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.
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: Â What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
Q: Â 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: Â 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: Â What are the requirements for admission into Purdue?
Purdue University application must have the following components:
Undergraduate Admissions
- The application itself
- Purdue-specific questions from the application
- Self-reported high-school grades
- Self-reported SAT or ACT scores (if applicable)
- Application fee
Steps to apply for Purdue University Undergraduate Courses
- First of all, complete and submit a Common application as per the Purdue University application deadlines
- Make sure that Purdue University receives all material required to complete the application
Graduate Admissions Steps
- Firstly, check Purdue University entry requirements
- Then, create an application account to start the application
- Choose the campus and course as per the preference
- Then, submit the results of the tests needed for the graduate program
- Prepare the additional documents based on the graduate program
- Lastly, pay the non-refundable application fee to submit the application. Purdue University graduate application fee is USD 75 for international applicants
Q: Â Which is better, UIC (University of Illinois Chicago) or NIU (Northern Illinois University)?
As per an unofficial source, the University of Illinois Chicago ranked at #80 among national universities which is better than the NIU ranking at #273 position. The UIC is also exceeding in terms of graduation rates and easier selection than NIU. However, the tuition cost is more affordable at Northern Illinois University as compared to UIC. Students can get more clarity from the comparison table given below:
Particulars | University of Illinois Chicago | Northern Illinois University |
|---|---|---|
US News National Rankings 2024 | #80 | #273 |
Acceptance Rate | 79% | 70% |
Graduation Rate | 40% | 33% |
Tuition Cost | UG: INR 22L-INR 49L PG: INR 13L-INR 37L | UG: INR 10L-INR 16.5L PG: INR 8L-INR 45L |
Student-faculty ratio | 17:1 | 14:1 |
Q: Â What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
The definition of a good ACT score varies from university to country. However, to get into the top 100 universities, you must aim for a score higher than 31 on the ACT.
Q: Â What GPA do I need to get into Northwest Missouri state?
Northwest Missouri State University expects a cumulative GPA of 2 for UG programs and 3 for PG programs on a scale of 4. GPA is one of the top factors when considering students for university admissions. Along with GPA, the university expects a student to provide high school transcripts from previously attended university or school, standardized test scores, English language proficiency test scores, and more. In addition, students with relevant experience in the chosen field are preferred over the studious students.
Q: Â How much does it cost to attend the University of South Dakota?
The USD provides over 200 undergraduates and 80 master's programs in specializations such as Business Analytics, Business Administration, Accountancy, Computer Science, Mathematics, and more. The University of South Dakota tuition fees for international students range between INR 6L and INR 21L for graduates and around INR 10L for undergraduates. Students can check the table below for the tuition cost of the popular courses at the university:
Courses | 1st Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
MBA/PGDM (4 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
MS (10 courses) | INR 9 L - 18 L |
BSN (1 course) | INR 11 L |
MIM (3 courses) | INR 10 L - 12 L |
BSc (30 courses) | INR 11 L |
BBA (14 courses) | INR 11 L |
BA (18 courses) | INR 11 L |
BE / BTech (4 courses) | INR 11 L |
MA (19 courses) | INR 10 L - 21 L |
PG Certificate (10 courses) | INR 7 L |
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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.