Purdue’s online Master of Business and Technology program adds Indianapolis option for in-person networking, collaborating

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s innovative online Master of Business and Technology (MBT) program is launching a new option for fall 2026 — an in-person experience that will allow online students to network and collaborate at Purdue’s Indianapolis location.

The new option adds two in-person sessions in Indianapolis to each of the program’s core courses; students complete the rest of the program’s coursework online. This option was designed for online students who are able to travel to Indianapolis — a top 25 City on the Rise according to LinkedIn’s 2025 market growth report — and want opportunities to participate in networking, group projects and collaboration in person. 

“Bringing the MBT program online and in Indianapolis reinforces our commitment to professional education that provides business and technology leadership that advances Indiana’s industry and economy,” said David Umulis, Purdue’s senior vice provost for Indianapolis.

During the in-person sessions, MBT students will collaborate with faculty from Purdue’s Mitch Daniels School of Business and other online students. Together they will complete hands-on case studies that cover applied scenarios at the intersection of business and technology. They will also complete team-based problem-solving and skills-building activities and have the opportunity to network with peers and local industry leaders.

“Purdue University’s online Master of Business and Technology prepares professionals to lead in a world where business and technology are inseparable,” said Dimitrios Peroulis, Purdue’s senior vice president for partnerships and online. “By introducing an in-person Indianapolis experience, we are creating new opportunities for hands-on collaboration, applied problem-solving and meaningful industry engagement while maintaining the flexibility and academic rigor working professionals expect from Purdue.”

Purdue’s online MBT, offered by the Daniels School, focuses on the intersection of business and technology, blending the business acumen of a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with coursework on emerging technologies and the technological processes defining business today. It is an interdisciplinary master’s program designed for professionals from engineering, technical or other STEM-related backgrounds who want to move into leadership roles. 

“The Indianapolis experience reflects Purdue’s innovative approach to business education. We meet students where they are,” said James “Jim” Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business. “By combining the flexibility of our fully online Master of Business and Technology program with purposeful in-person collaboration at Purdue’s Indianapolis location, we are giving working professionals the opportunity to build meaningful connections, apply what they are learning in real time, and engage more deeply with faculty and peers. This approach reinforces our commitment to student-centered learning while preparing graduates to lead at the intersection of business and technology.”

Purdue’s MBT differs from an MBA in its unique focus on technology. Students in the program learn how to leverage technology to solve pressing business challenges; conceptualize new technologies for optimizing business processes; and explore topics like artificial intelligence, data management and project management. They can also take up to nine credits from the Purdue’s renowned College of Engineering, giving them more opportunities to develop technical depth.

In addition to building technology skills, students develop in-demand business expertise, completing coursework in areas like finance and accounting, human resources, leadership, and marketing.

The online MBT offers the same rigor and world-class curriculum as Purdue’s residential MBT, and the program’s online courses are taught by renowned faculty who teach on campus in the Daniels School. 

“MBT Indianapolis combines the best of both worlds — flexibility to accommodate a busy schedule and the rich learning experience from face-to-face interactions,” said Mohammad Rahman, a chaired professor in the Daniels School and director of the MBT. “Staying true to our land-grant mission, we are committed to training current working professionals to lead and define the technology-enabled economy that’s unfolding as we speak.”

Since the online MBT has a flexible, self-paced structure, students can complete the program while working full time. The Indianapolis experience provides online students who live in or near Indiana with the opportunity to benefit from the flexibility of virtual courses and take advantage of networking opportunities in Indiana’s largest city. In-person sessions are held in Indianapolis on weekday evenings, making them accessible to working professionals. 

To learn more about the online MBT’s new Indianapolis option, visit the program’s webpage.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.