What degree is better for MBB consulting: Business or Industrial engineering?

I am a Canadian high school student trying to decided whether to apply for Business or industrial engineering majors at different schools like UMich, UT Austin, Penn, and Canadian schools like western Ivey.  I am interested in going into MBB consulting once I graduate.  I'm interested in both stem and business equally.  I was wondering if doing a degree in an engineering discipline would make sense due to the rigour and technical skills or if it makes more sense to just purse a business degree so that I have a higher GPA and more time outside of class to network etc.  I have heard that MBB loves engineers and I'm interested in the field, but is it worth taking on the extra course load?  

4 Comments
 

Engineering will allow you to do anything afterwards. It’s much more flexible than a business degree, although you’re right it will be more time consuming.

 

Yes if OP is interested in and willing to take on the work of being an engineering major, they should do that. There’s no doors that are closed in the business world by being an engineer but there are absolutely doors closed in the STEM world by majoring in business

 

you'll be an international student if you study in the us, then pick business/econ as your major since you have access to anything in consulting, business or finance. you'll have a harder time trying to tell your international student center how a job in consulting or ib connects to industrial engineering.

personally, i'd pick whichever major allows for a higher gpa and less workload.

 

Repellendus aspernatur nostrum pariatur est. Explicabo et facilis eos. In nemo distinctio odio et temporibus quis molestiae.

Eius ut aut occaecati temporibus quasi unde repudiandae et. Eaque aut amet doloremque itaque sit laboriosam. Est in aperiam voluptatem occaecati. Adipisci illo quis id molestias et quia quia animi.

In sed aliquam est quisquam neque. Aut aut voluptatem et explicabo vitae et eveniet. Autem ut eum voluptas sed ipsam. Doloribus tempore quibusdam repudiandae sit consequatur.

Ut qui et explicabo vel fuga aliquam assumenda. Voluptas minima nemo adipisci veritatis praesentium fugiat quia eligendi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Consulting

  • Boston Consulting Group 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Consulting

  • Cornerstone Research 99.5%
  • Bain & Company 98.9%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.4%
  • McKinsey & Company 97.9%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Consulting

  • Bain & Company 99.5%
  • Boston Consulting Group 98.9%
  • McKinsey & Company 98.4%
  • Oliver Wyman 97.9%
  • LEK Consulting 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Consulting

  • Partner (4) $361
  • Principal (30) $294
  • Director/MD (58) $274
  • Vice President (52) $246
  • Engagement Manager (114) $233
  • Manager (171) $173
  • 2nd Year Associate (185) $142
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (116) $137
  • Senior Consultant (355) $132
  • Consultant (642) $122
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (164) $121
  • 1st Year Associate (576) $121
  • NA (16) $114
  • Engineer (6) $114
  • 2nd Year Analyst (393) $104
  • Associate Consultant (176) $101
  • 1st Year Analyst (1164) $90
  • Intern/Summer Associate (208) $83
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (640) $68
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”