MBA Degrees in STEM Fields - Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
B-School Search
For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 118 schools in our BSchools.org database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
“Advanced degrees can act as launch pads to better jobs. In my experience, those degrees were crucial in obtaining opportunities otherwise out of reach. While some may argue that degrees don’t guarantee better jobs today, in my case, they were indispensable for career advancement..”
Ron Surz, MBA, MS, President of PPCA Inc. and Target Date Solutions
Imagine a world without science and technology. Electricity that powers our day; machines that mass produce hundreds of thousands of everyday goods; vehicles that allow us to keep moving; medical inventions and treatments that save human lives; smartphones, tablets, computers, software, and apps that fuel the modern economy—all a result of advances made after years of research and testing.
While the benefits and pitfalls of some recent inventions such as face recognition technology and social media are debatable, there’s no doubt that science and technology have largely benefited the human race.
STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) form the backbone of civilization. They impact every arena of life—transportation, food, communication, healthcare, education, real estate, and commerce. The more advanced a country’s efforts are in the STEM fields, the better the quality of life of its people.
While a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a STEM field is undoubtedly a worthy pursuit, students can also consider taking up an MBA in a STEM-related field. Why? The challenges faced by large corporations and organizations are often complex and multi-layered. It is not enough for their leaders to be masters of one discipline alone. In order to formulate solutions and think of problems on a deeper level, they must have both technical and business expertise.
An MBA in STEM fields allows students to dive deep into business fundamentals, while also specializing further in their own field of study. Moreover, students also get an opportunity to learn from experienced faculty and professionals from varied backgrounds and cultures. This experience can help them develop into well-rounded, effective leaders who can apply lateral thinking.
There are several universities that offer an MBA in STEM fields fully online, with the same curriculum and faculty that teach the on-campus coursework. This provides a great opportunity for working professionals to advance their education at their convenience.
These programs typically take two to three years to complete and offer various concentrations. Some topics in which students can specialize include business analytics, industrial engineering, electrical engineering, and cybersecurity. While elective coursework depends on the specialization they choose, students can expect some core courses such as organizational behavior, managerial finance, marketing, operations management, and human resources.
On successful completion of the program, students can pursue leadership roles in a variety of industries and organizations.
The following guide details exceptional online MBA programs in STEM-related fields and the perspective of an expert in the field.
Meet the Expert: Ron Surz, MBA, MS
Ron Surz is the president of PPCA Inc. and its division, Target Date Solutions, bringing decades of experience and expertise to the pension consulting industry. A veteran in the field, Surz began his noteworthy career with AG Becker in the 1970s, where he laid the foundation for a distinguished career in finance and investment consulting.
Surz holds an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago and an MS in applied mathematics from the University of Illinois, equipping him with a robust analytical and strategic mindset. His academic achievements have been instrumental in his approach to developing innovative solutions for the pension industry.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Surz is co-host of the Baby Boomer Investing Show, where he shares insights and advice on retirement planning and investment strategies. With a commitment to enhancing financial security and retirement outcomes, Surz is a thought leader and influential voice in the industry.
BSchools.org: How has graduating with an MBA enhanced your career in STEM?
Surz: The obvious answer is that advanced degrees can qualify you for jobs you otherwise wouldn’t be eligible for. My first job was with Northrop, where I designed jamming equipment to protect aircraft against heat-seeking missiles. We created a program and simulator to test our equipment’s effectiveness by comparing the launch envelope with and without the jamming technology. It was a fascinating project, and after two years, my boss informed me the project was complete and I needed to find another funded project within the company. Essentially, I was out of a job.
I decided to change careers and joined a financial firm called AG Becker, leveraging my master’s degree in applied math. After just a week at my desk, my boss offered me a raise on the condition that I go back to school. They provided a full scholarship to the University of Chicago, where I maintained a B average or better. The tuition was equivalent to my salary, effectively doubling my income. After earning my MBA, I transitioned from programming to consulting.
Advanced degrees can act as launch pads to better jobs. In my experience, those degrees were crucial in obtaining opportunities otherwise out of reach. While some may argue that degrees don’t guarantee better jobs today, in my case, they were indispensable for career advancement.
BSchools.org: What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring MBA in STEM student?
Surz: I was in the honors class in high school, and universities often came in to offer scholarships. I accepted one without shopping around and ended up at St. Mary’s, an all-boys school. After a year, I found it wasn’t as enjoyable as a co-ed environment, so I gave up the scholarship and transferred to the University of Illinois.
I advise those who are reasonably bright to actively shop for scholarships. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. While being smart can get you far, you’ll likely do even better if you reach out to universities that align with your goals. Even if you’re unsure what to pursue after high school, it doesn’t hurt to ask and apply to prestigious institutions like Harvard. You might end up with a valuable scholarship, especially in a STEM field.
Featured MBA in STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering & Math)
Syracuse University’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management offers several concentrations in its online MBA program, including one in business analytics. This program can be completed online or in person. Students in this online MBA are required to attend three in-person residencies, held on the Syracuse University campus and in major U.S. and international cities. The faculty of this program brings practical experience and scholarly expertise to the online classroom.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university, at least one year of full-time work experience, a completed online application, two personal essays, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, a current business resume, current GRE or GMAT scores(can be waived), and TOEFL or IELTS scores for international students.
The program comprises 54 credit hours, and courses include data analysis and decision making, managerial accounting, strategic management, accounting analytics, marketing analytics, and principles of management science.
During the program, students develop numerous skills, such as data collection, visualization, mining, analysis, and subject matter expertise.
The program opens up several opportunities for graduates. They can take up roles such as management analysts, economists, operations research analysts, survey researchers, and cost estimators.
| Location: Syracuse, New York |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 months |
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers an online MBA program specializing in data analytics and decision-making. This concentration is ideal for those who wish to make strategic decisions based on data.
Applicants to the program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have at least two years of professional experience. Applications for admission include completed online application, a current business resume, transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, two professional recommendations, two essays, and English language proficiency for students where English is not the native language.
Comprising 62 credit hours, the curriculum prepares students to become exceptional leaders who can effectively analyze problems, think strategically, and build strong global organizations. Courses include analytical tools for decision making, business strategy, strategic economics, business modeling, data analytics, and Python for business analytics.
Through the program, students develop data analysis skills, learn to understand the role of analytical techniques, convey their strategies to their organization, and demonstrate the value of data in the real world. Graduates of the program will be well-equipped to work in fields such as business intelligence, data analysis, marketing/sales analysis, and statistics. They can take up roles such as consultant, business intelligence manager, business analyst, data engineer, marketing analyst, and information manager.
| Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business |
| Expected Time to Completion: 18 to 36 months |
Ohio University offers an online master of business administration program with a concentration in business analytics, helping students build skills in the implementation, analysis, and examination of data. The two-year program helps students develop core skills that will transform them into business leaders. Students will delve into database management, spreadsheet creation, decision-making, and the study of historical trends.
Admission requirements for the program include a regionally accredited bachelor’s degree, two or more years of professional experience, a grade point average of 3.0, a current resume, two letters of recommendation, and a goal statement. The program does not require students to submit GMAT scores.
This program’s coursework, which comprises 35 credit hours, is fully online. However, students are required to attend one on-campus, weekend-long professional development workshop. MBA core courses include descriptive analytics, organizational behavior and human resource management, accounting for executives, managerial finance, strategic marketing, and operations management. Business analytics classes include prescriptive analytics, predictive analytics, and business intelligence.
The program teaches students how to leverage quantitative data to fuel their decision-making and improve their businesses. Students develop strategic, analytical, and critical thinking skills as they build business leadership abilities. At the end of the program, graduates can pursue opportunities such as senior data scientist, analytics manager, statistician, and senior operations analyst.
| Location: Athens, Ohio |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 months |
Maryville University offers an online master of business administration in cybersecurity. The program prepares students to succeed in all business and information technology fields.
Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, official academic transcripts, a letter explaining their qualifications for graduate work, and TOEFL scores for international students.
The program consists of 39 credits, including instruction in strategic marketing, business economics, controls for effective cyber defense, pen testing, forensic examination and analysis, and legal aspects of privacy and compliance.
Apart from the cybersecurity concentration, this online MBA curriculum provides business professionals with the opportunity to specialize in a range of other different degree concentrations, such as accounting, human resources management, marketing, business data analytics, information technology, project management, software development, health administration, general management, emerging and digital media, and financial services.
The program graduates can pursue roles such as computer network architect, project manager, computer systems analyst, information security analyst, and software developer.
| Location: St. Louis, Missouri |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission |
| Expected Time to Completion: 14 months |
American University offers an online master of business administration (MBA) program, delivered by the Kogod School of Business. The program is ideal for mid-career professionals who wish to develop communication and strategic management skills that will help them advance into leadership roles. While the program is primarily available online, it includes two three- to four-day in-person experiences in which students get to solve business challenges based on real companies.
Students can choose from the following STEM-related areas of study, depending on their interests:
- Business Analytics – This focus area helps students develop analysis skills, so they can make decisions based on data. Courses in this specialization include predictive analytics, database and big data, and business intelligence.
- Cybersecurity – In this focus area, students get detailed information about cybersecurity from the management point of view. They focus on ways to prevent, prepare for, and detect, and cyberattacks. This focus area includes courses such as database and big data, cybersecurity risk management, and cybersecurity governance.
Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, completed online application, personal statement, a current resume, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. GMAT and GRE scores are not required for admission.
The program’s core courses, which total 48 credit hours, include financial accounting, financial management, managerial statistics, marketing management, managerial accounting and operations management, and strategic thinking for decisions.
The program opens up several opportunities for graduates. They can take up roles such as financial manager, human resources manager, management analyst, marketing manager, and operations manager.
| Location: Washington, D.C. |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 months |
Villanova University offers an online master of business administration (MBA) program specializing in analytics. Students learn how to interpret data and leverage it to benefit their organization. The program offers the same curriculum and expert faculty as Villanova’s top-ranked, campus-based program. While most of the courses are available online, students must travel to campus for the weekend leadership challenge class within the first two semesters.
The major admission requirements for the program include a completed online application, undergraduate GPA, a current resume, two essays, official transcripts from all institutions attended, two letters of recommendation, GMAT or GRE score, and TOEFL scores for international students.
The program comprises 48 credits and includes courses such as business operations in the 21st century, team leadership, analyzing and leveraging data, group dynamics, analytical methods for data mining, an introduction to business analytics, and business intelligence.
The program ensures that its students will have the opportunity to acquire the insights, cross-cultural exposure, and expertise to help them succeed in the global marketplace. They develop the skills and knowledge for making a powerful impact on a business, they gain the confidence and skills that are needed for succeeding in the next chapter of their career, and they also get a chance to participate in immersive interactions with industry and thought leaders. Graduates of the program will be well-equipped to work as financial analysts, financial managers, chief financial officers, marketing managers, and operations managers.
| Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania |
| Accreditation: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business |
| Expected Time to Completion: 24 months |
Arizona State University offers an online MBA/MS in industrial engineering, combining technical and management courses. The program helps working professionals keep up with the developments in their chosen field while also allowing them to develop business skills. The dual degree program allows students to save time, as opposed to completing both degrees separately. The faculty for the program includes the same renowned professors who teach the on-campus coursework.
The major admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering (or another discipline such as computer science or mathematics), a minimum grade point average of 3.2, two letters of reference, official transcripts, a current resume, and GMAT scores. GRE scores may also be accepted.
The program’s 56 credit hours are divided into 16 courses: eight each of MBA and MS fundamentals. The curriculum explores topics such as information systems engineering, ethical issues for managers, design engineering, decision support systems, production systems, and operations research.
Graduates of the program will be well-equipped to pursue leadership positions in industrial engineering upon successful completion.
| Location: Tempe, Arizona |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 36 months |
Arizona State University offers an online MBA and MSE in electrical engineering, so students can continue working while developing their technical and business skills further. Notably, the U.S. News & World Report has ranked the online electrical engineering master’s program at number one in the country, while the online MBA program has been ranked among the top ten in the country.
To get accepted into the program, applicants must have at least one year of professional work experience (two years are preferred), an undergraduate degree from an ABET-accredited electrical engineering program (non-ABET electrical engineering degrees require a minimum GPA of 3.5 and a GRE quantitative score above the 90th percentile), a minimum grade point average of 3.0, two letters of reference, official transcripts, a current resume, and GMAT scores. GRE scores may also be accepted.
The 56-credit-hour curriculum includes eight MBA courses and eight MSE courses. Students delve into topics such as electric power and energy systems, signal processing and communications, solid-state electronics, electronic and mixed-signal circuit design, ethical issues for managers, operations and supply management, and statistics for managers.
The program opens up several opportunities for graduates. They develop management skills and get prepared to serve as industry leaders. They can take up roles such as chief executive, marketing manager, financial manager, and business operations.
| Location: Tempe, Arizona |
| Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
| Expected Time to Completion: 36 months |
Salary & Career Outlook for MBAs in STEM
The salary and career outlook for MBAs in STEM fields from 2022 to 2032 is exceptionally promising, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), which reports that approximately 1.1 million management jobs will be needed in the coming decade.
Professionals with MBAs in STEM can expect lucrative compensation, with median annual salaries significantly higher than those in many other fields. Furthermore, the BLS projects robust job growth for STEM roles, indicating sustained opportunities and career advancement for MBA professionals.
According to BLS data, the average salary for management occupations is $137,750 (BLS May 2023). The 25th percentile earnings for MBA holders in STEM positions stand at approximately $80,000 per year, while those in the 75th percentile earn nearly $170,000 annually. Top earners in the 90th percentile can surpass $200,000 per year.
This substantial earning potential reflects the high demand for advanced business acumen and technical expertise, essential for driving innovation and competitiveness in technology, engineering, and data analytics.
