Business Schools in California: Full List of MBA Programs
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A popular graduate degree, the master of business administration, or MBA, uses a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to prepare future business leaders and experts.
California is home to many top business schools. By earning an MBA in California, you’ll get access to a strong economy and an innovative startup culture.
Here, we introduce some of the best business schools in California. We also provide a complete list of all MBA programs in the state.
Featured Online MBA Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
3 Popular Business Schools in California
The following California MBA programs regularly top ranking lists for academic excellence and student success. We selected these schools based on criteria such as academic quality, selectivity, and overall reputation.
Stanford University
The Stanford Graduate School of Business has offered MBA degrees since 1927. At Stanford, you can earn an MBA in two years if you study full time, learning about core business topics and gaining leadership skills through labs. You’ll learn through simulations, case studies, and lectures with tenured professionals and business executives.
Stanford’s global management immersion experience offers opportunities in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. You can also study project management in Spain or payment system strategy in Singapore.
MBA Specializations
JD-MBA | MA Education-MBA | MA Electrical Engineering-MBA | MPP-MBA | MS Computer Science-MBA | MS Environment and Resources (E-IPER)-MBA
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- No minimum GPA
- GMAT or GRE scores
- Two letters of recommendation
- Two personal essays
- Resume
University of California, Berkeley
Founded in 1898, UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has a reputation for innovative research. You can enroll in a full-time, on-campus program, an evening and weekend program, or an executive MBA program that runs from Thursday to Saturday.
You can also take an optional global component, with opportunities to consult with worldwide organizations and participate in exchange programs in Spain, France, and England.
MBA Specializations
JD-MBA | MBA-M.Eng. | MBA-Master of Climate Solutions | MBA-MPH
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- No minimum GPA, but most students have at least a 3.0
- GMAT or GRE scores
- Two letters of recommendation
- Four essays (two personal, one diversity, and one video)
- Resume
- Interview
University of Southern California
At USC’s Marshall School of Business, you can earn your MBA on campus or online. Full-time MBA students typically work on consulting projects for LA-based companies, complete summer internships, and spend 10 days abroad to gain global business experience.
USC also offers an executive MBA, a part-time MBA, a one-year accelerated MBA, and an online MBA program. As a student here, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in case workshops and coaching sessions for national competitions.
MBA Specializations
JD-MBA | MBA-Ed.D. | MBA-MA in East Asian Area Studies | MBA-MA in Jewish Nonprofit Management | MBA-Master of Planning | MBA-Master of Real Estate Development | MBA-MD | MBA-MS in Gerontology | MBA-MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering | MBA-MSW | MBA-Pharm.D.
Application Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- No minimum GPA, but most students have at least a 3.0
- GMAT or GRE scores
- Two essays
- Resume
Full List of MBA Programs in California
The following table lists all business schools in California. We only included nonprofit institutions and MBA programs accredited by one or more of the following agencies:
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
Per our ranking methodology as of 2024, we also excluded any schools that support or promote anti-LGBTQ+ policies or initiatives.
All Business Schools in California
| School⇅ | City⇅ | Type⇅ | Accreditation⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks | Private | ACBSP |
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Public | AACSB |
| California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt | Arcata | Public | IACBE |
| California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona | Public | AACSB |
| California State University Channel Islands | Camarillo | Public | ACBSP |
| California State University, Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Public | AACSB |
| California State University, Chico | Chico | Public | AACSB |
| California State University, East Bay | Hayward | Public | AACSB |
| California State University, Fresno | Fresno | Public | AACSB |
| California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton | Public | AACSB |
Why Earn Your MBA in California?
Many people relocate to California for the sunny weather but stay for the job and educational opportunities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California has the highest employment levels of management occupations. Here, management professionals earn an average annual salary of $160,360.
California is also home to cities with the highest employment of management jobs. Los Angeles and San Francisco, for example, employ around 438,000 and 237,000 people in this sector, respectively.
Attending one of the best business schools in California can help you build a network of alumni in a state with a growing job market.
MBA Cost in California
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, an MBA costs, on average, $31,200 a year in tuition and fees. In 2020, MBA students paid an average of $11,850 a year in tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and $22,472 at private nonprofit colleges.
Whether you attend a public or private school can affect how much you spend on your MBA.
For instance, the accelerated MBA program at California State University Long Beach costs $45,600 a year for in-state students. In comparison, Stanford’s MBA costs a whopping $82,455 per year in tuition — and that doesn’t even include fees and other expenses.
With a high cost of living, California ranks the fourth most expensive state in the country, according to World Population Review. Fortunately, there are many scholarships for California students. You can (and should!) also apply for federal student aid.
MBA Jobs in California
California has the most management, business, and financial operations jobs in the country.
According to May 2023 BLS data, 1.3 million California residents work in management, while 1.2 million work in business and financial operations — beating out Texas, New York, and Florida.
Most California residents who work in management hold positions like general manager and operations manager. That said, you could also work as a marketing manager, sales manager, or medical and health services manager.
Here are some of the highest-paying MBA jobs in California today.
| Job | CA Median Annual Salary (May 2023) | CA Job Growth Rate (2022-2032) |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $231,080 | -1% |
| Marketing Managers | $174,480 | 23% |
| Financial Managers | $169,780 | 27% |
| Human Resources Managers | $166,920 | 20% |
| Purchasing Managers | $153,510 | 15% |
| Public Relations Managers | $150,500 | 20% |
| Training and Development Managers | $149,990 | 20% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $140,360 | 24% |
| Sales Managers | $131,740 | 17% |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $109,160 | 15% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Business Schools in California
A traditional MBA takes about two years to complete. But many business schools offer alternatives to this time frame, such as a one-year MBA, a part-time MBA, and a weekend MBA, all with different program lengths.
Note: The insights on this page were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 25, 2024.
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