Business Schools in California: Full List of MBA Programs

A popular graduate degree, the master of business administration, or MBA, uses a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience to prepare future business leaders and experts.

California is home to many top business schools. By earning an MBA in California, you’ll get access to a strong economy and an innovative startup culture.

Here, we introduce some of the best business schools in California. We also provide a complete list of all MBA programs in the state.

The following California MBA programs regularly top ranking lists for academic excellence and student success. We selected these schools based on criteria such as academic quality, selectivity, and overall reputation.

The following table lists all business schools in California. We only included nonprofit institutions and MBA programs accredited by one or more of the following agencies:

Per our ranking methodology as of 2024, we also excluded any schools that support or promote anti-LGBTQ+ policies or initiatives.

Many people relocate to California for the sunny weather but stay for the job and educational opportunities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), California has the highest employment levels of management occupations. Here, management professionals earn an average annual salary of $160,360.

California is also home to cities with the highest employment of management jobs. Los Angeles and San Francisco, for example, employ around 438,000 and 237,000 people in this sector, respectively.

Attending one of the best business schools in California can help you build a network of alumni in a state with a growing job market.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, an MBA costs, on average, $31,200 a year in tuition and fees. In 2020, MBA students paid an average of $11,850 a year in tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and $22,472 at private nonprofit colleges.

Whether you attend a public or private school can affect how much you spend on your MBA.

For instance, the accelerated MBA program at California State University Long Beach costs $45,600 a year for in-state students. In comparison, Stanford’s MBA costs a whopping $82,455 per year in tuition — and that doesn’t even include fees and other expenses.

With a high cost of living, California ranks the fourth most expensive state in the country, according to World Population Review. Fortunately, there are many scholarships for California students. You can (and should!) also apply for federal student aid.

California has the most management, business, and financial operations jobs in the country.

According to May 2023 BLS data, 1.3 million California residents work in management, while 1.2 million work in business and financial operations — beating out Texas, New York, and Florida.

Most California residents who work in management hold positions like general manager and operations manager. That said, you could also work as a marketing manager, sales manager, or medical and health services manager.

Here are some of the highest-paying MBA jobs in California today.

Note: The insights on this page were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 25, 2024.