Our 2022 rankings of the Top Online MBA Programs in California. For an explanation of ranking criteria, click here.
| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles |
| 2 | Pepperdine University | Malibu |
| 3 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara |
| 4 | University of California-Davis | Davis |
| 5 | University of Redlands | Redlands |
| 6 | California State University | San Bernardino |
| 7 | Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga |
| 8 | California State University | Long Beach |
| 9 | California State University | Monterey Bay |
| 10 | California State University | Fresno |
University of Southern California (USC) houses Marshall School of Business (USC Marshall or Marshall). Established in 1920 as USC College of Commerce and Business Administration, Marshall is Southern California’s oldest AACSB-accredited business school.
USC Marshall has a No GMAT Required Online MBA Program that can be completed in an accelerated format in just 21 months. Serving more than 300 students with an average of 10 years of work experience, the USC Online MBA (USC OMBA) program features two live class sessions per week, cross-disciplinary coursework, virtual learning exercises such as interactive games and self-assessment exercises, case studies and simulations of real-world business scenarios, collaborative virtual activities and assessments such as facilitated team meetings, moderated discussion boards, and one-on-one faculty sessions via webcam.
The USC OMBA requires a one-week, on-campus residency. Otherwise, all coursework and activities take place online. Courses for the program include Role of the Manager (three units), Fundamentals of Business (10 units), Opportunity Recognition and Implementation (9.5 units), Managing Inside the Firm (9.5 units), Managing Outside the Firm (9.5 units), and Business Environment & Leadership (9.5 units).
To enhance the degree, students may enroll in any number of electives, a certificate program, or a dual degree program. Electives cover subject areas such as entrepreneurship, project management, and Lean Six Sigma. Certificate programs are 11 credit hours and include options such as Optimization and Supply Chain Management, Financial Analysis and Valuation, Technology Commercialization, Business Analytics, and Library and Information Management. Recommended dual degree programs include the MBA/MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering, MBA/MS in Gerontology, MBA/MS in Systems Architecting and Engineering, or MBA/Master of Social Work.
Upon completion of the Online MBA Program at University of Southern California students will have an extensive portfolio to attract employers in their chosen field. USC Marshall graduates are often recruited by companies such as Apple, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, HSBC, Google, Accenture, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, NASDAQ, Goldman Sachs, and PwC.
University of Southern California is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Established in 1880 and employing more than 28,000 people, USC is the largest private sector employer in the City of Los Angeles and one of the world’s largest private research universities. Serving 49,500 students, University of Southern California is the largest university in California and among the top 20 largest universities in the U.S. More than 600 graduate and professional programs are offered at USC across 23 schools and divisions.
Founded in 1969, the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University serves more than 2,000 students from the U.S. and around the world. With 47 partner universities in 25 countries, students in all programs at Graziadio have the opportunity to participate in one-week, multi-week, and trimester study abroad experiences in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, or South America. Other Graziadio School features include small class sizes, a variety of experiential learning opportunities, executive-style classroom, technology support, and reference facilities.
The Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine consists of 18 institutes and centers, five MBA programs, nine certificate programs, six master’s programs, one doctorate program, and one degree completion program. Among the School’s five AACSB-accredited MBA programs is an online option that can be completed in as few as 24 months or up to 48 months part-time. THE GMAT is not required and students will attend just one weekend immersion in Los Angeles.
Seven concentrations are available and include Digital Innovation and Information Systems, Global Business, Marketing, Leadership and Managing Organizational Change, Finance, Business Analytics, and Entrepreneurship. A General Track is also available as well as the opportunity to participate in the Education to Business Program, which provides the opportunity to work with brands such as Adobe and Coca-Cola. Other program features include access to one-on-one coaching, additional career resources, and faculty mentors.
The Online MBA Program at Pepperdine University can be completed in as few and 24 months and the GMAT is not required for admission. Around 50% of Pepperdine Online MBA graduates have accepted a job before graduating. Roughly 68% accept job offers three months after graduation. Top hiring companies include IBM, Boeing, Ernst & Young, Northrop Grumman, AT&T, Kimberly-Clarke, Amgen, and Bank of America.
Pepperdine University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges—Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Established in 1937 by entrepreneur George Pepperdine the school, enrolls close to 10,500 students served by more than 700 faculty members across the Malibu, West LA, Calabasas, Irvine, and Online campuses. Pepperdine University offers more than 100 majors, minors, and graduate programs organized across one college and four schools including Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Caruso School of Law, Graziadio Business School, the School of Public Policy, and the Graduate School of Education and Psychology.
The Leavey School of Business (LSB) at Santa Clara University (SCU) has been educating business students since 1923. The School achieved AACSB accreditation in 1953, becoming one of the first professional schools of business to be awarded this recognition. The LSB MBA program was recognized with accreditation in 1959, the Executive MBA was accredited in 1999, and the Accelerated MBA received recognition in 2007—the same year that the program launched.
Among LSB’s accredited MBA Programs is the Leavey Online MBA with a mobile app for on-the-go access from anywhere in the world. With the exception of two on-campus intensives, the program can be completed entirely online. Students have access to four concentrations including Finance, Leading Innovative Organizations, Marketing, and Data Science and Business Analytics.
The curriculum for the Leavey Online MBA Program is designed to help students become a Silicon Valley Professional (SVP). Course examples include Doing Business in Silicon Valley, Marketing is Everything, Leading People and Organizations, Analytical Decision Making, Ethics for Managers, Analysis, Design, and Management of Enterprise Platforms, Business Analytics, and Challenges in Leading and Managing Strategic Change. Just a few online elective options include Global Business Perspective, Strategic Talent Management, and Alternative Investments: Partnerships and Venture Capital.
The Leavey Online MBA at Santa Clara University has four quarterly start dates (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer), and the program may be completed in as few as two years.
Leavey Online MBA alumni hold or have held positions at Adobe, Tesla, eBay Amazon, Google, Apple, Cisco, GoPro, Mozilla, Comerica Bank, LinkedIn, Dolby, IBM, and KQED Broadcasting, among others.
Santa Clara University is accredited by The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Established in 1851, SCU is a Jesuit university situated in the heart of Silicon Valley. The school serves around 8,550 students enrolled in more than 50 majors, minors, and programs across six schools and colleges.
The Online MBA Program at University of California Davis (UC Davis) is the UC System’s first and only Online MBA. Known as the MBA@UCDavis, this AACSB-accredited, STEM-designated program features live online classes, collaborative assignments and projects, and connections to corporate partners across Northern California and UC’s global alumni network.
Housed in the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, the MBA@UCDavis requires 72 units with core courses that provide a foundation in the functional areas of business such as Strategy, Marketing, Finance, Economics, and Accounting. Electives such as Technology Management, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Behavior allow students to cover broad areas interests or focus in a particular area. Course examples for the program include New and Small Business Ventures, Digital Marketing, Management of Innovation, Markets and the Firm, Data Analysis for Managers, The Individual and Group Dynamics, and Management Information Systems.
MBA@UCDavis students may participate in a series of In-Person Residentials, where they will interact with peers, professors, and business leaders for multiday, in-person experiences in Silicon Valley, Napa Valley, and Davis. Start dates for the Online MBA Program at University of California Davis include January, April, June, and September. The program may be completed in 24-36 months.
Graduates of the MBA@UCDavis Program enjoy an 84% job placement rate within six months after graduation. Graduate School of Management alumni have been hired at Amazon, Tesla, PayPal, Google, LinkedIn, Expedia Group, Zendesk, Meta (formerly Facebook), Uber, BlackRock, Williams Sonoma, AppFolio, Nordstrom, HubSpot, Sumo Logic, Reef technology, Instacart, Sephora, American Eagle Outfitters, Uplift, Lending Club, and Slalom Consulting, among others.
University of California Davis is accredited by The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The school opened in 1908 as the University Farm—the research and science-based instruction extension of UC Berkeley. Today, UC Davis is one of the nation’s top 10 public universities, the largest in area of the 10 campuses in the UC system, and the third largest in student population. Approximately 41,200 UC Davis students pursue more than 200 undergraduate majors, graduate programs, and professional programs in law, business management, medicine, and engineering. Programs at University of California Davis are housed across eleven colleges and schools.
University of Redlands School of Business & Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The School has an MBA Program with three delivery options and four concentrations. Delivery options include On-Ground, Online (asynchronous), and Online Live (synchronous). Concentrations include Marketing, Location Analytics, Global Business, and Finance. All options consist of 36-48 credit hours (9-12 courses) that can be completed in 18-24 months.
The Redlands Online MBA Program has six starts per year, rolling admissions, and evening and weekend classes. The GMAT/GRE is not a requirement for admission.
Graduates of the MBA Program at University of Redlands are prepared to pursue leadership roles in all industries.
University of Redlands is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Founded in 1907 by the American Baptists, Redlands is an independent, coeducational liberal arts and sciences university that serves 5,000 students. More than 50 programs of study are offered in five schools including Arts & Sciences, Business & Society, Education, Continuing Studies, and the Graduate School of Theology.
The Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC) at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is AACSB-accredited. The College has an MBA Program with three options: Traditional, Online Executive, and Executive. The JHBC Online Executive MBA is the most flexible option for busy professionals. The program consists of the same curriculum as the Executive MBA, but it is delivered 100% online in an accelerated format
The JHBC Online Executive MBA requires 30 credit hours, with courses taught in five-week sessions. Course examples for the program include Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship and New Ventures, Information Systems & Technology Management, Global Marketing Strategies, Internal Auditing and Management Controls, Managing the Supply Chain, Data Driven Decision Making, and Advanced Managerial Communication.
Other program features include experiential learning opportunities, internships, study abroad experiences, graduate assistantships, and career services.
The JHBC MBA Online Executive MBA Program has an open enrollment process, there are no GRE requirements, and students can complete the program in just 18 months. Graduates are prepared for advancement opportunities in with their current employer or leadership roles in just about any sector. Some of the top employers for CSUSB graduates include Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, County of Riverside, and Loma Linda University.
California State University, San Bernardino is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Founded in 1962, the school serves more than 20,000 students enrolled in 70 traditional baccalaureate and master's degree programs, education credential and certificate programs, and a doctoral program. Programs at CSUSB are housed in five academic colleges and dozens of departments.
The School of Economics and Business Administration (SEBA) at Saint Mary's College of California (SMC) has two flexible MBA programs for professionals seeking career advancement. The Executive MBA (EMBA) is delivered in a predominately online hybrid format and it consists of 15 courses completed over 18 months. The Flex Online MBA is 100% online, and it consists of 12 courses completed over 12 months. Both programs feature small class sizes, cohort-based collaborative learning, access to SEBA Graduate Career Services (SGCS), and AACSB accreditation.
The SMC SEBA online learning environment consists of interactions with students and professors from around the world, classroom activities, business writing, online discussions with professors and business partners, and experiential learning. EMBA students will meet online bi-weekly for live web conferences and every other Saturday at the Moraga or San Ramon campus.
Across programs, students will take courses such as Confident Communication, Supply Chain Management, Leadership and Management Dynamics, Data Analytics for Executives, Finance for Management Decisions, Global Marketing, Leading Technologies in Innovating Businesses, Accounting for Executives, Strategic Thinking for Organizational Success, Goal-Centered Finance, and Firm Governance and the Regulatory Environment.
The SMC SEBA Executive MBA has two concentrations: Entrepreneurship and Business Analytics. Course examples across concentrations include Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Mindset, New Venture Creation and Financing, Business Analytics, and Data Modeling and Visualization.
Graduates of the MBA Programs at Saint Mary's College of California have been recruited by Intel, Wells Fargo, Google, Sutter Health, Apple, Oracle, Chevron, PwC, Bank of America, Cisco, Black Rock, Peets Coffee & Tea, AAA, Kaiser Permanents, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California, and PG&E.
Saint Mary's College of California has been accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) since 1948. Established in 1863, this private Catholic college serves around 3,200 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education students enrolled in more than 50 programs across the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Economics and Business Administration, the School of Science, and the School of Education.
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) houses the College of Business (COB). One of the eight colleges of CSULB, COB serves more than 4,800 students, and the College has been AACSB accredited since 1972. Program offerings include dozens of undergraduate degrees, minors, graduate programs, and tracks, including an Online MBA (OMBA) with part-time and full-time options.
To be admitted the COB OMBA, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and three or more years of work experience. Students in the program benefit from small class sizes (25-35), dedicated program advisors accessible throughout the program, participation in networking events such as Toastmasters, and career services including one-on-one career coaching, mock interviews, resume coaching, mentorship, and company visits to meet with potential employers.
The COB OMBA consists of 48 units (16 courses). The program follows the cohort-model, it is 50/50 synchronous/asynchronous, and courses take place during two eight-week sessions within each 16-week semester for Fall and Spring. OMBA students must attend during the Summer session as well, which consists of six weeks.
Course examples for the program include Business Policies, Operations and Organizations, Management of Information Systems, Quantitative Methods for Managerial Decision Making, Integrated Analysis, and Managerial Accounting and Control. As part of the curriculum, COB OMBA students will complete a number of seminar courses such as Seminar in Human Resources, Seminar in Business Finance, Seminar in Marketing Analysis, and Seminar in Leadership Skills.
Graduates of the OMBA Program at California State University, Long Beach are prepared for leadership positions in just about every industry.
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school opened on September 28, 1949 as Los Angeles-Orange County State College in a small converted apartment building. On the first day of classes, State College had just 160 students and 13 full-time faculty. Today California State University, Long Beach employs more than 4,000 professionals that serve nearly 39,300 students. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University System, CSULB offers more than 300 programs in eight colleges.
California State University, Monterey Bay (Cal State Monterey Bay, CSU Monterey Bay or CSUMB) houses the College of Business (COB), which has a 36 credit hour MBA Program that can be completed entirely online. The COB is the only College of its kind in the world to teach Responsible Business and the Quintuple Bottom Line (QBL) as core concepts. The College also hosts the Startup Challenge—an accelerator for new businesses that features networking, mentoring, coaching and opportunities to connect entrepreneurs to resources.
In addition to the Responsible Business curriculum and the Startup Challenge, CSUMB Online MBA students benefit from a collaborative cohort model, small class sizes, an international consulting project, online simulations, case studies, the and additional networking opportunities. The program culminates with the Responsible Business Capstone.
The GMAT is not required for admission to the CSUMB Online MBA Program, and students can graduate in as few as 16 months. Program alumni are employed by leading Fortune 500 companies and top corporations such as Amazon, Tesla, Apple, Johnson & Johnson, Kaiser, PayPal, and Medtronic.
California State University, Monterey Bay is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Founded in 1994, CSUMB opened for classes on August 28, 1995, making it one of the youngest of the 23 California State University campuses. Cal State Monterey Bay serves more than 7,500 students enrolled in 25 undergraduate degree programs and nine graduate majors across six academic colleges.
California State University, Fresno (CSU Fresno or Fresno State) is home to Craig School of Business, which was the first business program in the 23-campus CSU System to be awarded AACSB accreditation. The School has an MBA Program with four options: Traditional, Online Blended, Executive (EMBA), and Agribusiness EMBA (Ag MBA).
The Online Blended MBA is the most flexible option. The program allows students to take all classes online, with minimal face-to-face interaction with faculty and peers. Classes are delivered through Canvas—a web-based Learning Management System (LMS).
The Fresno State Summer Study Abroad Experience is optional, and students will have access to convenient testing locations and Respondus—an online testing application. Certain final exams and Culminating Experience presentations may take place in person and GMAT waivers are available.
Graduates of the MBA Program at CSU Fresno are prepared for leadership positions such as Business Operations Manager, Health Services Manager, Computer and Information Systems Manager, Financial Manager, Information Technology Director, Logistics Manager, Marketing Manager, Human Resources Manager, Project Manager, and IT Manager.
California State University, Fresno is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Founded in 1911 as Fresno State Normal School, CSU Fresno serves around 22,750 students enrolled in more than 300 undergraduate, graduate, certificate, credential, and minor programs across eight colleges and schools. Fresno State has 26 nationally accredited departmental programs and more than 300 active clubs and organizations.
