Northwestern Kellogg
Executive Summary
Northwestern Kellogg ranks #1 in Poets & Quants 2024-2025 and #3 (tied) in U.S. News 2025 MBA rankings. The school launched its joint MBAi Program in 2020, introduced five discipline-specific AI Foundations courses in Fall 2025, and maintains a comprehensive AI & Analytics Pathway with 20+ courses. Four major research centers focus on AI applications ($50M in recent funding). Notable features include cross-school curriculum integration with McCormick Engineering and multi-departmental AI foundations approach.
1. AI Integration into MBA Curriculum
MBAi Program (Joint Kellogg-McCormick Degree)
Joint MBA with McCormick School of Engineering launched 2020. 5 quarters (September to March), STEM-designated. Combines machine learning, computational thinking, fintech, and data science with industry capstone.
AI Foundations for Managers (Launched Fall 2025)
5-week foundational course series available in five discipline-specific versions: Management & Organizations (AIML 901MO-5), Marketing (AIML 901MK-5), Operations (AIML 901OP-5), Strategy (AIML 901ST-5), and Finance (AIML 901F-5).
AI and Analytics Pathway
20+ courses organized into three tiers. Faculty Sponsors: Florian Zettelmeyer, Brian Uzzi, Eric Anderson.
AI Electives
- Business Analytics I & II (DECS 430-5, DECS 431) — Foundational analytics courses.
- Marketing Research and Analytics (MKTG 450) — Data-driven marketing research.
- Analytics for Strategy (STRT 469) — Strategic decision-making with analytics.
- Customer Analytics and AI (MKTG 482) — AI applications in customer analysis.
- Human and Machine Intelligence (AIML 950-5) — Human-AI collaboration.
- Data Science with Generative AI (AIML 451) — Generative AI applications for data science.
- Decision Models & Prescriptive Analytics (OPNS 450) — Optimization and prescriptive modeling.
- Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work (AIML 944) — AI's impact on labor and organizations.
- Analytical and AI Consulting Lab (MECN 615) — Apply AI skills to live business problems.
2. Career Placement
MBAi Class of 2024:
- Median total compensation: $221,000
- 56% accepted tech product management roles
- 100% offer rate
Overall MBA Tech Placement (Class of 2024):
- 20% of graduates to tech industry
- Tech median base salary: $175,000
- Top employers: Amazon, Google, Meta, Apple, McKinsey, BCG
The MBAi program shows strong outcomes with graduates joining Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, McKinsey, Shopify, Workday, and C3 AI. Tech hiring trends reflect high demand for technical product managers and AI-capable leaders.
3. Centers and Labs
| Center | Focus | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Human-AI Collaboration Lab | Designs AI systems and large-scale experiments evaluating AI for augmenting human problem-solving; research in management, medicine, misinformation, empathic communication | |
| Ad-Tech Research Lab (AdTLab) | Digital advertising measurement, attribution, personalization, privacy using AI/ML, causal inference, empirical industrial organization | |
| Northwestern Innovation Institute | Innovation intelligence using big data and AI; TechBridge data collaboration platform aggregating research, patents, grants, publications for advanced analytics | 2025 ($25M) |
| Ryan Institute on Complexity | Applies complexity sciences and AI to business, markets, societal issues using big data; first research institute applying complexity sciences to business | 2023 ($25M) |
4. Key Faculty in AI/ML
| Faculty | Primary Focus | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Groh | Human-AI collaboration, deepfake detection, medical diagnosis AI, empathic communication | Director, Human-AI Collaboration Lab; Former MIT Media Lab; 3,075+ citations |
| Brian Uzzi | Social networks, AI in mind+machine partnerships, complexity sciences | Co-Director Ryan Institute; Co-Director NICO; Network Science Society Fellow; 30+ global awards |
| Dashun Wang | Science of Science, AI in scientific discovery, big data analytics | Co-Director Ryan Institute; Director CSSI & NI Institute; Former physicist |
| Florian Zettelmeyer | Analytics and AI effects on firms, digital advertising | Director AdTLab; Chair Marketing Dept; Faculty sponsor AI Pathway; 6,041+ citations |
| Jim Lecinski | AI applications in marketing | Author "The AI Marketing Canvas" (Stanford Press, 2nd ed 2026); 12 years Google VP |
| Brett Gordon | Ad measurement using AI/ML, causal inference | AdTLab faculty; Multiple Marketing Science publications |
| Anna Tuchman | Privacy regulations, advertising effectiveness, ML in marketing | AdTLab faculty |
| Eric Anderson | Data analytics and AI applications, pricing, marketing analytics | Faculty sponsor AI Pathway |
Research Distinction: Faculty combine industry experience (Lecinski's Google VP role), award-winning scholarship (Uzzi's Euler Award, Network Science Society Fellow), and cutting-edge research in human-AI collaboration, innovation science, and digital advertising. Publications in top journals including Marketing Science, Econometrica, Journal of Marketing Research.
5. Partnerships
| Partner | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| John Deere | Capstone (multi-year) | AI solutions for crop yields; winning teams hired full-time; students work with Deere engineers |
| Overtone | Capstone (2025) | London AdTech company; digital advertising and target marketing challenges |
| Perplexity AI | Campus-wide | $250K donation to Knight Lab (2024); free Perplexity Pro for all students; AI and journalism research |
| Multiple Corporations | Research/Executive Education | AdTLab and PDAK partnerships for research collaborations and executive programs |
6. AI Programs, Competitions, and Clubs
- Annual AI Hackathon (partnership with Lovable and Founders Club)
- Teams develop AI solutions for real companies
- Speaker series: "Marketing in the Age of AI," "Evolution of Intelligence"
- Annual Kellogg Tech Conference (theme: "SMARTER TOMORROW")
- Brings together MBA students, executives, founders, investors, academics
- Tech career preparation and networking
Kellogg Data & Analytics Club:
- Club of the Year finalist
- Analytics training workshops, speaker events, recruiting assistance
- Established 2014; supports PDAK program and AI Pathway students
Analytical and AI Consulting Lab (ACL):
- Teams of 4-5 MBA students work on real company projects
- Quarter-long engagements using machine learning and advanced analytics
- Director: Professor Joel Shapiro
MBAi Capstone Projects:
- Industry-partnered quarter-long projects with MSAI students
- Showcase presentations; leads to full-time employment offers
7. Competitive Context
Rankings (2025):
- Poets & Quants: #1
- U.S. News: #3 (tied with Stanford)
- Financial Times Global MBA: #5
- Bloomberg: #5
Key Strengths:
- Early mover in joint MBA-Engineering AI program (2020 launch)
- Unique multi-departmental AI Foundations approach (five discipline-specific versions)
- Strong research infrastructure with $50M in recent center funding
- Cross-school integration at curriculum design level (not just combined courses)
- TechBridge data collaboration platform for innovation research
- High-quality industry partnerships with conversion to employment
- Student-led innovation culture (hackathons, active clubs)
- Explicit responsible AI and ethics focus throughout curriculum