MBA in California: Top Colleges, Programs, Fees
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MBA in California is one of the most popular course choices to study in the USA and over 150,000 international students hail to study here. Those who are aiming for some of the best MBA universities in the USA can think of applying to Californian universities. MBA universities in California are around 39, to be precise and there are no MBA colleges in California at present.
In terms of salaries, an MBA in California is the most lucrative option with the added advantage of Data Analytics specialisation. The salaries go as high as USD 215,000 and California is also home to the prestigious Stanford University which is considered one of the best B-Schools in the USA. Check out the article for all major details on MBA in California.
MBA in California Highlights 2024
| Total MBA Universities in California |
30+ |
| MBA Course Duration |
1 - 4 years |
| Average Annual Tuition Fees |
USD 46,000 |
| Number of Specialisations Offered |
10+ |
| Average Starting Salary |
USD 85,331 |
| Popular Specialisation |
Data Analytics |
| Signing Bonus (Average) |
USD 48,500 |
| Internship Opportunities |
Available |
| Average Hourly Pay |
USD 71.90 |
Why Study MBA in California?
After Harvard Business School, B-Schools in California took the limelight because of Stanford University MBA which is the second most popular option for business education. Apart from this, remuneration for MBA grads in California is slightly higher (around 2-3%) in comparison to Boston and Pennsylvania. Other reasons to consider studying MBA in California are as follows:
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- There are all types of MBA variations available across California universities like full-time, part-time, online and executive MBA.
- As per ZipRecruiter, California ranks #4th for offering the highest salaries to MBA graduates in the USA.
- The MBA universities in California offer some of the highest salaries to their MBA grads through job opportunities offered through partnerships with the concerned university's career centres.
- The top MBA universities in California offering higher-end salaries are as follows:
-
- Stanford University: USD 176,956
- UC Berkeley: USD 171,000
- UCLA: USD 146,500
- There are internship opportunities available through each of the Californian universities offering an MBA. Thus, this is an added advantage for MBA students.
- The admission requirements for MBA universities in California are competitive but in some cases, requirements are at the higher end like Stanford University and not so competitive for universities like California Lutheran University.
Thus, those who are unable to get through B-schools in Boston and Pennsylvania can try and apply to universities in California because of the above-given reasons.
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Top 10 Business Schools in California 2024
The following business schools have been ranked as per QS and US News for the year 2023:
| MBA in California Universities & Colleges |
QS Global MBA Rankings 2024 |
US News Rankings - Best Business Schools, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Stanford Graduate School of Business |
#1 |
#6 |
| Haas Business School |
#6 |
#11 |
| UCLA Anderson School of Management (UCLA) |
#9 |
#19 |
| Marshall School of Business |
#16 |
#15 |
| Masagung Graduate School of Management |
51-60 |
135-149 |
| UC Davis, Graduate School of Management (UC Davis) |
#55 |
|
| Pepperdine Graziadio Business School |
71-80 |
#95 |
| Rady School of Management |
#107 |
|
| A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management |
#110 |
|
| Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management |
81-90 |
#116 |
As per QS’s recent rankings for global MBA programs, there are just 14 institutions which have been ranked for MBA in California, whereas, around 39 universities plus colleges have been ranked as per US News for the year 2024 for the ‘Best Business School’ category.
MBA in California Admission Requirements
Coming to admission requirements for MBA courses in California universities the following will be required:
- GMAT scores vary between 680 - 730
- Or, GRE scores between 149 - 170 on verbal and between 150 - 170 for quant section.
- GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0 point scale in bachelor’s
- A minimum of 2 - 3 years of work experience
- The minimum TOEFL score or IELTS score based on acceptability at the university in question should be taken from the university website.
Documents Required for MBA in California
Apart from these admission requirements, the applicants will also require these documents along with the applications:
- Transcripts
- Admission essays
- Personal statement (SOP)
- Letters of recommendation (LOR)
Please note that these admission requirements may vary per university for MBA admissions. There may be some requirements applicable to one university and may not be applicable to others.
Career Opportunities After MBA in California
Home to Silicon Valley, California is the Tech hub which also attracts students for either internship opportunities or study there to find full-time work opportunities. Numerous MBA grads from various universities are recruited across these Tech companies located in California.
There are various career options after an MBA from California, but the Tech industry is by far the biggest industry and offers lucrative salaries as well. Let's check out the following Californian MBA universities and compare them in the top three industries of Tech, Consulting and Finance:
| MBA Universities in California |
Average Pay in Tech Roles |
Average Pay in Consulting Roles |
Average Pay in Finance Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University |
USD 165,757 |
USD 179,727 |
USD 211,944 |
| Haas Business School |
USD 140,000 |
USD 170,000 |
USD 175,000 |
| UCLA |
USD 150,767 |
USD 166,637 |
USD 141,935 |
The above-given salaries are for just the top three ranking universities for MBA in California, and it can be noted that the salaries are on the higher end for finance roles at Stanford, followed by UC Berkeley and UCLA scoring the lowest. A similar pattern can be recorded for Consulting and Tech roles at these universities.
Popular Companies for MBA Grads in California
The following is a list of 10 popular companies that have recruited MBA grads from various Californian universities in the past:
- Amazon
- Goldman Sachs
- Microsoft
- Deloitte
- Cisco
- Citi
- Bank of America
- The Walt Disney Company
- PwC
There are other companies too which have recruited MBA graduates from various universities of California like Johnson & Johnson, EY, Meta, Walmart, McKinsey & Company, BCG, Epson, and others.
MBA in California FAQs
Q. Are paid internships available for MBA in California?
A. Yes, paid internships are available while pursuing an MBA from universities in California. The average hourly pay is USD 18.22 and applicants can check for paid internships through the university specific career centres first and then go for other sources in case of unavailability of internships that are paid. Applicants can check out professional networking websites also for better opportunities in terms of internships that too for paid ones.
Q. Does Stanford University offer a full scholarship for MBA?
A. As an international student it is difficult to get a full scholarship for a popular course like MBA at Stanford where more than 300+ students are offered admission. Applicants can still look for merit-based scholarships and other financial aid if they qualify for it and apply accordingly in case they get through the admission process of Stanford. Check out MBA in USA Scholarships
Q. Which industry hires MBA grads from California Universities?
A. There are various industries which function in California, but the most popularly recruiting industries for MBA grads of Californian universities are:
- Technology
- Consulting
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Education
- Consumer Products
- Real Estate
Of these above-given ones, finance, consulting and technology roles yield most of the MBA grads from Californian universities.
Q. Are there any MBA colleges in California?
A. No, there are no MBA colleges in California, rather there are only universities which offer this course. Apart from the already mentioned ones in the article above, there are a few more which can be considered for MBA admissions in California:
Q. Can MBA grads work in California after graduating from Californian universities?
A. Yes, those MBA graduates who get hired in California after pursuing their degree programs from any Californian universities have no other option but to work in California. In case the job location is other than California, then these MBA grads will have to move out of California and work at their dedicated job locations. It may not be possible always to get a job in California after an MBA from California.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?
GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.
Q: How much is the application fee for Alabama University?
The Alabama University application fee for International students vary by application type. Mentioned below are the application fee for UG and PG applications at Alabama:
- UG: USD 40 or INR 3,342.14
- MBA: USD 80 or INR 6,684.28
Q: Is it hard to get into the UTSA in San Antonio Texas?
According to various sources, University of Texas San Antonio has an overall acceptance rate of around 87% which makes it somewhat selective for international student admissions. Some of the general requirements to be considered for admission are given as follows:
- SAT/ACT scores
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Rank
- Additional Academic Records
Q: Is Texas Wesleyan hard to get into?
As per the US News and World Report, Texas Wesleyan University acceptance rate is 58%. This shows that the university's admission process is relatively selective. Therefore, some students may find it harder to get into the university. Also, international students are advised to check the minimum eligibility for their courses before applying. Please note that the data on the acceptance rate given above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.
Q: What is the OHIO Excellence Scholarship?
First-year students who are new to the Athens campus of Ohio University are considered for the OHIO Excellence Scholarship. The factors that are considered to grant this scholarship are academic achievement, financial need, and individual contributions to the incoming first-year class. This is a merit-based scholarship and the award amount for this scholarship varies up to USD 6,500 annually.
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