Top 10 MBA Programs for a Career in Technology 2021

Released today, the QS MBA by Specialization Rankings 2021 provide an overview of the top programs offered by business schools all over the world for seven areas of specialism.

Schools are ranked based on employer reputation and research strength for each of the seven areas, as well as the number of career placements graduates from the school’s MBA programs have achieved in the specific field.

MIT Sloan School of Management has been ranked as the best b-school in the world for specializing in technology, with nearly 30 percent of graduates landing jobs in the field.

Here is the complete top 10.

10) The Wharton School

In tenth position is The Wharton School, whose MBA program received a perfect score for employer reputation and a near-perfect score for research strength. Almost 15 percent of Wharton graduates went into the technology industry – a slight decrease from last year’s rankings, but a strong feat nonetheless for a school usually associated with finance.

Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the 20-month MBA program at Wharton costs US$157,896. Wharton’s Technology Club host an annual ‘Tech Week’, dedicated to bringing together students, faculty, alumni and professionals to find out about industry trends and career opportunities.

9) Saïd Business School

Ninth on the list is the MBA program at Saïd Business School, which received a near-perfect score for employer reputation and high scores for research strength and career placements. An impressive 23.8 of Saïd graduates landed a job in tech.

The one-year program begins with a two-week MBA Launch and offers a plethora of development opportunities including interactive modules, business competitions and consulting projects. Total tuition fees amount to £63,000 (approx. US$81,760).

8) UCLA Anderson School of Management

Next is the MBA program at UCLA Anderson School of Management, which earned high scores for career placements and employer reputation. 31 percent of UCLA Anderson graduates went into tech jobs, the third-highest proportion on the table.

The two-year program is located in sunny Los Angeles, California. MBA fees amount to approx. US$98,699 per academic year (subject to change).

7) Michigan Ross School of Business

Gaining a spot from last year’s rankings is the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Michigan Ross received high scores across all indicators, particularly for career placements. 22 percent of MBAs kick-started a career in technology after graduation.

The program is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and takes two years to complete. Total tuition costs amount to US$142,096. Ross graduates have been hired by an impressive range of renowned tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Dell and Tesla.

6) The Kellogg School of Management

Sixth in the table is the MBA program at The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, which received a near-perfect score for employer reputation. Almost a quarter (23 percent) of Kellogg graduates landed jobs in the technology field.

Located in Evanston, Illinois, the program cost is estimated at US$103,350. With both one-year and two-year study plans, the school offers the flexibility that many b-school candidates look for when choosing an MBA.

5) Harvard Business School

Halfway through the list is Harvard Business School, whose MBA program received a perfect score for employer reputation and a near-perfect score for research strength. 20 percent of HBS students went on to careers in tech – an increasingly popular choice compared with last year’s figure (16 percent).

Located in Cambridge (MA), the two-year program is notorious for helping graduates land tech jobs in America’s west coast. Total annual tuition costs amount to US$111,818.

4) Judge Business School

Just missing out on a top three spot is the MBA program at Judge Business School, which scored highly across all ranking indicators. A whooping 36.3 percent of graduates went onto careers in technology, the highest proportion of any school in the top 10 for the second year in a row.

The 12-month program is divided into four terms and consists of 16 compulsory modules and a personal selection from 48 electives. Tuition fees amount to approx. US$76,885.

3) Haas School of Business

In third place – losing a spot from last year – is the MBA program at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, which received near-perfect scores in both employer reputation and career placements. 32.9 percent of Haas students landed tech jobs after graduation, the second-highest number on the list.

The MBA program from Haas focuses on experiential and tech-oriented teaching, helping its students stay at the forefront of the latest business innovations. Full costs for the program amount to US$161,774 for California residents and US$166,186 for non-residents.

2) Stanford Graduate School of Business

Taking the silver medal position is the MBA program at Stanford Graduate School of Business, which received the top score for employer reputation and high scores across all other indicators. In terms of career placements, 24 percent of Stanford graduates went into the tech industry.

Based in the beautiful town of Stanford, California, and close to the global tech hub Silicon Valley, the school is ideal for those hoping to get into technology. Yearly tuition fees total US$118,644 for single students and US$142,080 for married students.

1) MIT Sloan School of Management

Taking the top spot as the best MBA for a technology specialization is the program at MIT Sloan School of Management, which achieved very high scores in all ranking indicators. A strong 28.7 of MIT students landed technology jobs after graduation.

Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the 24-month program has tuition fees of US$192,115. If you want to pursue a career in technology, MIT is the place to be – the  university’s full name is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, after all! Students can join a variety of tech focused clubs, such as the Emerging Technology and Government Club, FinTech Club, Coders Club, and, of course, Technology Club.