Students push business schools to beef up private markets teaching

June 15, 2026 - 10:49

A growing number of students are pressing business schools to expand their coverage of private markets, arguing that the curriculum has not kept pace with the rapid evolution of the industry. Executives from private equity, venture capital, and real asset firms say their sector has diversified far faster than what is being taught in the classroom.

For years, MBA programs focused heavily on public equities, fixed income, and traditional corporate finance. But the landscape has shifted. Assets under management in private markets have ballooned, and deal structures have grown more complex. Students aiming for careers in these fields say they need more than a single elective on leveraged buyouts. They want courses on secondaries, co-investments, infrastructure, and private credit.

Some schools are responding. A handful have launched dedicated centers for private equity and venture capital. Others are bringing in adjunct professors who are active practitioners. But many programs still lag, according to recent surveys of graduate business students.

One executive at a large private equity firm noted that students often arrive with strong theoretical knowledge but little understanding of how real deals are negotiated, valued, or executed. The gap, he said, leaves graduates less prepared for the demands of modern investing.

The push reflects a broader shift in finance. As public markets shrink and private capital grows, business schools face pressure to modernize. Students are voting with their feet, choosing programs that offer hands-on experience with private market tools and case studies. For schools that fail to adapt, the risk is clear: they may lose their edge in placing graduates into the fastest-growing corners of finance.