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Quick Answer
Some of the most popular dual degree MBA programs pair an MBA with law (JD/MBA), medicine (MD/MBA), public policy (MBA/MPP), engineering (MBA/MS), and international relations (MBA/MA). Top business schools, including Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, and Yale, offer these programs, allowing students to combine management expertise with specialized training.
Keep reading for a breakdown of the most popular dual degree MBA programs, their benefits, and how to decide which is right for you.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- What Is a Dual Degree MBA Program?
- Why Pursue a Dual Degree MBA?
- Most Popular Dual Degree MBA Program Options
- Top Business Schools Offering Dual Degree MBAs
- Pros and Cons of Dual Degree MBA Programs
- How to Decide if a Dual Degree MBA Is Right for You
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
What Is a Dual Degree MBA Program?
Dual degree MBA programs (also known as MBA joint degree programs or MBA joint programs) enable candidates to earn an MBA alongside another graduate degree. Typically, the second degree is a JD, MD, MPP/MPA, MS, or MA, and the program is coordinated and more time-efficient than earning the degrees separately.
KEY FACT:
Dual MBA programs enable candidates to earn 2 degrees together in less time than they’d require on their own.
Why Pursue a Dual Degree MBA?
Candidates pursue MBA dual degree options for a variety of reasons, including:
- Career versatility — Combining a business foundation with legal, clinical, policy, technical, or global expertise can help candidates qualify for cross-functional roles across numerous industries. For example, these roles may include corporate strategy in healthcare, ESG/impact investing, or education innovation.
- Leadership impact — Diverse knowledge and skillsets prepare candidates to bridge functions and assume leadership roles. For instance, a candidate with technical engineering knowledge and business experience may be equipped to lead a department within a tech company.
- Time and cost efficiency — Many dual degree programs can be completed in less time than the degrees could be completed independently. Therefore, the dual degree program offers savings on tuition and opportunity costs.
- Network depth — Candidates in dual degree programs can access 2 powerful alumni networks across programs and collaborate with faculty across disciplines.
- Credibility — Dual degree credentials signal fluency in business and another functional area or industry, such as law, medicine, or engineering.
KEY FACT:
There are a variety of benefits to joining dual degree programs, including bolstering one’s leadership impact, network, and professional credibility.
Most Popular Dual Degree MBA Program Options
Here are some of the most popular MBA dual degrees and how they help candidates.
JD/MBA (Law)
- What it is: a combined Juris Doctor + MBA for careers that combine business and law, including corporate counsel, M&A, PE operating roles, and entrepreneurship
- Typical duration: generally, 3–4 years, depending on the program. For example, Harvard’s JD/MBA program is 4 years, whereas Wharton/Penn Carey’s JD/MBA is an accelerated 3-year path.
- Schools: Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, Yale, and others
- Careers: corporate law, venture capital, private equity, public policy and regulatory affairs, entrepreneurship, and more
KEY FACT:
JD/MBA programs typically take 3–4 years to complete, depending on the school.
MD/MBA (Medicine)
- What it is: a combined Doctor of Medicine + MBA for physician-leaders in hospitals, health systems, medtech/biotech, payer/providers, healthtech, and healthcare entrepreneurship
- Typical duration: generally, 5 years. However, this varies across programs.
- Schools: Kellogg, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Yale, University of Michigan, and others
- Careers: clinical leadership, operations and strategy in healthcare, product management in healthtech, new venture creation in medicine, biotech, or healthtech
KEY FACT:
The MD/MBA is designed for physician-leaders working across healthcare delivery, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
MBA/MPP or MBA/MPA
- What it is: a combined MBA + Master of Public Policy/Administration, preparing leaders for roles at the intersection of business and government, such as public-private partnerships, sustainability/ESG, impact investing, and economic development
- Typical duration: generally, 3 years, depending on the program
- Schools: Stanford, Wharton, Harvard, and others
- Careers: policy strategy, government innovation, social enterprise leadership, global development finance
KEY FACT:
MBA/MPP and MBA/MPA programs prepare leaders for roles at the intersection of business and government.
MBA/MS (Engineering or STEM)
- What it is: a combined MBA + MS (often in engineering, data science, or computer science) to blend management and technical depth for product, operations, or growth leadership in tech or related roles
- Typical duration: generally, 2–3 years, depending on the program
- Schools: Yale, Stanford, MIT, INSEAD, UC Berkeley, CMU, and others
- Careers: product management, tech strategy, data/AI commercialization
KEY FACT:
MBA/MS programs blend management training with technical depth in fields such as engineering or data science.
MBA/MA (International Relations or Education)
- What it is: a combined MBA + MA that pairs business with international relations or leadership in education
- Typical duration: generally, 2-3 years, depending on the program
- Schools: Wharton-Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Columbia, Harvard, and others
- Careers: Edtech, higher education administration, international business and policy, global NGOs
KEY FACT:
MBA/MA programs pair business education with leadership training in international relations or education.
Comparison table of Most Popular Dual Degree MBA Programs
| Dual Degree Program | Typical Length (Years) | Top Schools with Dual Degree | Ideal Career Paths |
|---|---|---|---|
| JD/MBA (Law) | 3–4 | Harvard, Wharton/Penn Carey, Stanford, Kellogg, and Yale | corporate M&A, private equity, venture capital, entrepreneurship |
| MD/MBA (Medicine) | ~5 (it varies) | Kellogg, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Yale, University of Michigan | physician leadership, hospital/health system operations, healthtech, biotech strategy |
| MBA/MPP or MBA/MPA | ~3 | Stanford, Wharton, Harvard | public-private strategy, ESG/impact, policy innovation |
| MBA/MS (Engineering/STEM) | 2–3 | Yale, Stanford, MIT, INSEAD, UC Berkeley, CMU | product and tech leadership, data/AI commercialization |
| MBA/MA (IR or Education) | 2–3 | Wharton-Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Columbia, Harvard | international business/policy, NGOs, education leadership, edtech |
KEY FACT:
Exact timelines and program formats will vary by school. So, always verify details on official program websites.
Top Business Schools Offering Dual Degree MBAs
The following schools offer some of the best dual master’s degree programs that include an MBA:
- Harvard Business School (HBS): offers a 4-year JD/MBA in conjunction with Harvard Law School
- The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania): has a portfolio of strong dual degree programs, including the three-year Carey JD/MBA program, the MBA/MA with Johns Hopkins SAIS, and options across engineering and healthcare
- Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB): offers multiple joint & dual degrees (such as MBA/MPP programs or an MA Education/MBA). Additionally, about 20% of MBA students pursue a joint/dual degree path.
- Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern): has a well-known JD-MBA program, plus an MD-MBA joint degree program.
- Yale School of Management (SOM): features an extensive joint-degree ecosystem across the university (spanning environment, global affairs, and public health, for example). Additionally, Yale has a new engineering + MBA offering.
These are just some of the top dual degree MBA schools that enable candidates to complete more than 1 degree in a shortened period of time.
The schools above are a great starting point for research on dual degree MBA programs. However, they are incredibly competitive from an admissions perspective. So, we recommend that most candidates include some options beyond this short list.
TTP PRO TIP:
Consider schools beyond the most competitive programs when researching dual degree options.
Pros and Cons of Dual Degree MBA Programs
Here are some of the pros and cons of dual degree MBAs:
Pros:
- Candidates build a differentiated profile for competitive careers and industries, such as private equity, venture capital, healthtech, policy, climate, and edtech roles.
- Accelerated completion time (versus 2 standalone degrees) helps candidates save time and money.
- Dual degree candidates get access to expanded networks and career optionality across 2 functions.
Cons:
- Higher workload and scheduling complexity across 2 programs can add challenges to the academic experience.
- Tuition and opportunity costs are still significant, even with the “time savings” across dual degree programs.
- Admissions processes are more complex. For example, some programs require separate applications across different timelines. However, some programs integrate the applications and processes.
These are just some of the pros and cons of pursuing dual degree programs. However, we recommend that candidates develop their own lists of pros and cons based on their educational and career objectives.
TTP PRO TIP:
Take into account dual degree MBA career outcomes as you weigh the pros and cons.
How to Decide if a Dual Degree MBA Is Right for You
Does a dual degree MBA program make sense for you and your goals? If you’re not sure, ask yourself the following questions:
- Career clarity: Do your target roles require deep domain knowledge, combined with an MBA? For example, are you pursuing hospital COO roles, do you want to be a policy and strategy director, or are you seeking general counsel or head of legal operations roles?
- Time vs. ROI: Would an integrated timeline (for instance, 3–4 years for JD/MBA, about 3 years for MPP/MBA, or 2–3 years for MBA/MS) accelerate your goals?
- Admissions requirements: Do you meet the requirements for both programs (across standardized tests, undergraduate prerequisites, work experience, and more)?
- Financial plan: Have you determined how you’ll finance your education, and have you explored scholarships, loans, and employer sponsorships?
- Curriculum and experience: How will you leverage certain facets of the curriculum, labs, practicums, and internships across the joint degree program?
These are just a few of the considerations that will drive your decision-making. Therefore, you must determine which are the most important to you and weigh your options accordingly.
TTP PRO TIP:
Your target career path will help you determine whether the additional domain knowledge of a dual degree is necessary.
Key Takeaways
Dual degree MBA programs can offer a wealth of opportunities, especially if your career goals require business acumen and deep domain expertise. Additionally, the most popular MBA dual degrees — JD/MBA, MD/MBA, MBA/MPP/MPA, MBA/MS, and MBA/MA — are available at some of the best universities in the world.
Evaluate the pros and cons of dual degree MBA programs and quantify the ROI. Then, determine whether the investment makes sense for your career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the most popular dual degree MBA programs?
The most popular dual degree MBA programs include JD/MBA, MD/MBA, MBA/MPP or MBA/MPA, MBA/MS, and MBA/MA. Further, these joint degrees are offered at leading universities, like Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, and Yale.
Do dual degree MBA programs take longer to complete?
Generally, yes. Specifically, dual degree MBA programs take longer to complete than a standalone MBA. However, the time to complete the degrees is often shorter than the time needed to complete them separately. For example, the Wharton/Penn Carey JD/MBA program compresses the timeline to 3 years.
Which schools have the best JD/MBA programs?
“Best” is subjective and may depend on your fit and career goals. However, the best JD/MBA programs in the U.S. generally include Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, and Yale, which have renowned programs. To determine the best options for your goals, review the curricula and recruiting outcomes for your target programs.
Is an MD/MBA worth it?
It depends on your goals. Specifically, if you are seeking physician-leadership roles or targeting healthcare operations, healthtech, or entrepreneurial goals, the MD/MBA programs could be useful. So, determine what your career objectives are first. Then, evaluate your clinical training needs, residency requirements, and timing, and the expected ROI of the dual degree program.
Do I need to apply separately to each program?
Often, yes. Many JD/MBA and other dual degree MBA programs require separate applications and admission. However, some programs integrate the process with a single application. Therefore, we recommend that you research each dual degree MBA program in depth.
How competitive are dual degree MBA programs?
Dual degree MBA admissions is competitive. Sometimes, the admissions process is even more competitive than pursuing a standalone or MBA degree. Therefore, candidates must demonstrate that they have clear career goals, strong academic performance, and competitive test scores.
What’s Next?
The dual degree MBA application process requires significant planning. However, our MBA admissions consultants are well-versed across the options and can help organize and shepherd your process.
If you’d like to learn how we can work together, book a free consultation today.
