Ever heard someone claim you need to major in business to get into a top MBA program? Don't buy it. Sure, some people study finance or management before business school, but you'd be surprised how often admissions committees admit engineers, artists, or even folks with degrees in something like philosophy. In fact, one year, Stanford counted over 70 different undergraduate majors in its MBA class—that’s more than most people even think about.

So what does this mean if you’re trying to pick your major or thinking about an MBA someday? First, don’t stress about squeezing yourself into a business mold. MBA programs love diversity, and it’s not just a buzzword. Different backgrounds make for better classroom debates and more creative business solutions. Your undergrad major is just one piece of the puzzle, and it’s rarely a dealbreaker.

• Does Your Undergrad Major Really Matter?
• Popular Majors and Surprising Backgrounds
• What Admissions Teams Actually Look For
• Tips to Stand Out with Any Major

Does Your Undergrad Major Really Matter?

People stress about what they study in college, but when it comes to getting into an MBA program, your undergrad major isn’t the golden ticket everyone thinks it is. Actually, a lot of business schools love to see applications from all sorts of backgrounds. Sure, some folks come in with a business degree, but you’ll see just as many engineers, teachers, psych majors, even theater and philosophy grads in the mix. The main thing schools are looking for? How you use what you’ve learned, not just what your degree says.

Take Harvard Business School. In 2024, about 44% of their incoming class had a STEM or economics background, but nearly one-third had humanities or social sciences degrees. Wharton’s numbers look similar. The point is, it’s a wide mix, and no one path dominates. Look at this quick breakdown from a top-10 business school:

If you’re thinking, “But won’t not having a business major hurt my odds?”—don’t worry. Schools want people who bring a lot of perspectives, and life experience can matter just as much as a transcript stacked with finance classes. The trick is showing you’ve got the drive, communication skills, and problem-solving mindset they want. Your odds are good, no matter your major, as long as you can highlight those qualities.

The real game-changer is what you do outside the classroom. Clubs, jobs, internships, volunteer gigs, or even side hustles can help you stand out in MBA programs applications. So, if your major feels unrelated, double down on other experiences that prove you mean business—literally.

Popular Majors and Surprising Backgrounds

If you peeked into an MBA classroom, you might think most people have a background in business. That’s true—sort of. Business, economics, and engineering lead the pack as the most common degrees among MBA candidates. A 2024 GMAC report showed that 33% of MBA students did their undergrad in business and another 25% came from engineering.

But here’s the kicker: plenty of MBA students started out in totally different fields. Art history, biology, political science, even music—these are all legit examples from top business schools. Harvard, for example, regularly accepts students who studied English, history, or even theater arts. The takeaway? You don’t need to fit the “typical business student” mold to get in.

Why do schools love this variety? Different majors bring different thinking styles. Engineers might tackle a problem logically, while history majors dig into context and big-picture trends. Admissions officers know diversity in undergrad majors sparks better discussions and leads to stronger teams.

If you’re looking at your transcript and thinking your major isn’t "businessy" enough—don’t sweat it. Real passion, leadership, and problem-solving can stand out just as much as a finance degree. In fact, having a background that’s “unusual” for an MBA can sometimes make your MBA application even more memorable.

What Admissions Teams Actually Look For

It's easy to assume that best major for MBA decisions hinge on the name of your degree. But that's far from the truth. What really matters? Business schools look at the bigger picture—your academic chops, your impact, and what you'll bring to the class.

Here's what actually gets attention during MBA admissions:

• GPA & Academic Rigor: Your grades count, but so does the challenge level of your program. Engineering and science majors, for example, are sometimes given a bit of leeway if their GPA isn't perfect, because schools know those majors are tough.
• Leadership Experience: Leading a student club, work projects, or even something non-traditional like launching a podcast for a hobby—all of that shows you know how to drive things forward.
• Work Experience: Most top MBA programs expect at least two years of full-time work. It's less about the type of job and more about your impact, responsibility, and ability to work in a team.
• Clear Career Goals: You need to tell a strong story about why you want the MBA and what you plan to do with it. Wishy-washy answers hold people back.
• Diversity of Perspective: Programs want people who see the world differently. That's why you'll find folks with arts, sciences, or even music backgrounds in these classes—not just business majors.

If you want proof, here's a look at what Harvard Business School's 2023 incoming class looked like (rounded numbers):

So there’s no single "correct" undergraduate major for getting into a great MBA program. The real trick is owning your story and showing what makes you different. If you’re into numbers, go for a finance or engineering degree. If you love people, psychology or sociology can work. Even my cat Felix thinks outside the box compared to most applicants (okay, maybe not quite—but you get the picture). Your impact and passion mean more than your major title ever will.

Tips to Stand Out with Any Major

You don’t need a finance or economics degree to impress MBA admissions committees. Here’s the deal: they want to see what you did with your time, not just what you studied. More than 40% of Harvard’s MBA class, for example, come from non-business majors. So, how do you catch their eye no matter your background?

• Show leadership and initiative: Did you run a club, start a project at work, or volunteer for something big? Admissions love real examples where you stepped up or solved a problem, no matter your major.
• Ace your quant skills: If your major isn’t math-heavy, prove you can handle numbers. Take a few stats or accounting classes online. Scoring high on the GMAT or GRE’s quant section helps too.
• Connect your story to business: Maybe your undergrad was in education or the arts—explain how those lessons shaped your perspective and why you want to build on them with an mba program.
• Get solid work experience: Three to five years of full-time experience in any field is gold. Projects where you managed budgets, people, or new ideas show you’re ready for grad school.
• Nail your application essays: Admissions committees remember stories, not generic statements. Let them see your personality and your drive to make an impact.

Business schools like business school names (Stanford, Wharton, Kellogg) all say they love undergraduate major diversity. Why? MBA programs want groups with a mix of perspectives so class discussions aren’t boring or one-sided.

Check out this snapshot from a recent MBA class:

This mix shows there’s no single “best” best major for MBA—your goal is to stand out by connecting your unique experience to what makes you tick as a leader. Show that, and you’re halfway there.