2021 Best MBA Programs in California
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Research the best MBA programs in California by concentrations offered, how the MBA programs are offered (full-time, part-time, online, weekend and evenings), rankings by publication, cost of tuition, number of alumni, GMAT requirements and more.
To meet the diverse needs of California businesses, MBA programs here have risen to the challenge by offering you an array of more than 55 MBA concentrations to specialize in, including Media, Actuarial Science, Communication, Energy, Operations Research, Corporate Finance, Luxury Brands, Financial Management, Global management, Agribusiness, E-Commerce, Sustainability, Communications, Public Administration, Consulting, Product Management, Ethics, Arts, Manufacturing, Project Management, Nonprofit, Innovation Management, Innovation, Health Care Management, Hospitality Management, Organisational Behaviour, Law, Education, Supply Chain Management, Sports Management, Insurance, Science and Technology, Organizational Behavior, Operations Management, Strategic Management, Business Analytics, Taxation, Human Resources, Enterpreneurship, Statistics, Real Estate, Quantitative Methods, Data Analytics, Healthcare Administration, Leadership, Economics, Supply Chain, Entrepreneurship, Information Systems, General Business, Accounting, International Business, Finance, Marketing and Management.
Options for earning your MBA in California have never been more flexible. California MBA programs have become adept at offering effective alternatives for you to earn your MBA, no matter your life situation or schedule. You will find 9 different paths to earn your MBA in California including Online, Campus, Full-Time, 1-Year, Distance Education, Evenings and Weekends, Off Campus, Part-Time and Partnership.
California has 39 AACSB Accredited MBA programs. There are 13 private and 25 public schools offering MBA programs.
Business Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Cities in California with Accredited MBA Programs
Looking for a particular city in California with an accredited MBA program? Research and compare MBA programs from other cities in California. Find online programs, programs by concentration, by average GMAT score and more. The following is a list of cities in California with accredited MBA programs: Atherton, Bakersfield, Berkeley, Burbank, Chico, Claremont, Davis, Fresno, Fullerton, Hayward, Irvine, La Jolla, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey, Moraga, Northridge, Orange, Pomona, Riverside, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, Stanford, Stockton and Turlock.
Research additional school detail on the school summary pages, in the tables and charts below and throughout the site.
MBA Program Comparisons: California vs Online vs U.S.
| Compare MBA Programs Averages | California MBA Programs | Online MBA Programs | MBA Programs in the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average MBA Tuition | $57,544 | $34,774 | $38,087 |
| Average GMAT Scores | 602 | 553 | 558 |
| Average Full-Time MBA Faculty | 68 | 72 | 63 |
| Average MBA Student Faculty Ratio | 59:10 | 121:25 | 123:25 |
| Average # of MBA Faculty with Doctorate | 91.72% | 83.65% | 83.96% |
| Average Full-Time MBA Enrollment | 319 | 221 | 235 |
| Average Part-Time MBA Enrollment | 269 | 425 | 300 |
| Average % of MBA Students from U.S. | 65% | 76% | 75% |
Tuition for MBA Programs in California
If you plan on attending an MBA program, it's best to start thinking about fiscal responsibility. A prospective B-Student needs to weigh their tuition options. An AACSB-accredited MBA program can pave the way for a great starting salary or career advancement. An online MBA program can provide the flexibility of completing a program while being employed in your respective career.
An MBA program in California will cost you between $8,800 to $137,106 each year depending on how you calculate tuition as in-state, out-of-state, or out-of-country. Completing your MBA in California will cost, on average, for in-state tuition, $57,544
- Lowest: $8,800 from California State University, Chico
- Highest: $137,106 from University of Southern California
- Average: $57,544 from California's 39 MBA Programs
- Average: $34,774 from 172 Online MBA Programs
Tuition Costs
GMAT Scores for MBA Programs in California
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized examination used by MBA schools to assess their applicant pool. The test is strategically designed to measure an applicant’s analytical, verbal, writing and mathematical skills. The GMAT is used as a predictor of success in MBA programs and tests one’s ability to successfully handle the advanced quantitative and qualitative study of business and management.
To be accepted into an MBA program in California you will need a minimum GMAT score of 461.50. The average GMAT score for getting into a California MBA program is 602.33.
- Lowest: 462 from California State University, Los Angeles
- Highest: 737 from Stanford University
- Average: 602 from California's 39 MBA Programs
- Average: 553 from 172 Online MBA Programs
GMAT Score Chart
Faculty Strength for MBA Programs in California
Full-Time Faculty
Highly competitive MBA schools recruit part-time and full-time professors that are both academics and industry influencers. They are the subject matter experts in their respective field. Most business professors have experienced success in the corporate world and have written extensively in their chosen field. The number of highly-qualified full-time faculty is directly related to the reputation of most elite MBA programs.
The number of full-time faculty for MBA programs in California ranges from a low of 4 professors to a high or 201.
- Lowest: 4 from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
- Highest: 201 from University of Southern California
- Average: 68 from California's 39 MBA Programs
- Average: 72 from 172 Online MBA Programs
Percent of Faculty with a PhD
Another high-level perspective to consider when determining the quality of an MBA faculty is to note the number of faculty who have earned a PhD in their respective area of excellence. Note to writer - create a fuller amount of content for this section.
In California MBA programs range from 73.10% of the faculty having a PhD to a 100.00% of the MBA faculty having a PhD.
- Lowest: 73% from Naval Postgraduate School
- Highest: 100% from University of California, Berkeley
- Average: 92% from California's 39 MBA Programs
- Average: 84% from 172 Online MBA Programs
Student to Faculty Ratio
Quality MBA programs invest in the number of professors relative to the students attending the program. Commonly known as the Student Faculty ratio. Generally, the lower the ratio, the better it is for students. MBA students will get the personalized one-on-one attention from faculty mentors that have extensive experience in the industry. The Student/Faculty metric is a matter of personal preference and for those students who excel in lecture hall environments, you may not need the low student/faculty ratio.
In California the student faculty ratio for MBA programs ranges from the lowest (best) of 17:100 the highest (less desirable) of 472:5.
- Lowest: 17:100 from California State University, Fullerton
- Highest: 472:5 from University of California, Davis
- Average: 59:10 from California's 39 MBA Programs.
- Average: 121:25 from 172 Online MBA Programs.
California Full-Time Faculty
Student Enrollment for California MBA Programs
The importance of networking, whether it's by way of campus job fairs, student organization members, or faculty mentorship, should not be understated. The average MBA enrollment size has a direct impact on your studies, your job prospects, and your ability to define your career goals.
Full- & Part-Time MBA Student Enrollment
Every B-School has a strategy behind their enrollment sizes. If a prospective B-Student is looking for networking opportunities, wants to attend job fairs, and plans on joining student organizations, B-School enrollment size plays an important role in the decision making process. For the B-Student interested in the smaller cohort-style classroom experience and thrive with face-to-face collaboration with their professors, a manageable enrollment size is the preferred option.
For California state's MBA programs, the range for full-time enrollment is between 21 and 2,102. For part-time enrollment, the range is between 5 and 913.
- Lowest: 21 from San Diego State University
- Highest: 2,102 from University of Southern California
- Average: 319 from California's 39 MBA Programs
- Average: 221 from 172 Online MBA Programs
Percent of Global MBA Student Population
The MBA programs in the United States are coveted around the world and attract a healthy percentage of global students each year. A culturally diverse student population is especially important in an ever-changing global economy. With increasing globalization, a well diversified student body from outside the United States can provide much needed global world-view as well as valuable networking opportunities.
In California the percentage of students from the United States varies from a low of 52% to a high of 87%.
- Lowest: 52% from University of California, Davis
- Highest: 87% from Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
- Average: 65% from California's 39 MBA Programs
- Average: 76% from 0 Online MBA Programs
California Student Enrollment
MBA Concentrations Available in California
Highly competitive B-Schools recruit part-time and full-time professors that are both academic and industry influencers. They are the subject matter experts in their respective concentrations.
California MBA programs offer a total of 55 MBA concentration to study including Media, Actuarial Science, Communication, Energy, Operations Research, Corporate Finance, Luxury Brands, Financial Management, Global management, Agribusiness, E-Commerce, Sustainability, Communications, Public Administration, Consulting, Product Management, Ethics, Arts, Manufacturing, Project Management, Nonprofit, Innovation Management, Innovation, Health Care Management, Hospitality Management, Organisational Behaviour, Law, Education, Supply Chain Management, Sports Management, Insurance, Science and Technology, Organizational Behavior, Operations Management, Strategic Management, Business Analytics, Taxation, Human Resources, Enterpreneurship, Statistics, Real Estate, Quantitative Methods, Data Analytics, Healthcare Administration, Leadership, Economics, Supply Chain, Entrepreneurship, Information Systems, General Business, Accounting, International Business, Finance, Marketing and Management.
MBA concentrations offered in California include:
Schools offering the widest variety of concentrations to choose from include:
Accreditation, Reputation and Ranking
MBA Accreditation in California
The importance of accreditation can't be underestimated. For many, knowing your school is accredited by the AACSB and regionally accredited by the US Department of Education is enough assurance that you will receive a quality education, where credits are more likely to transfer, and you will be qualified for loans, grants, and scholarships.
AACSB accreditation is considered to be the gold standard in business school credentialing. Established to promote high-quality business education in the U.S., AACSB members developed a stringent accreditation process. Members are held accountable for following an established business education framework set forth by the AACSB. With that comes MBA degrees conferrals that are widely recognized by Fortune 500 companies. This results in lucrative job opportunities.
Reputation and Ranking
The ranking of MBA programs is certainly not an exact science and plenty of subjective reasoning and biases come into play. We offer insights into ranking as another way to evaluate a potential MBA program.
Of the 39 AACSB Accredited MBA programs offered in California, 40 of them have been recognized by at least one distinguished publication (PQ, US News, Forbes, BW, FT, Economist and MBAGuide) garnering an award as one of the best MBA programs in the country.
California schools have earned a total of 89 Best MBA awards from publications. Here are the top 10 MBA schools and the number of awards the each program has garnered:
Publications and the number of awards granted for California schools:
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