STEM MBA Programs: List & Explanation

It’s increasingly common these days for MBA programs to be STEM-designated—i.e., categorized as part of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) grouping of academic disciplines.

Traditionally, MBAs were not classified as STEM degrees in the US. The recent push to categorize them as STEM has been motivated in large part by visa rules that make STEM degrees advantageous for international students. You can read more about this below.

Let’s look at which B-schools in the US offer a STEM MBA—and how the designation works in practice.

Which Programs Are STEM-Designated?

Most of the top 25 MBA programs in the US are now fully STEM-designated, others only partially. This is largely a development of the last few years, as universities have pushed to get their MBA programs designated, for various reasons explored below.

Every program in the top 25 has at least one pathway to a STEM degree. In most cases, the full program is STEM-designated; all graduating students receive a STEM degree. Eight of the 25, though, require students to follow a specific pathway—a particular major, concentration, or track within the program—to receive a STEM qualification.

The table below shows the STEM designations of the top 25 full-time, two-year US MBA programs.

Why Does It Matter? The STEM OPT Extension

Let’s not beat around the bush: While B-schools cite a number of benefits to a STEM degree, their primary motivation for pursuing the designation is to continue attracting international students. This is because of the STEM OPT extension for F-1 visas.

The F-1 visa is a nonimmigrant student visa allowing foreigners to live in the US for the purpose of education. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period after graduation during which F-1 visa holders are entitled to remain in the US for work related to their field of study.

The OPT period normally lasts one year, but the STEM OPT extension rule (introduced in 2008 and modified in 2016) entitles F-1 visa holders who studied (and work in) a STEM field to remain in the US for three years instead of one. The rule was introduced in an effort to attract international talent for the ever-expanding number of STEM-related roles.

Thus, internationals applying to US MBA programs and hoping to work in the US postgraduation have substantially more leeway to do so if their program was STEM-designated. Those hoping to secure H-1B sponsorship and work in the US for longer also have more time to do so.

Universities are anxious to continue enrolling international students, who usually pay higher tuition fees and are thus a crucial source of revenue for many schools. So one school after another has sought STEM designation for its MBA program, simply to keep up with the competition.

Does It Matter for Students Not on a Visa?

If you’re already a permanent resident of the US, should it matter to you whether an MBA program is STEM or not? It certainly matters less, but B-schools do give other reasons, beyond visa concerns, that a STEM degree is attractive:

• Holding a STEM degree can be a powerful signal to potential employers that you have strong quantitative skills.
• In a time of technological upheaval, employers in all fields—not only tech—may seek candidates with significant technical skills and the flexibility to work across disciplines.
• It’s claimed that these advantages increase the earning potential of graduates from STEM MBAs.

These are the talking points B-schools bring up when promoting their STEM MBAs, anyway. The specific claims are hard to verify, and the distinction is undoubtedly more meaningful for internationals.

In any case, since all the top full-time programs are now wholly or partially STEM-designated, it’s something of a moot point.

Do I Need a STEM Background to Qualify?

The short answer: No. 

While some programs are more explicitly STEM-oriented than others, most MBAs are not dramatically more technical than they were previously; they didn’t turn into computer science degrees overnight. 

It’s of course likely you’ll do better on the more STEM-oriented parts of the program if you have the relevant skills, such as statistical literacy. But this is tested on the Quant sections of both the GMAT and the GRE.

Schools are generally happy to let your test scores speak for your ability to handle quantitative course content; they don’t need to require a previous STEM degree or experience in a STEM role.

This is a generalization covering most of the top programs out there. You should always check the requirements of any programs you’re applying to for any more specific prerequisites.

Getting into a STEM MBA Program

The MBA application process is essentially the same whether you’re looking at a STEM-designated program or not. You need a competitive test score, solid recommendations, and the ability to present a compelling story in your essays and interviews.

We’re here to help with all of that. We’ve worked extensively with international as well as US applicants to all the top programs, and we know all the challenges that arise in the admissions process inside out. Consider reaching out to our expert MBA admissions consultants today.