10 Best MBA in Strategy Degrees

There’s no denying it. The business world is changing faster than we can keep up with it. The skills of strategic leadership and business management are in high demand. 

MBAs are some of the most popular graduate degrees in the United States. 

Featured Programs

Most MBAs take around two years to complete. They are best for candidates early in their careers in business decision making or management consultant work.

But there are also part-time and online MBAs. These are more flexible for individuals who are already at work. 

With a traditional MBA, you’ll be able to take classes in business-related topics. These include:

• communication
• management
• marketing
• business law
• senior strategy
• accounting
• business decision making
• finance

Many programs allow you to pursue a generalized track. Others allow you to pursue a concentration in one or more of these areas. This is a smart choice!

A typical MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree will provide you with the leadership chops you need for effective management. But it is often lacking in a focus on strategy and problem-solving. This in favor of a more holistic degree.

Earn an MBA in strategy. You’ll make up for that deficit. You will take a more cross-disciplinary approach to solving major business problems. You’ll work on case studies, group exercises, and real-world projects. This will give you the experience you need to be successful.

This kind of degree is perfect for a student who is interested in the interplay between management and markets. You can pursue the investment aspects of management. But in the best strategy MBA programs, you’ll also learn about things like:

• corporate policy
• consulting
• global decision making
• strategic decision making
• senior strategy

You’ll graduate from an MBA strategy program at a top business school able to interpret and analyze markets. You can set forth strategic plans to help guide any kind of organization to success.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s take a look at the best MBA program in US with strategy concentrations.

See Also: Best Master’s in Strategy Degrees

What Are the Best MBA in Strategy Degrees?

We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue. You may not know where to start. The editors of Master’s Programs Guide utilize a unique ranking methodology. It is based on the following five aspects:

25% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school

25% Graduation Rate: Number of students who start at the university and actually finish there

20% Earnings Potential: Average mid-career salary of school alumni

20% Selectivity: The number of students who apply versus the number who actually get accepted

10% Online Graduate Offerings: The number of programs offered online in each department

At Master’s Programs Guide, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one. We want to help you reach your goals.

See Also: 10 Best MBA in Entrepreneurship

#1. University of Virginia

MBA with a Concentration in Strategy Consulting

You will find one of the best strategy MBA programs at the University of Virginia. This public research university is in Charlottesville, VA. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson himself. It is home to one of the best business schools in the country.

The Darden School of Business has a top general management MBA program. It earned excellent marks for its integrated core curriculum and patented case study method. This school is ranked number one in the country by Financial Times.

But if you want to bring your training to the next level, you should consider adding a quantitative and analytical focus. You can do this with the management science specialization. This specialization includes 12 credits from a pre-set group of electives. This MBA business strategy is a STEM-designated program. It offers multiple career track MBA concentration options. 

These concentrations include:

• asset management/sales and trading
• entrepreneurship
• marketing
• corporate finance/investment banking
• supply chain management
• strategy consulting

The strategy consulting track will immerse you in the consulting process. It is a strategic MBA that will prepare you with the skills you need to be successful in any role. 

You’ll take courses in theme tracks. These include: 

• innovation for sustainability business analytics
• global business
• corporate innovation
• business development and growth

Some of the courses you’ll take include:

• Global Economies and Markets
• Accounting for Managers
• Operations Management
• Decision Analysis
• Strategic Thinking and Action

You’ll be able to work with other students  in a cohort model. You will challenge each other to learn and to grow in a collaborative setting.

See Also: 20 Best Online MBA in Strategy

#2. New York University

Strategic Management Degree 

Want to gain a leg up on the business world? There’s no better place to do it than in the heart of business and industry itself. That’s why you’ll find a top strategic MBA in the Big Apple. NYU has one of the top business schools in the world.

The full-time MBA in business strategy at New York University is one of the best in the country in regards to its curriculum. It also has the best location.

This business strategy MBA will give you the foundation necessary to become one of the country’s top business leaders. You’ll take courses in subjects like:

• Corporate Governance
• Globalization: A Cross-Functional Perspective
• Strategic Talent Management

The courses are applicable to careers in:

• consulting
• finance
• innovation
• entrepreneurship

Not sold on a strategy specialization? Don’t worry. NYU also offers other specializations. It has one of the largest selections of elective courses among leading business schools. You can choose up to three different specializations for your MBA. Or choose not to specialize at all.

Options include:

• financial instruments and market
• real estate
• marketing
• law and business
• healthcare
• global business
• FinTech

You’ll benefit from a flexible curriculum. There are plenty of opportunities for experiential learning. NYU leverages its one-of-a-kind location to facilitate opportunities for solving real-world business problems. You can participate in experiences like Tech and the City. In this, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in a successful early-stage technology company in NYC. 

#3. University of California-Berkeley

MBA in Strategy and Consulting

The University of California-Berkeley is in Berkeley, CA. It opened in 1868 as the state’s very first land-grant university. It’s the oldest campus in the University of California system. It is also a founding member of the Association of American Universities. Here, you’ll find one of the world’s best business schools.

It’s also home to one of the best MBA program in strategy options. The MBA in strategy and consulting is known for its reputation in producing successful consulting and business leaders. Alumni join top companies like Deloitte, Salesforce, and Google. You will work with industry specialists. They will share their knowledge and expertise with you as you gain experience.

In this strategic management program, you’ll take classes such as:

• Fundamentals of Design Thinking
• Business Model Innovation and Entrepreneurial Strategy
• Future of Information Technology

You can pursue dozens of opportunities for experiential learning. Many of the applied innovation courses at Berkeley involve strategy and consulting. This allows students to partner with organizations both large and small. You can consult on everything from leadership succession planning to shopping bag initiatives for Target.

Sample experiential consulting courses include:

• Cleantech to Market
• Strategic and Sustainable Business Solutions
• Haas@Work

The Haas School of Business prioritizes collaboration. It makes sure that all students have access to peer advisement and mentorship programs. You can conduct research in two related research centers. These include the Fisher Center for Business Analytics and the Garwood Center for Corporate Innovation. 

#4. Indiana University-Bloomington

Strategic Management Consulting—Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) 

Enroll at Indiana University-Bloomington. You’ll be blown away by all your options. 

The Kelley School of Business offers one of the country’s best Master of Business Administration in strategic management consulting degrees.  It’s just one of multiple concentrations. Besides the strategy MBA, there is also:

• strategic analysis of accounting
• supply chain and operations
• marketing
• management
• finance
• business analytics

You will take core classes in subjects like:

• finance
• marketing
• strategic management
• quantitative analysis for business decisions

These classes are offered in an integrated core. This is during an intense 15-week program led by a team of leading faculty at Kelley.

You’ll take around 15 credit hours of required coursework. You can still take around 21 credit hours for electives. Many students choose to pursue a second major, minor, or certificate. You can tailor your curriculum to your specific career goals in your first semester of the program.

You can also pursue an “academy”. Academies at the Kelley School of Business are a bridge between what you are learning in your coursework and how you will apply it in real life. This might be during your internship or post-MBA career.

There are six career-focused academies at Kelley. These are in things like:

• supply chain and digital enterprise
• consulting
• capital markets
• business marketing

You’ll engage in company-based consulting projects and gain leadership opportunities of all kinds. You can participate in nationwide corporate visits. You can network with industry veterans. 

#5. Stanford University

MBA in Strategic Management

Stanford University is most commonly referred to just as that—Stanford University. But did you know that this Stanford, CA-based school is named the Leland Stanford Junior University?

The MBA program at Stanford is in the Graduate School of Business. This MBA in strategy management is one of the most immersive of its kind. You’ll embark on a rigorous overview of business courses. This will build your general management knowledge. It will expose you to global opportunities in strategic management.

You’ll gain insight into what it’s like to be a leader in a major organization. You will also gain practical experience and feedback from leadership coaches and classmates. You’ll be even participate in a global experience. 

This global experience is a unique feature of the Stanford MBA. You will participate in a study abroad program that lasts at least four weeks. It allows you to work on a project for a sponsoring organization. This might be in an industry like:

• energy
• healthcare
• finance
• international development
• technology

You can go just about anywhere, including:

• Greece
• Switzerland
• Ghana
• Singapore

You can tailor your experience in your second year of study. This can be done by enrolling in electives, a joint or dual degree, or taking courses at other Stanford schools. You can also broaden your horizon with seminars.

The second year of study contains almost all electives.  You can broaden your perspectives with topics like:

• operations
• public management
• managerial economics
• information technology.

#6. University of Pennsylvania

Strategic Management, MBA

The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university. It is in Philadelphia, PA. It is older than America itself. Of course, it has one of the best strategic management programs in its business school, too.

The University of Pennsylvania is home to four undergraduate schools and twelve graduate and professional schools. The school offers training programs in:

• public service
• government
• professional disciplines

This is all rooted in a contemporary liberal arts curriculum. 

The Master of Business Administration at the University of Pennsylvania has several concentrations. These are via the Wharton School of Business. In addition to strategic management, students can pursue concentrations in fields like:

• multinational management
• quantitative finance
• insurance and risk management
• healthcare management
• business economics and public policy

Want to expand your education beyond the MBA level? UPenn offers that, too. The school is home to multiple Ph.D. programs and research master’s programs. These are in fields like:

• ethics and legal studies
• accounting
• statistics
• marketing

The strategic management MBA will provide you with the thorough training you need in the logic of competitive advantage. You’ll learn how to design and guide strategy at emerging and established enterprises. You will prepare yourself for roles in consulting firms of all kinds. You must take at least 19 course units for graduation. Major classes include:

• Managing Established Enterprises
• Strategy and Competitive Advantage
• Competitive Strategy and Industrial Structure. 

All of these strategic management classes will be taken within the Wharton School of Business. This is a department that offers some of the best research environments. It has more than 225 faculty members, 20 research centers, and 9,000 executive education participants. It serves as the most comprehensive source of business knowledge in the world. It’s also home to more than 95,000 alumni. They can help MBA students develop their corporate strategy skills and professional network as you set out on your own.

#7. Northwestern University

Full-Time MBA Program – Strategy Major

You will find another top MBA corporate strategy program at a private research university  in Evanston, IL. Northwestern University opened in 1851. It is itself a founding member of the Big Ten Conference.

It’s the only private university in the conference. It is ranked among the top 20 universities in the country. It is among the top thirty in the world! This ranking is by major publications like U.S. News & World Report, Times Higher Education, and Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Curious about the classes you’ll take? There are plenty of opportunities for you to take electives. First, you’ll need to take at least four credits from a list of prescribed classes. These strategic management courses include:

• Technology and Innovation Strategy
• Intellectual Capital Management
• Healthcare Economics. 

Your opportunities to learn will bring you far outside the classroom. You’ll work with leading faculty members, corporate partners, and alumni. You will develop your strategic management skills as you solve critical business issues. This is done in special courses, labs, and projects. 

You will have access to special experiences like:

• the New Venture Course Series
• the Kellogg Board Fellows Program
• the Analytical Consulting Lab
• the Asset Management Lab. 

#8. Duke University

Accelerated Daytime MBA Concentration in Strategy

Duke University is a private research university in Durham, NC. Duke University was founded by Quakers and Methodists. This was in the present-day town of Trinity.

You don’t have to pursue a concentration if you don’t want to. But if you’re interested in a career in strategic management, the accelerated daytime MBA with a concentration in strategy is a smart choice.

Other options for MBA students to pursue include those in:

• decision sciences
• energy and environment
• energy finance
• finance
• entrepreneurship and innovation
• financial analysis and accounting
• FinTech
• management
• leadership and ethics
• marketing
• operations management
• social entrepreneurship

In the strategy concentration, you’ll gain expertise in the ideas and skills you’ll need for a career with leading strategy consulting firms. You can choose to pursue an additional certificate to enhance your career possibilities in strategic management too.

In fact, Duke offers two optional certifications. There is one in finance and one in health sector management. There is also a focus track in management science and technology magnet. This is a STEM-designated program. It prepares you for leadership roles in technology, hatch, consulting, finance and more. 

You’ll be able to customize your degree. This is done with a choice of more than 100 electives. You can broaden your expertise across multiple subjects. Or you can deepen your knowledge within a specific industry. 

Ready to apply to the accelerated MBA at Duke University? You will need to have completed prerequisite undergraduate coursework in subjects like:

• marketing
• strategy
• managerial economics

MBA students will have to submit transcripts for the strategic management degree. You’ll need evidence of professional experience, like a resume. There’s no minimum time requirement for your employment history. 

You will also need to submit GMAT or GRE scores. Also submit several essays, letters of recommendation, and an interview. 

#9. University of Chicago

MBA Strategic Management

The University of Chicago is also known as UChicago or often simply just Chicago. It is a private research university located in Chicago, IL. The school opened in 1890. It is situated in Chicago’s scenic Hyde Park neighborhood. This school is ranked among some of the top universities in the world. The University of Chicago is composed of just one undergraduate college and five graduate research divisions. 

It is within the Booth School of Business that you will find the MBA in strategic management.

This school is the second-oldest business school in the United States. It is associated with more Nobel laureates in the economic sciences than any other business school in the world. It also has one of the largest endowments. MBA and strategic management alumni include many current and former CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

To name a few, Booth strategic management alumni are in charge at:

• Allstate Insurance
• Dominos
• Goldman Sachs
• Morgan Stanley
• IBM

In this strategic management degree, you will take classes on a full or part time basis. Key subjects in the strategy specialization include:

• Competitive strategy and decision making
• Corporate strategy
• Management consultant decision making

To apply to this business school, you’ll need transcripts, GMAT scores, and a resume.

#10. University of Detroit Mercy

MBA in Strategic Management

The 36- credit strategic management MBA degree program in strategic management at the University of Detroit Mercy is one of the best in the country. It accommodates the needs of professionals in a variety of work organizations. It has a small student-to-faculty ratio of just 15:1.

The MBA in strategic management focuses on four major themes:

• global competitiveness
• organization creation and development
• emerging business challenges
• awareness of, and responsibility to, self and others in strategic management

The curriculum of all strategic management programs here are rooted in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions of the school’s religious sponsors. You will have access to a well-rounded education. But you’ll enjoy a curriculum that has a profound emphasis on service and leadership. 

When you choose to attend the University of Detroit Mercy, you can study in a city that is rich in culture and entertainment. There are two dozen Fortune 500 companies nearby. You will have plenty of opportunities for co-op placements and internships. 

The graduate business programs at UDM have excellent ties to the business community in Detroit. There are more than 200 businesses and professional organizations enrolling their employees at UDM. There are strategic management  alumni in leadership roles in more than 60 countries around the globe, too. 

Ready to venture off campus? The school takes pride in its Detroit roots. But there are also opportunities for you to experience the world via strategic management study abroad opportunities in:

• Rome
• Barcelona
• Rio de Janeiro
• Mexico
• China
• Ireland
• England

IF YOU ENJOYED THAT THEN CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLES ON THE TOP 10 REASONS TO EARN YOUR MASTER’S DEGREE & 40 BEST NO-GMAT ONLINE MBA PROGRAMS!