Technology: Top 10 MBA (2024-25)

Technology hiring was the biggest casualty once AI entered the mainstream. This was a drastic shift from the huge uptick in demand during the pandemic when there was a massive push for digitization. The extreme swings in recruitment had a few casualties.

In this analysis of Top MBA programs with strong technology placements, we cover technology recruitment patterns from: 

1.    The Bay Area
2.    Europe and the UK
3.    Midwest
4.    Boston – The MIT effect

The Bay Area 

UC Berkeley Haas - Close to a Quarter in Technology

At the forefront is UC Berkeley Haas, which leads with a 24% technology hiring rate. Located in the heart of the Bay Area, Haas benefits immensely from its proximity to major technology giants like Google, Meta, and Salesforce. Its curriculum strongly emphasizes innovation, entrepreneurship, and product management, and the school’s integration with Silicon Valley ecosystems has translated into a competitive median base salary of $150,000 and a $30,000 signing bonus.

UCLA Anderson - Another Quarter Class in Technology

Closely following is UCLA Anderson, with a 23.4% hiring rate. Situated in Los Angeles, Anderson leverages its ties with West Coast tech firms and its Technology Management specialization to place students into both large tech companies and startups. Graduates reported a median base salary of $142,000, with signing bonuses averaging $30,000, suggesting robust demand for Anderson MBAs in roles like strategy, operations, and product.

Stanford - Not Quarter of the Class But the Best Salary

Despite placing a slightly lower percentage (22%) of its class into tech, Stanford GSB boasts the highest reported median base salary at $185,000. Its relatively modest average signing bonus of $17,500 may reflect a compensation structure more oriented toward equity. The school’s close connection with venture capital firms, early-stage startups, and mature tech players, combined with a highly selective student body, positions its graduates for high-impact, often entrepreneurial roles within the sector.

California – The spillover effect

USC Marshall also posted a 19% placement into tech, aided by its Southern California location and its focus on commercialization and digital innovation. The reported median salary of $142,300 suggests competitive hiring, although signing bonus data was not available. Marshall’s growing connections with media-tech and entertainment-tech sectors in LA add an additional layer of industry access.

Europe and the UK 

London Business School (LBS) secured a 21% tech hiring rate, highlighting its growing appeal to European and global tech recruiters. With a median salary of $136,339, the absence of reported signing bonus data may reflect regional compensation norms. LBS benefits from partnerships with firms like Amazon, SAP, and Google across Europe and its strong digital innovation curriculum, which is particularly appealing to international tech recruiters.

At HEC Paris, also with a 16% hiring rate, compensation differs markedly due to regional differences in pay structures. The median base salary is $93,513, but the average signing bonus is notably high at $30,448. HEC’s Digital Innovation track and strong ties to European tech recruiters, including Amazon and Google, support steady placements, especially across Paris, Berlin, and Dublin tech hubs.

Midwest

Product Management Stronghold

At Kellogg School of Management, 20% of graduates entered the tech sector, supported by one of the most structured programs in design and product management, especially the MMM dual degree. The median base salary reached $157,000, and the average signing bonus was among the highest at $42,150, indicating placement into leadership-oriented, high-paying roles. Kellogg’s experiential learning programs, such as Nuvention and Zell Fellows, provide real-world tech exposure, enhancing student readiness for the sector.

Ross and the IMPACT of Action-Based Learning

Finally, Michigan Ross placed 15.1% of its class into tech, with a median base salary of $157,205 and a $30,000 signing bonus. Ross’s MAP program and its strong offerings in analytics and technology strategy enable graduates to transition into competitive product, operations, and analytics roles across the U.S. tech landscape.

Boston – The MIT effect

Legacy of MIT

MIT Sloan, sharing the 19% hiring rate, stands out with a significantly higher median salary of $161,375. Known for its data and product-heavy curriculum and its synergy with MIT’s engineering departments, Sloan graduates often enter technical or hybrid business-technical roles. Though signing bonus figures weren't reported, many graduates receive equity-based compensation, particularly in AI, fintech, and enterprise software firms.

Harvard, Technology and Leadership Roles

Harvard Business School had a 16% placement into tech, with a robust median salary of $165,000. While bonus data is not listed, many HBS grads pivot to senior roles in established firms or opt for VC-backed ventures, where total compensation may include equity and long-term incentives. Harvard’s general management focus and powerful alumni network often result in students entering roles with long-term strategic influence.

Overall, U.S.-based business schools dominate in terms of compensation, largely due to proximity to major tech hubs, integration with engineering and entrepreneurship ecosystems, and robust curricular offerings.