Pursuing an MBA in Engineering Management: Where Tech Skills and Business Savvy Intersect

There are a handful of MBA in engineering management programs available; the majority of them are standard MBA programs with a dedicated engineering management track or concentration. Some are dual-degree programs, allowing you to graduate with both an MBA and an engineering or engineering management degree in a consolidated timeframe.

Engineering management is a field that blends engineering know-how with business and leadership skills to help lead teams, solve problems, and manage projects effectively.

Successful engineering managers are fluent in the language of their team and able to translate insights to stakeholders to help their organization meet its goals.

In-demand engineering management skills often include project management, leadership, communication, strategic thinking, technical skills specific to the organization’s tech stack and architecture, and a fluency in software and product development.

A professional with an MBA and a technical background can find fulfilling leadership roles across many industries, such as manufacturing, construction, health care, tech, finance, and more. The business world needs more managers who are fluent in highly technical and product-based language to help bridge the gap between leadership and individual contributors.

While businesses will benefit from your unique management skills, you will also have the potential to earn more money as you advance your career in virtually any industry you’re interested in — and with an MBA, you can work your way up to the C-suite. 

There’s a large demand for leaders in engineering management across industries because companies need professionals with technical problem solving and leadership skills. Some job titles that graduates of engineering management programs may hold include:

• Engineering manager

• Director of engineering

• Chief engineer

• Principal engineer

• IT manager

• Engineering program manager

• Vice president of engineering

• Program manager

• Vice president of operations

• Architectural manager

• Operations manager

• Product development manager

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for architectural and engineering managers will grow 2% faster than average between 2023–2033,¹ while the job outlook for computer and information systems managers will grow 13% (four times!) more than average during the same timeframe.²

When choosing between a master’s degree and an MBA in engineering management, it's important to understand the differences in focus, duration, and career impact.

While both types of degrees prepare individuals for careers at the intersection of tech and leadership, they vary in duration, application requirements, and breadth of subjects covered. An MBA is a universally recognized, generalist designation that indicates your preparedness to think holistically about business beyond a specialization.

Having an MBA can go a long way when it comes to ROI. The Graduate Management Admission Council 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey found that MBA graduates (regardless of concentration or specialization) had the highest median earning potential among all business school graduates in the United States. The estimated median starting salary of someone with an MBA was $120,000 in 2024.³

According to U.S. News & World Report, the median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers was $165,370 in May 2023,¹ while the median annual wage for computer and information systems managers was $169,510 per year.²

There are several factors you should take into consideration when choosing an MBA program in engineering management. These are some of them:

• Accreditation: MBA programs are highly regulated due to their rigorous nature and importance to the global future of business. There are three primary accrediting bodies: The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACEBE), and Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Choosing a program that’s accredited by one of these organizations will ensure you receive a high quality education, as well as recognition from other schools, employers, and your future network.
  

• Curriculum: To best prepare you for success in engineering management, you’ll want to look for a diverse curriculum that combines core business administration courses (like supply chain management and business analytics) and engineering-focused subjects (like systems engineering and project management). A truly interdisciplinary course load will prepare you for all kinds of leadership challenges in the future.
  

• Network and Reputation: Many B-schools come with a powerful network that you can use to your advantage throughout your career. The best alumni community is the one that inspires and supports you, not necessarily the one affiliated with the most expensive or highest ranked school.
  

• Capstone or Thesis Options: Many MBA programs culminate with a capstone, thesis, and/or internship. Make sure to vet those requirements, especially if you can weave your current or existing work experience into it.

Once you’ve made the decision to pursue graduate education in engineering management, you’ll want to consider what that program looks like for you: Will it be online, in-person, or a hybrid of both?

Online

Many MBA programs are now offered online, which offers professionals the ability to continue working while studying and learning in the evenings and on weekends. 

Online MBA programs are technically “part time,” but they are a lot of work, especially when factoring in a full-time job. They are typically a combination of scheduled synchronous learning (live classes in a virtual meeting room) and asynchronous learning (recorded lectures, assigned readings, homework assignments). Some programs are completely self-guided, asynchronous programs that trust the student to do all the work on their own schedules and stay accountable to meet program deadlines.

Because it may be a little harder to build camaraderie and networks with an online cohort, many programs offer in-person immersions over several days so students can learn and socialize with one another.

In-person

Campus-based programs can be taken on a full- or part-time basis. Some students may prefer to learn in a traditional setting and enjoy the face-to-face interaction that comes with it. Students can also take advantage of campus resources and facilities, as well as more networking opportunities. 

Hybrid

Some schools offer programs that are a mixture of in-person and online learning, which, if your schedule allows for it, could offer both flexibility and networking.

Tuition

MBA in Engineering Management programs are not yet plentiful, but demand is only growing. Of the programs listed in this article, we were able to compile based tuition info. All figures are based on out-of-state tuition rates and do not include additional student fees or living expenses.

• $12,474 is the lowest-cost MBA in engineering management and is at Henderson State University.

• $56,259 is the average cost of an MBA in engineering management across the six programs that offer a variation of an MBA with a concentration and/or dual degree.

• $190,588 is the highest cost program and is at Columbia University — this does include two degrees: an MBA and an MS in Engineering Management.