Best Business Schools in California

The Business and Financial Operations sector in California experienced significant growth in May 2023, with approximately 1,210,000 individuals employed in various roles within this industry. This sector encompasses a wide range of occupations, including financial analysts, accountants, auditors, loan officers, and management analysts, among others. The average mean wage for individuals working in the Business and Financial Operations sector in California was approximately $101,000. This figure reflects the competitive nature of the industry and the high level of expertise and skills required for these positions.

Cost of Studying MBA in California

The tuition for pursuing an MBA in California varies between $13,000 and $66,000, depending on whether students are in-state or out-of-state students.

10 Best Business Schools in California

Institution	Location	In-state Tuition Fees	Out-of-state Tuition Fees
Stanford University	Stanford	$27,000 quarterly	$27,000 quarterly
University of California	Berkeley	$140,000 (21 months)	$164,000 (21 months)
University of California	Los Angeles	$18,000 annually	$34,000 annually
University of Southern California	Los Angeles	$68,000 annually	68,000 annually
University of California	Irvine	$13,000 annually	$13,000 annually
University of California	San Diego	$18,000 annually	$29,000 annually
University of California	Davis	$48,000 annually	$60,000 annually
Chapman University	Orange	$2,000 to 2,800 per credit	$2,000 to 2,800 per credit
California State University	Long Beach	$270 per credit hour	$270 per credit hour
Loyola Marymount University	Los Angeles	$87,000 (2 years)	$87,000 (2 years)

Stanford University

Stanford University boasts a 4% acceptance rate and a student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1. The institution offers an average scholarship or stipend of approximately $86,000 to its students. The MBA program does not have specific requirements for undergraduate programs, minimum GPA, or GMAT/GRE scores. However, the average GPA for the class of 2025 MBA students was 3.77, with an average GMAT score of 738 and an average GRE score of 164. The Graduate School of Business at Stanford University provides a wide range of programs including MBA, MS, and Ph.D. programs in various fields of study.

University of California - Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley stands as the premier land-grant public research institution in the state. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 19.4:1, the university is home to esteemed faculty members who hold numerous Nobel Prizes. UC Berkeley offers the distinguished Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship to incoming freshmen, guaranteeing a minimum award of $2,500. The class of 2025 boasted impressive average scores, including a GMAT score of 733, a GRE score of 162, and an undergraduate GPA of 3.64. In addition to various business programs such as the Master of Financial Engineering and PhD programs, UC Berkeley offers Full-time MBA, Evening and Weekend MBA, and MBA for Executives.

University of California - Los Angeles

UCLA, also known as the University of California, Los Angeles, is a public university with a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1. The acceptance rate is 9%, and the average need-based financial aid package is around $27,000. For those interested in pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, UCLA's Anderson School of Management offers a rigorous program with a mean GPA of 3.4 and a mean GMAT score of 709 for the Class Profile of 2025. In addition to the MBA program, the school also offers degrees in Ph.D., Fully Employed MBA (F.E.M.B.A.), Executive MBA (E.M.B.A.), Master of Financial Engineering (M.F.E.), and Master of Science in Business Analytics (M.S.B.A.).

University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is the oldest private research university in the state, boasting an acceptance rate of 12% and a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. The average need-based financial aid package at the university is approximately $64,000. To gain admission to the MBA program, candidates must possess a completed undergraduate degree and submit either GRE or GMAT scores. Work experience is not a prerequisite. The university offers online MBA, one-year MBA, executive MBA, full-time MBA, and part-time MBA programs.

University of California - Irvine

The University of California at Irvine, a public university, has an acceptance rate of 21%. The student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1, with an average class size of 40 for MBA students. The average need-based financial aid package available is approximately $27,000. Prospective MBA students must hold a bachelor's degree and have a minimum of 2-6 years of work experience. For the Class of 2025, the average GPA is 3.44, with an average GMAT score of 675. The Paul Merage School of Business at the university offers various programs, including MPAc and Ph.D., as well as full-time, fully-employed, and executive MBAs.

University of California - San Diego

UC San Diego, a distinguished research institution on a global scale, is positioned within the top 20 universities. The student-to-faculty ratio stands at 26:1. A total of sixteen Nobel laureates have been affiliated with UC San Diego's faculty. MBA Graduates from the university are entitled to the Rady-funded UC Fellowship of $10,000. For the 2023 cohort, the average undergraduate GPA mean is 3.37, with a mean GMAT score of 640. Alongside various other programs such as MSBA, MPAc, MFin, etc., the university offers full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programs.

University of California - Davis

The University of California, a public institution, has an acceptance rate of 37%. The student-to-faculty ratio stands at 21:1, and students can benefit from an average scholarship amount of approximately $27,000. Prospective MBA students must hold a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and submit two letters of recommendation from their current direct supervisor. The university offers one of the top 10 online MBA programs in the country. Additionally, the MBA programs, available on a full-time or part-time basis, are exclusively offered in the Bay Area and Sacramento.

Chapman University

Chapman University, a private university, maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. The university has an acceptance rate of 73%. In 2023, the average financial aid package offered to students was $31,000. The MBA class profile showcases a GPA range of 3.4-3.9, a GMAT score range of 600-660, and 1-4 years of work experience. The Argyros School of Business & Economics at the university offers various business programs, including an Executive, Accelerated, Full-time, and Flexible MBA program with specialization in 8 areas.

California State University

California State University, a public university, has an acceptance rate of 87% and a student-to-faculty ratio of 22:1. The average financial aid package for students in the 2022-2023 academic year is approximately $12,000. Prospective MBA students are required to have a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Starting from Fall 2024, GMAT/GRE requirements have been eliminated for all MBA applicants. The university's business school offers various programs including Accelerated MBA, Online MBA, Saturday MBA, Evening MBA, and Joint MBA/MFA.

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University, a private Catholic institution, has an acceptance rate of 41%. The student-to-faculty ratio stands at 11:1, and the average class size for graduate students is 13. Eligible students can receive a financial aid package of $35,000. Prospective MBA candidates are required to possess a bachelor's degree, with a preference for 2 years of work experience. The university offers part-time MBA programs as well as dual J.D./MBA programs.