Professionals across industries are working through rapid shifts driven by automation, artificial intelligence and widespread digital innovation. These changes continue to influence how business leaders prepare for long-term career growth, especially as organizations seek managers who can guide data-informed decision-making. A questionnaire conducted on behalf of Arkansas State University surveyed 181 MBA students nationwide to understand how learners view the modern MBA and the skills they expect programs to emphasize.
The goal of this questionnaire was to better understand how technological disruption is reshaping the future of business education. The findings highlighted the skills students valued most, the gaps they perceived in their current curriculum and the factors that influenced how they evaluated MBA program quality. These insights point to a growing demand for programs that integrate advanced technology skills with applied leadership development.
Key Takeaways
- 92% of MBA students want automation, data strategy and digital technology integrated into the core curriculum, and 78% say AI literacy should be a required graduation skill.
- 56% of MBA students say automation and AI integration is the most essential skill for today’s workforce, tied with data literacy and analytics at 56%.
- Only 41% of MBA students feel their program covers emerging skills very well, with the majority describing the coverage as only partial or limited.
- 21% of MBA students say their coursework has not included direct instruction in using AI or data tools.
- 82% of MBA students say they would be more likely to choose or recommend a program that clearly prepares graduates for a tech-driven economy.
- MBA students are willing to pay an average of 18% more in tuition for programs that offer up-to-date training in technology and leadership.
Which Emerging Skills Should Define the Modern MBA?
Many students recognize that today’s business landscape requires fluency in advanced technologies. They also view the integration of these tools as essential for strengthening their leadership potential. There’s a strong expectation that the modern MBA should prepare graduates to leverage automation, AI and data tools in practical and strategic ways.
Ninety-two percent of MBA students wanted automation, data strategy and digital technology integrated into their core curriculum. This emphasis reflected a belief that technical awareness is now foundational for business leadership rather than an optional specialization. Students viewed these skills as central to operating in environments shaped by digital transformation.
Seventy-eight percent said AI literacy should be a required graduation skill, underscoring their expectation that future leaders must understand how to use and manage emerging technologies. Many also highlighted the need to connect these skills to organizational strategy. Students ranked automation and AI integration, along with data literacy and analytics, as the most essential skills for today’s workforce at 56% each.
Only 41% of MBA students felt their program covered emerging skills very well. Most described the coverage as partial or limited, suggesting that many learners were seeking deeper, more applied instruction related to technological change.
The Gap Between MBA Curriculum and Workforce Realities
Students have mixed opinions about how closely their coursework aligned with the demands of a rapidly evolving business environment. While some experienced innovative instruction, others encountered more traditional program structures that did not consistently address the tools shaping modern business practice.
Forty percent described their MBA program as traditional, while 35% said it was innovative. More than one in 10 MBA students thought their program was lagging or outdated, and 21% reported that their coursework did not include direct instruction in using AI or data tools. Only 25% strongly agreed that their professors were knowledgeable about emerging technologies, and 11% disagreed, indicating uneven levels of confidence in faculty readiness to teach the technical skills students now consider essential.
The Skills That Influence Where Students Enroll
Students often weigh their MBA options by focusing on the practical outcomes a program could offer in a rapidly changing economy. Their decisions reflect a clear preference for programs that align closely with current workforce needs, especially in technology and leadership.
Eighty-two percent of MBA students said they would be more likely to choose or recommend a program that clearly prepares graduates for a tech-driven economy. Students were also willing to invest more in programs that kept pace with evolving workforce expectations. They indicated they would pay an average of 18% more in tuition for programs that offered up-to-date training in technology and leadership.
Preparing the Next Generation of Business Leaders
The study revealed that MBA students place significant importance on programs that keep pace with technological change and are aligned closely with workforce expectations. Participants emphasized the need for stronger instruction in AI, automation and data literacy, along with leadership training that supports strategic decision-making.
Programs integrating emerging technologies with applied management education may offer stronger long-term value for learners. As business environments continue to evolve, students will look for degrees that equip them to lead with confidence in a tech-driven economy.
Methodology
A questionnaire was administered to 181 MBA students nationwide on behalf of Arkansas State University to explore how MBA students view the modern MBA. This was a national questionnaire and not focused on A-State MBA students. Data was collected in November 2025. This is a non-scientific, exploratory study and is not intended to represent all MBA students.
About Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University offers flexible online programs designed to help working adults advance their careers while balancing personal and professional commitments. The programs provide rigorous coursework grounded in practical application, including A-State’s online MBA – General program. This program supports learners who want to strengthen leadership skills and understand how technology continues to transform business operations. Students gain the knowledge needed to thrive in changing organizational environments. In addition to the General MBA program, students can specialize by enrolling in one of A-State’s eight other online MBA programs.
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