Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) Honors

The Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) Honors Program at Ohio State University is more than a curriculum—it’s a challenge, an opportunity, a path designed for the ambitious and intellectually curious. It’s a four-year journey that pushes students to reach the heights of their academic and personal potential.

Since its founding in 2014, IBE has earned a reputation for shaping graduates who are hardworking, well-rounded, and ready to lead. Admission is highly selective, the class size intentionally small, and the curriculum rigorous. With two distinct focus areas—IBE and IBE-Software Innovation—the program is designed to cultivate interdisciplinary thinking among just 72 exceptionally talented students.

IBE is open to students already admitted to the Ohio State Max M. Fisher College of Business or the College of Engineering Honors programs. From this pool of gifted individuals, we carefully select a cohort—36 per focus area—whose collective energy and intellect promise to make the greatest impact across industries and communities. Our two-stage admissions process ensures that we welcome not just high-achieving students, but those who bring curiosity, drive, and a commitment to solving complex problems.

A Community Built on Collaboration

The strength of IBE lies in its people. The small class size fosters an authentic cohort experience—one where students push each other to refine ideas, sharpen their thinking, and navigate challenges together. The curriculum blends analytical rigor with experiential learning, providing students with frameworks that elevate problem-solving beyond intuition. Through seminar discussions, students hone their writing, presentation, and teamwork skills, preparing to lead in environments that demand both technical understanding and strategic vision.

At every step, IBE faculty—renowned, Ph.D.-educated leaders in their fields—guide students through discussions on the interplay between business and engineering. These conversations aren’t just theoretical; they highlight the very real differences in how these disciplines approach problem-solving and illuminate the advantages of an interdisciplinary approach.

The Achievements of IBE Students

IBE students don’t just succeed—they thrive. They hold leadership positions across campus, shape conversations in clubs and societies, and many have been recognized for their contributions, including election to the university’s homecoming court. Their impact extends beyond the classroom, as they secure impressive internships and enter full-time roles with enviable placement rates and starting salaries.

Above all, IBE fosters a mindset—one that sees complexity not as a roadblock, but as an invitation to innovate. For students seeking to merge the precision of engineering with the adaptability of business, for those who understand that the most pressing challenges require both analytical rigor and creative problem-solving, IBE offers a foundation unlike any other.

If this sounds like the program for you, we invite you to explore further. And if you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Recent Employment Statistics

The IBE Honors program teaches critical thinking from an interdisciplinary perspective. The average starting salary and percentage of our students that receive offers of full-time employment within three months of graduation exceeds those of Ohio State business and engineering majors.