Master of Business Administration (MBA)

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

Carnegie Mellon University

Program Overview

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business prepares students to become analytical, innovative, and strategic business leaders who can make confident decisions in a rapidly changing business environment. Combining management education with technology, data analytics, leadership development, and hands-on business experiences, the program is particularly suited to students who want to lead organizations, solve complex business challenges, and drive innovation across industries.

Curriculum Structure

The Tepper MBA combines a core business foundation with advanced analytical training, leadership development, and opportunities to specialize. The curriculum is STEM-designated and integrates data analysis into key management disciplines. Students can customize their studies through concentrations and five cross-disciplinary tracks, including Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Energy and Sustainability Business, and Technology Strategy and Product Management.

Year 1: Students establish a strong foundation in business management, quantitative analysis, and decision-making. Core study areas include marketing, finance, operations, accounting, economics, organizational behavior, and strategy, alongside analytical topics such as optimization, predictive modeling, and prescriptive modeling. Students also begin developing their leadership capabilities through the Accelerate Leadership Center.

Year 2: Students build on their foundation through electives, concentrations, and specialized tracks aligned with their career goals. They can apply their knowledge through consulting projects, case competitions, internships, and capstone experiences, developing expertise in areas such as business analytics, entrepreneurship, technology strategy, and product management. The exact course sequence depends on the chosen MBA format and study plan.

Focus Areas

Business analytics; financial management; marketing strategy; operations management; organizational behavior; business economics; strategic management; entrepreneurship; energy and sustainability business; technology strategy; product management; innovation management; predictive modeling; prescriptive modeling; optimization; leadership development; data-informed decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop the ability to interpret business data, apply analytical methods to complex management decisions, formulate effective business strategies, manage financial and operational challenges, lead diverse teams, communicate recommendations to stakeholders, identify entrepreneurial opportunities, and guide organizations through technological and market changes.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Tepper School of Business holds accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. In February 2025, the school announced that its AACSB business accreditation had been extended for six years, covering all its business degree programs. The MBA is also STEM-designated, reflecting its strong emphasis on quantitative analysis, technology, and data-informed management.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business is recognized for combining management education with technology, analytics, and innovation. Its MBA received the following rankings in the university's published program information:

#2 Best Online MBA: U.S. News & World Report, 2026.
#2 Best Online MBA among U.S. schools: Financial Times, 2026.
#16 Graduate Business School: U.S. News & World Report, 2026.

The school's employment outcomes also demonstrate the career opportunities available to its graduates. For the Full-Time MBA Class of 2025, the average accepted salary was $154,846, while the median base salary was $160,000.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Tepper MBA emphasizes practical learning through consulting engagements, company-sponsored projects, leadership coaching, internships, and international business experiences. Students work in teams to analyze real organizational challenges, develop strategic recommendations, and apply analytical tools to business decisions. The Tepper Quad provides a collaborative learning environment, while the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship supports students interested in developing and launching business ventures.

Students can develop practical business and leadership skills through the following opportunities and facilities:

Strategic Management of the Enterprise: Participate in an experiential consulting course offered in partnership with Kearney and sponsoring companies. Student teams work on real business challenges involving strategy, operations, technology, marketing, big data, supply chains, and healthcare.
Management Game: Take part in a computer-simulated business exercise in which teams operate a multinational manufacturing company for three simulated years, making executive-level decisions and managing organizational performance.
Global Capstone Projects: Work with international companies on real business problems, conduct research, collaborate with company representatives, and present recommendations. A 2024 Brazil project involved six organizations, including Dom Rock, Hubs Contabilidade, Sipremo, SAS Brasil, Troika, and Gregario Cycling Media.
Accelerate Leadership Center: Access personalized leadership coaching, assessments, workshops, and development programs. MBA students complete the EQ-i 2.0 emotional intelligence assessment, participate in a group debrief with a certified coach, and attend three sessions in the EQ Workshop Series.
Golub Capital Board Fellows Program: Eligible MBA students can serve as non-voting members of nonprofit organization boards and lead strategic projects, gaining practical experience in governance and organizational leadership.
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship: Explore startup development through mentorship, funding opportunities, entrepreneurial events, and workspace. The center supports students and alumni interested in launching and growing businesses.
Global Treks: Participate in student-organized international experiences that include company visits, meetings with executives, networking with alumni, and exposure to international markets.
Internships: Full-Time MBA students receive summer internship support and access to career resources that help them connect with employers and explore professional opportunities.
Tepper Quad: Study and collaborate at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper Quad, a dedicated business-school facility designed as an innovation and collaboration hub for students, faculty, and the wider university community.
MBA student clubs: Join more than 40 student clubs, including the Consulting Club, Data Analytics Club, Graduate Finance Association, Marketing Club, Business & Technology Club, and Graduate Entrepreneurship Club.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Tepper MBA prepares graduates for leadership and management positions across consulting, technology, financial services, healthcare, energy, and other industries. With its combination of analytical training, strategic management, and leadership development, the program supports career advancement as well as transitions into new business functions. Graduates can pursue roles such as Management Consultant, Product Manager, Financial Manager, and Business Strategy Manager.

Career Support, Employment Data, and Industry Connections

Masters Career Center: Students receive individualized career counselling, resume and CV support, interview preparation, networking guidance, and assistance with career planning.
Employer connections: The Tepper School maintains recruiting relationships with more than 200 companies, giving students access to employer networking opportunities, career events, and recruitment activities.
Employment outcomes: According to the 2025 Full-Time MBA Employment Report, 83% of graduates received job offers within three months of graduation, increasing to 89% within six months.
Salary figures: The Full-Time MBA Class of 2025 reported an average accepted salary of $154,846, a median base salary of $160,000, an average total compensation of $186,043, and an average signing bonus of $38,610.
Industry opportunities: Consulting and technology together attracted approximately 60% of the 2025 graduating MBA class, while financial services accounted for 10%.
School-facilitated recruitment: In 2025, 73% of accepted full-time job offers and 72.5% of accepted summer internship offers came through school-facilitated sources, demonstrating the importance of Tepper's employer, alumni, and recruiter networks.
University–industry partnerships: Through the Strategic Management of the Enterprise course, students work on company-sponsored consulting projects. Past clients include Alcoa, Ameriprise, Costco, Embraer, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Siemens, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Walmart, and Walgreens.
Entrepreneurial opportunities: The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship provides mentorship, funding resources, networking, and workspace to support students interested in starting or scaling businesses.
Long-term accreditation value: AACSB accreditation, extended for six years in 2025, reflects the Tepper School's commitment to internationally recognized standards in business education, research, and teaching.

Potential career pathways:

Management Consultant, Product Manager, Business Strategy Manager, Financial Manager, Investment Banking Associate, Operations Manager, Marketing Manager, Business Analytics Manager, Technology Strategy Manager, Entrepreneur.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the MBA, graduates who want to deepen their academic or research expertise can consider doctoral study in areas such as Management, Business Administration, Economics, or related interdisciplinary fields. Carnegie Mellon University offers doctoral study through the Tepper School of Business, including research opportunities in areas such as finance, operations management, marketing, organizational behavior, and economics. Students interested in further study should review the relevant Ph.D. admission requirements and research specializations, as MBA completion does not guarantee doctoral admission.

Graduates interested in developing additional specialist expertise can also explore executive education, leadership development, and professional certification opportunities to strengthen their knowledge in areas such as finance, analytics, entrepreneurship, and strategic management.