Most MBA students say technology skills should be central to their business education. Far fewer believe their programs are doing a good job teaching them.
That disconnect shows up in a new national survey conducted on behalf of Arkansas State University, which asked 181 MBA students across the U.S. how well their programs are keeping up with rapid changes in technology.
Ninety two percent of respondents said automation, data strategy, and digital technology should be integrated into the core MBA curriculum. Seventy eight percent said AI literacy should be a required graduation skill rather than an elective.
Only 41% said their program teaches emerging skills “very well.”
HOW STUDENTS SEE THEIR PROGRAMS
Asked to describe their MBA programs overall, just 35% of students called them innovative. Forty percent described their programs as traditional, while more than 10% said their curriculum felt outdated.
That view is reflected in the courses students say they want but are not getting. When asked what single course they would add if they could, 42% chose AI ethics and governance, making it the most commonly requested addition.
SKILLS MATTER MORE THAN PRESTIGE
Technology preparation also appears to weigh heavily in how students evaluate MBA programs. Eighty two percent said they are more likely to choose a program that prepares them for a tech-driven economy.
When forced to choose between skills-based training and academic prestige, 56% said they would prioritize skills. Only 9% said prestige mattered more, while 35% said they wanted a balance of both.
Students also indicated a willingness to pay more for that focus. On average, respondents said they would accept tuition that was 18% higher in exchange for programs that emphasize technology and leadership training.
See the full survey results here.
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