With a strong emphasis on STEM, the Tepper undergraduate business education brings together business, technology, and analytics through a variety of core courses and experiential learning opportunities. Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business landed at an impressive 46th place in this year’s 2023 rankings.
The Tepper School reported a more selective acceptance rate for the Class of 2023, at 8.62% as compared to last year’s 14.26%. The average SAT score bumped up to an impressive 1506 – a nice increase from last year’s average of 1491.
Internship rates were reported at a record high for the B-School, at 98.50% of the Class of 2023 securing a business-focused internship before graduation above the Class of 2020’s 95%. As for employment, 96.16% of the Class of 2023 were employed full-time within three months of graduation as compared to 90.22% for the Class of 2020.
CURRICULUM STRUCTURE
The Tepper curriculum is designed around a central core of courses in business, economics, mathematics, and computing courses. Students can choose from 11 concentrations including accounting, business analytics and technology, entrepreneurship, finance, global economics and business, marketing management, operations management, and strategic management.
Truly a STEM-focused institution, Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business is designed for students who want a business education that covers the in-demand fields of technology and analytics. Among the top-10 programs in this year’s ranking, there is no other option that matches analytics, technology, and engineering like Tepper. For students looking to combine STEM with business, the Tepper School is the place to be.
The first year at the Tepper School is dedicated to giving students a foundation of skills in analysis, communication, and context through courses in economics, quantitative skills development, and the liberal arts. Beginning in Fall 2019, all first-year Tepper students are also required to take a new course, Business Science, that sets the foundation for their Tepper business education.
Surveyed Class of 2018 alumni rated the quality of teaching at Tepper at an 8.8 average score. When asked to rate the opportunities to nurture and improve soft skills in business such as verbal and written communication skills, adaptability, and time management, surveyed alumni gave the Tepper School an 8.3 average score.
MANAGEMENT GAME
One of the cornerstone courses at the Tepper School is called the “Management Game,” a 12-credit capstone course that features an applied strategic management and general management exercise. Through the course, students work in teams to operate computer-simulated companies for three years acting as the executive committee of a multinational manufacturing company. Student teams compete against one another to try to add value to their companies.
“The experience was unique due to the depth of the simulation and broad spectrum of skills used, particularly through coordination amongst team members,” one 2018 alumni told us.
In addition to the teamwork aspect of the course, Management Game is also unique in that students are evaluated primarily by external professionals.
“Each team reports to an external board of directors and must defend their plans and their outcomes to these people who then provide feedback and evaluate the teams’ performance,” according to Tepper’s website. “Each team is asked to engage in externally focused exercises that are relevant to their career choices.”
Examples of exercises in the course include negotiating labor agreements to real union representatives and presenting marketing plans to practicing marketing executives.
“The external feedback and evaluation structure of the course makes the exercise sharply realistic,” according to Tepper’s website. “The highly unstructured nature of the class makes it invaluable for students preparing to enter the job market as skilled leaders.”
Alumni say:
“Incredible diversity of students and staff. Lots of unique backgrounds and experiences that enable a great learning experience.”
“We had the opportunity to run our own company in a class wide business simulation that was something I had never before experienced.”
“The Management Game Simulation showcased real problems faced by executives.”
Where The Class of 2018 Went To Work:
Deloitte – 6
Goldman Sachs – 5
PNC – 5
PwC – 4
Citi – 3
Deutsche Bank – 3
MUFG – 3
Accenture – 2
Capital One – 2
Morgan Stanley – 2
