Update: This article was originally posted on April 5, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
Do you dream about working among the bright minds employed at companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon? Or maybe you want to be part of a tech startup to help it scale to greatness and change the world. Whatever your ambitions may be, there are countless possibilities in the tech industry!
A career in tech can look drastically different from job to job, but the desirability for work in this industry remains high. In fact, last year, the tech industry became the most popular pathway for MBA graduates. That’s because tech is a fast-paced, innovative environment whose requirements match the skills of most MBA graduates, who are learning valuable competencies such as leadership, strategy, and analytics.
Equally important, tech offers a mix of relaxed corporate culture and serious salaries. In fact, salaries for tech can be on par with the post-MBA salaries expected for jobs at MBB or in investment banking.
With all the interest in tech, however, it can be difficult to know which MBA programs are most likely to set you up for success in this hyper-competitive industry. That’s why, in this article, we’ll discuss how an MBA can lead to a technology job and what you need to get there.
Tech careers and business school
If you want to get into a technology career, an MBA is a great and increasingly important place to start.
In the past, business schools were the place to go when you wanted to get into finance and consulting. Now, tech has a place at the table: more and more students are turning to Harvard Business School and Washington’s Foster School of Business to launch themselves into a tech job.
A 2021 study by the Graduate Management Admission Council found that 89% of tech companies expect to hire MBA graduates this year, compared with 75% of finance and accounting firms.
The tech industry is growing and changing at a blistering pace, which means there is a high demand for adaptable, innovative leaders.
Stacey Rudnick, managing director of MBA career management at McCombs School of Business, says, “Managing in the tech space requires nimbleness of thought, confidence, and the ability to anticipate your competitor’s next three moves. An MBA equips students with the education, training, and work experience to make fast and impactful decisions in businesses that [must] move quickly or be overtaken by competitors.”
That doesn’t mean an MBA will automatically land you a tech job right out of school, however. The program you choose may be the determining factor for your future in tech, so make sure the decision you make is an informed one.
Dedicated tech MBAs
If you’ve already worked in the tech industry, you’re likely very aware that your field won’t be slowing down for you while you’re in school. Many technology professionals hesitate to step out of the workforce for two years to get their MBAs, and for good reason. Douglas Stayman, Associate Dean for MBA programs at Johnson School of Management, says, “The tech economy moves quickly. If people are out of it for a long time, it’s an issue.”
For this reason, it’s often a good idea to enter one-year programs. The three below are some of the best around if you want to focus your career on tech!
New York University – Stern School of Business’s 1-Year Tech MBA
Source: @nyustern on Instagram
Location: New York City, NY (United States)
Median Salary for Students: $152,600
% of Students Entering Tech: 63.4%
One of the first of its kind, NYU Stern’s Tech MBA is designed to help students both gain a strong foundation in business and deepen their expertise in technology. A 1-year program, this specialized MBA offers a wealth of tech-focused courses, including ones like “Technical Product Management” and “Tech Evolution & Economics.” The course also offers experiential learning opportunities like the NYC Immersion, which integrates students within the NYC tech ecosystem, and the Tech Solutions program, in which students develop a real product roadmap for a client.
Northwestern University – Kellogg & McCormick MBAi Program
Source: @kelloggschool on Instagram
Location: Evanston, IL (United States)
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: Not yet available for this new program
% of Students Entering Tech: Not yet available for this new program
A brand new program, the MBAi program, a joint degree between Kellogg and the McCormick School of Engineering, stands out for a number of reasons. First, unlike many 1-year MBA programs, the MBAi program ensures students complete a summer internship at a leading tech or business company. Aside from the internship, the course is divided into three modules. First, the MBA Core, with courses like “Business Strategy” and “Accounting for Decision Making,” allows students to enhance their business skills. Second, the Technical Core “accelerate[s] your fluency in analytics and complex technologies.” Finally, the Integrated Core mixes business and technical concepts in totally unique courses like “Organizational Design & Ethics.”
Cornell Johnson Tech MBA
Source: @cornellmba on Instagram
Location: Ithaca, NY & New York City, NY (United States)
Median Salary: $150,000
% of Students Entering Tech: 75%
Another pioneering tech MBA in the US, the Cornell Tech MBA takes advantage of a dedicated campus in New York City to prepare its students for careers in the tech world. First, students spend a summer semester at Cornell’s Ithaca campus to complete core courses and ensure they build strong business fundamentals. The remaining two semesters take place on Cornell’s NYC campus, which allows students to immerse themselves in the tech world through dedicated courses like Business Data Analysis with SQL, a Studio program in which students create real solutions for tech companies, and access to leaders in the tech field through multiple networking events.
The top non-dedicated MBAs for tech
There are multiple lists that detail the best social tech MBAs, all of which use different metrics.
As such, the following is an unranked list of MBA programs with strong track records in tech. Since there are multiple types of tech you may consider when planning out your future career goals, make sure to deep dive into programs you find interesting to ensure the curriculum is aligned with your needs and objectives.
Stanford GSB
Source: @stanfordgsb on Instagram
Location: Stanford, CA (United States)
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: $163,750
% of Students Entering Tech: 30%
Like Haas, Stanford also greatly benefits from its proximity to Silicon Valley. Given this privileged location and Stanford’s long track record of promoting innovation, it comes as little surprise that 30% of graduates of the Class of 2022 went into tech.
Of course, when it comes to academics, Stanford offers its students a truly impressive variety of courses on tech-related topics, including those in its Operations, Information & Technology department. Stanford also offers students the chance to pursue a joint MBA/MS in Computer Science degree, whose rigor allows students to develop the world-class skills they need to pursue high-impact careers in tech. In addition to these offerings, Stanford offers numerous hands-on learning opportunities, such as the Value Chain Innovation Initiative. In the greater Stanford ecosystem, the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab offers students the chance to develop the algorithms that drive innovation in the tech world.
Out-of-class learning is also an essential component of the Stanford MBA experience. For students looking to break into (or continue in) tech, there are a number of options, including the Tech Club and the Product Design and Manufacturing Club.
Berkeley Haas
Source: @berkeleyhaas on Instagram
Location: Berkeley, CA (United States)
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: $151,000
% of Students Entering Tech: 32.9%
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Berkeley Haas is a natural choice for professionals looking to transition into tech. In fact, 32.9% of Haas’ Class of 2022 went into tech, exceeding even the number of graduates going into consulting. One of the main reasons for Haas’ graduates’ success in tech recruiting may be that, rather than sending its students on treks to the Valley, Haas sends students to work directly in tech companies through part of its Haas@Work Applied Innovation course. Furthermore, Haas offers a technology major, which includes its famous Lean LaunchPad course and a new big data-focused curriculum.
Outside of the classroom, Haas offers its students a wide array of opportunities to connect with major players in the tech industry. Whether through its speaker series, the Haas Design Innovation Club, or even the Haas Technology Club, Haas offers you the chance to immerse yourself in the technology sector like no other.
MIT Sloan
Source: @mitsloan on Instagram
Location: Cambridge, MA (United States)
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: $150,000
% of Students Entering Tech: 22.6%
Sloan’s outstanding reputation is built on its focus on data analytics, so it is no surprise that MBA students have a plethora of opportunities to pursue tech while completing their programs.
The school’s Office of Innovation offers many events and initiatives to bolster your tech skills, while Sloan’s Tech Club gives students the opportunity to build your network while engaging in real-life tech cases and experiences. Core courses for full-time MBA students include Marketing Innovation, and students can also choose to pursue tech-focused specializations such as the Entrepreneurship and Innovation track.
UCLA Anderson
Source: @uclaanderson on Instagram
Location: Los Angeles, CA (United States)
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: $143,000
% of Students Entering Tech: 34.1%
Located in the “Silicon Beach,” UCLA Anderson has recently been making great strides when it comes to placing its graduates in the tech industry. In fact, 34.1% of UCLA Anderson’s Class of 2022 ended up in tech, making it more popular than even consulting as a post-MBA industry.
One of the key drivers of this trend has been the impact of Anderson’s Easton Technology Management Center, which offers a Technology Management specialization in addition to numerous technology-based elective courses, hosts conferences and workshops, and even offers a fellows program for up-and-coming leaders in the tech industry. Furthermore, Anderson allows students to take advantage of electives like New Product Development, Data and Decisions, and Global Payments Technology, among many others.
Outside of the classroom, AnderTech, leads the way for tech-focused students, organizing annual Tech Treks, business case competitions, and numerous workshops.
The University of Washington Foster
Source: @uwfostermba on Instagram
Location: Seattle, WA (United States)
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: $140,000
% of Students Entering Tech: 48%
Given its privileged location in Seattle, UW Foster has quickly become a hub for MBAs hoping to pursue careers in tech. Perhaps that’s why a whopping 48% of Foster’s Class of 2022 entered the tech industry, far outpacing the number of graduates that entered the second most popular industry – consulting.
Beyond Foster’s location, the school’s curriculum is built to prepare students for success in the tech industry. First, the school’s Information Systems and Operations Management Department includes heavy-hitting professors with specializations ranging from big data to analytics to machine learning, to social network analytics. Beyond the offerings in this department, Foster also offers a wide range of tech-focused elective courses, such as Technology Commercialization and Business Analytics: Tools for Big Data.
In addition to a strong tech curriculum, Foster also offers you the chance to deep dive into the tech industry in numerous ways outside of the classroom. First, the Foster Tech Club offers students the chance to network with numerous companies in the Seattle area (including Zillow, Amazon, and Microsoft, to name a few) and organizes an annual Tech Trek to the Bay Area.
SDA Bocconi
Source: @sda_bocconi on Instagram
Location: Milan, Italy
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: Not specifically available
% of Students Entering Tech: ~25%
As one of the top business schools in Europe, SDA Bocconi has a great reputation among employers in general but recently has become known for its preparation of top-notch tech talents.
In fact, around 25% of MBA grads end up hired by tech companies, from big corporations to innovative startups. And with unique opportunities and events like Tech with Her, students can gain specialized experience in particular tech pathways they are interested in.
London Business School
Source: @londonbschool on Instagram
Location: London, UK
Median Salary for Students Entering Tech: $114,000
% of Students Entering Tech: 29%
London Business School is not only one of the best business schools in the world but is also committed to offering extraordinary tech development opportunities to adapt to the industry’s growth.
Tech courses available to MBA students include Innovation through Design Thinking, Exploiting Disruption through a Digital World, and Data Science for Business Intelligence. There are also a number of tech-related extracurricular opportunities, such as the Tech and Media Club.
And with 29% of LBS’s class of 2022 going into tech, Amazon was the biggest recruiter of MBA grads.
If you are interested in pursuing an LBS MBA, read our articles on how to write an outstanding essay and prepare a successful video essay for the school!
Get into a Top Tech MBA
During the MBA application process, you will need to make thousands of decisions that will impact your life for decades to come.
One of the most important decisions is where you choose to apply. If you’re interested specifically in top tech MBAs, you’ll have even tougher decisions to make.
Though you may be tempted just to work your way down the rankings, having a trusted ally who can use their deep knowledge of your profile and what different business schools offer can be the difference between loving your MBA program and wishing you’d done everything differently.
Many of our clients come to us with a general idea of what they want to do with their careers after they complete an MBA but lack specifics. Our career coaches step in at this point to help you define what you want out of your career, create concrete short-term and long-term goals to make sure your transition to tech is as successful as possible, and identify which business schools can best help you turn these dreams into reality.
We are especially proud to offer this service to you, as we find it helps our clients take greater advantage of their MBAs.
If you’d like to start putting the Ellin Lolis Advantage to work for you right from the very start, apply to work with us today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
