McCombs grads landing in tech dropped by half in 2023.

9. London Business School (21% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

If you’re interested in international opportunities in tech, LBS is a great place to be to take advantage of the growing number of tech startups, unicorns, and AI companies in London.

LBS offers a technology and analytics MBA concentration, electives like AI in marketing, data mining, and digital investing. Students also have the opportunity to work virtually with small and mid-sized enterprises in emerging economies to innovate their businesses.

Top technology employers who hired LBS grads include Amazon, Wipro, Mastercard, American Express, and TikTok.

Learn more about tech at LBS here.

10. Wharton (17% of the most recent class accepted jobs in tech)

One of the few business schools to invest in a brick-and-mortar campus in the San Francisco Bay Area, Wharton students have the opportunity to spend a semester in San Francisco studying a customized, tech-focused curriculum while networking with more than 13,000 Wharton alumni on the West Coast.

A thought leader in AI, Wharton offers a myriad of AI and data analytics courses including Predictive Analytics for Business, Applied Machine Learning in Business, and AI, Business & Society which explore applications of AI in various industries.

Wharton’s flexible core curriculum allow students interested in tech to take more tech electives in their first year to prepare for an internship.

Learn more about Wharton San Francisco here and Wharton’s thought leadership in tech here.

 

We hope you found these resources helpful to decipher the best MBA programs for technology as you navigate your journey towards a technology-focused career. If you need further assistance in selecting the ideal MBA program for your goals, click here to request an initial consultation.