As more industries seek employees with upper-level degrees for management positions, best value MBA degrees in California are growing in number to meet the needs of the business sector. However, for some students, the cost of an MBA is daunting. According to Investopedia, students who obtain an MBA from many private business schools can accumulate as much as $200,000 in debt and expenses over a two-year period.
With recent reports stating that more than three-quarters of employers plan to increase hiring of MBA graduates and more than half of those employers plan to increase base salaries for those who have recently graduated, some higher than the rate of inflation, many students are choosing to go into debt in order to achieve higher positions in their company or to make a career change. Students are realizing that the demand for qualified talent is strong, and obtaining an MBA demonstrates talent, dedication and commitment to achieving goals.However, it is possible to obtain an MBA without going significantly into debt. In addition, with more schools offering flexibility in scheduling, many students are able to work full-time, meet family obligations and continue their education as well. These best value MBA schools were selected for this list because they are accredited schools with affordable tuition.
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University is a non-profit institution, allowing them to focus on the needs of students without the distraction of stakeholders who are expecting profits. Golden Gate is a private institution that does not rely on state funding like many public institutions. As a non-profit, private institution, students are able to customize their program to better fit their needs. The college focuses on giving students superior class selections and not the bottom line.
Edward S. Ageno School of Business
In 2000, Golden Gate University named the School of Business the Edward S. Ageno School of Business after a man who was born into an Italian immigrant family and attended Golden Gate as an adult, working student. Mr. Ageno attended Golden Gate at the old Central YMCA building from 1934 through 1938. He earned his degree in Accountancy at night, despite commuting by ferry and streetcar from the East Bay while holding a full-time job. After obtaining his degree, Mr. Ageno formed his own accounting firm, and eventually became the accountant/bookkeeper for Galileo-Capri Salami Company. He became president of the company and eventually the company’s sole owner. It is now a division of the Sara Lee Corporation.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration program at the Ageno School of Business addresses the growing need for businesses in every industry to find highly qualified employees. The program offers students two options for obtaining their degree. The Traditional Evening and Weekend MBA Program is designed for working professionals with flexible schedules that allow students to balance work, home and school life. The Professional MBA Program is an intensive 16-month program that emphasizes skills and knowledge necessary in today’s business world. Students must have five years of full-time work experience to enter the program. Classes meet on alternating Saturdays as well as online. Program objectives include:
- Developing ability to apply theory in order to understand real practical situations.
- Integrate functional department issues into a coherent strategic whole
- Ability to work in a team setting
- Identify, analyze and solve problems using critical-thinking and innovation
- Understand current international and global issues
- Identify ethical and diversity issues
- Resolve current technology and environmental issues
- Develop leadership skills to execute change in an organization
Contact
Golden Gate University
536 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-2968
Telephone: 800-GGU-4YOU (448-4968)
Email: info@ggu.edu
Website
Tuition: $14,400
Humboldt State University
Innovation is the key at Humboldt State University with faculty that students actually get to know and who are leaders in their field. Students are included in lab research, field work and experiments. Learning at Humboldt is not limited to a classroom, lectures and note-taking. Students take the knowledge they learn in class and apply them in real-world settings. Humboldt students have taken their own seismic readings, conducted wildlife studies and spent time in a social work setting. This provides hands-on knowledge that allows students to succeed in their chosen industry.
School of Business
The School of Business offers programs with a core curriculum that provides a solid foundation that enables students to focus and specialize in the area of business they are most interested in pursuing. The school offers both graduate and undergraduate programs.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration at the School of Business is designed to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge in order to prepare graduates to apply their knowledge and skills in the business world. Students do not have to have a business minor to enter the MBA program. Humboldt understands that an advanced business degree can benefit natural sciences, environmental policy and other undergraduate studies as the student gains functional business skills. The program is one year and there is no work experience required. All students enrolled receive scholarship support ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 and are provided a paid summer internship. A final project with an advisor is required and all students complete an electronic portfolio designed to demonstrate their skills and knowledge to potential employers.
Contact
Humboldt University
School of Business
Siemens Hall 111
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521
Telephone: 707-826-3224
Email: business@humboldt.edu
Website
Tuition: Out of State: $18,304; In State: $7,144
International Technological University
The international Technological University was founded by Dr. Shu-Park Chan in 1994. Dr. Chen was the tenth son of General Jitang Chen, Warlord of Guangdong Province in Southern China, who is credited with benefitting common citizens under his rule by attracting technology and foreign investment. Dr. Chen’s father made Guangzhou a city known for its high-tech advancement, and had a vision of spreading that vision throughout China. However, the political climate changed in China, causing Jitang Chen to retreat to Taiwan and send his son, Shu-Park Chan to America.
After earning a Master’s and PhD from the University of Illinois, Dr. Chan joined the faculty at Santa Clara University, becoming Dean of the Engineering School and the first endowed professor at the facility. President George Bush appointed Dr. Chan as a member of the Fulbright Scholarship Board, the first Asian to hold that honor.
After his retirement in 1994, Dr. Chan founded ITU, establishing three Master’s degrees in Computer Science, Electrical and Software Engineering, along with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. In 2008, he added the Master of Business Administration, launching a Doctorate in Business Administration later that year. Dr. Chan passed away in February 2013, but his legacy lives on in the college that focuses on the needs of Silicon Valley corporations, providing them with a quality, well-educated workforce.
General MBA
The General Master of Business Administration at ITU provides students with knowledge and skills to gain leadership positions in modern organizations. The program emphasizes decision-making in an ever-changing business environment, preparing students for responsible positions with a focus on the coordination of people and material resources to achieve results. There are two core courses and ten elective courses. Students must provide an official transcript, and may submit GRE or GMAT scores, although they are not required. Students who submit incomplete transcripts must provide a final transcript to document all pre-requisite courses were completed satisfactorily before entering the program.
Contact
International Technological University
355 West San Francisco Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Telephone: 888-488-4968
Website
Tuition: $13,500
Lincoln University
Lincoln University was founded in 1919 by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Lickey, one of the first schools in California to place emphasis on the education of working adults. Lincoln is a unique institution, proud of the quality of their education that remains relevant to today’s professional world. Graduates obtain practical and solid foundations that allow them to achieve their professional goals, offering the best, custom-fit education.
MBA
The Master of Science in Business Administration at Lincoln develops broad managerial competence that enables graduates to address a wide variety of business situations. Emphasis is placed on the development of the individual. Program objectives include:
- Use of analytical tools in quantitative and behavioral sciences
- Understanding of basic business functions with emphasis on inter-relationships
- Building of flexible adaptability to an ever-changing corporate world
- Evaluation of social, political and economic values
- Improvement of teamwork, communication and decision-making skills
- Understanding of personal and professional responsibility
- Knowledge of the global nature of today’s business world.
Contact
Lincoln University
401 15th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: 510-628-8010
Email: admissions@lincolnuca.edu
Website
Tuition: $10,105
National University
National University has been providing accessible, challenging and relevant education since 1971, and is the second-largest private, non-profit institute of higher learning in California. National invests in students by providing quality instruction and state-of-the-art technology. National is proud of their commitment to diversity, providing more Master’s degrees to minority students than any other college or university in California. The University ranks in the top ten nationally in African Americans according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration program at National is designed to prepare students for leadership positions in the business world. Students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to manage organizations in a business environment that changes rapidly. Students gain a conceptual understanding and problem-solving tools to address the issues facing industries today. Emphasis is on team-building, decision-making and problem-solving based on five themes:
- The program focuses on the demands of today’s current marketplace.
- The program is available to students both on-site and online.
- Students may specialize their degree in a particular discipline or take a more general business tract.
- Students develop problem-solving techniques and stakeholder requirements.
- The program integrates technology with traditional classes.
Contact
National University
11255 North Torrey Pines road
La Jolla, CA 93037
Telephone: 800-NAT-UNIV (628-8648)
Email: advisor@nu.edu
Website
Tuition: $12,096
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School was established in 1909 with the goal of providing graduate-level education to naval officers. Initially, there were ten officer students with two Navy instructors, with classes held in two attic rooms of the Naval Academy. In 1912, the school was renamed the Postgraduate Department of the Naval Academy, with courses in ordnance, gunnery, electrical engineering, radio telegraphy, naval construction, civil engineering and marine engineering. After World War II, the facilities at the Naval Academy were no longer sufficient to operate the military postgraduate school, and Congress purchased the Hotel Del Monte in Monterrey, California as the site of the new campus. In December 1951, the postgraduate school moved across the country, and the main building of the Hotel Del Monte, now known as Herrmann Hall, is used as the administrative offices for the Naval Postgraduate School. Programs at the school are designed to accommodate the unique needs of military members. The 1,500 students who attend the Naval Postgraduate School consist of military officers for the United States and other countries, as well as a small handful of civilian government employees.
Graduate School of Business and Public Policy
The Graduate School of Business and Public Policy at the Naval Postgraduate School offers world-class graduate education and professional development to military officers, defense civilians and defense contractors. Their mission is to serve the Nation by educating United States and allied military officers in defense-focused business and public policy.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration at the Naval Postgraduate School is a defense-focused program offering advanced approaches to problem solving and policy analysis with a focus on quantitative, financial, economic, information technology and other management techniques that are important to the Department of Defense. Students may also obtain a Master of Science in Management which allows them to manage complex defense organizations and conduct analyses of problems, policies and operations. There are both resident and non-resident programs available.
Contact
Graduate School of Business & Public Policy
Naval Postgraduate School
555 Dyer Road
Monerey, CA 93943
Telephone: 831-656-2471
Website
Tuition: $0
San Diego State University
San Diego State was founded in 1897, making it the oldest higher education institution in the area. The school began as the San Diego Normal School, dedicated to educating elementary school teachers. In 1921, the name of the school was changed to the San Diego teachers college. The school became San Diego State College, earning university status in the early 1970s.
SDSU is renowned for its academic excellence, offering 91 undergraduate majors, as well as 78 master’s and 22 doctorate degrees. the college is proud of the connection they have with the local community, and is a leader in educating those who provide significant expertise to industries in the area. it ranks among the top colleges and universities for ethnic and racial diversity. SDSU is world-renowned for their public research endeavors, and the university has been classified as a “research-high” institution by the Carnegie foundation.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is state-supported, which makes it affordable. Despite the great value, the program provides students with an outstanding program of study, and students may choose from several concentrations. The Sports Business Management concentration is designed for students who desire careers in a sports-focused business, while the Executive MBA is designed for seasoned, working professionals who want to enhance their leadership skills.
The program at SDSU requires a minimum of 30-units up to a maximum of 48-units of 500-, 600-, and 700-level courses. Up to 12 units of classwork may be accepted from students transferring from another college or university. No more than six units in courses numbered 780, 797 and 798 are accepted toward degree completion. Students must provide a personal statement, resume and one to three letters of reference. In addition, students must provide official transcripts from any college or university they have attended. Students must also provide acceptable GRE or GMAT test scores.
Contact
Graduate Business Programs
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-8228
Campus Location EBA 448
Telephone: 619-594-8073
Email: gradbusiness@sdsu.edu
Website
Tuition: Out of State: $17,926; In State: $6,766
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University, located in one of the most beautiful, diverse and vibrant cities in the world, and is focused on addressing issues on the local, national and global scale. The school has a commitment to the local community, and that commitment is displayed throughout the curriculum. More than 500 courses at the university incorporate academic study with community involvement. The college has been named by the Princeton Review as one of 81 “Colleges with a Conscience” and is one of the Carnegie Foundation’s “Community Engagement Institutions.”
College of Business
The College of Business at San Francisco State University offers graduate level programs in business administration that allow students to earn a degree with a general business focus or to choose specific concentrations geared toward their area of specialty.
MBA – Emphasis in Leadership
The Master of Business Administration in Leadership provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide leadership in a variety of organizations. The program prepares students for management positions in both non-profit and profit companies. As the dynamics of business change, companies require the expertise of those with strong leadership skills to guide staff in dealing with those changes.
MBA Concentration in Sustainable Business
The Master of Business Administration Concentration in Sustainable Business is designed for those who want in-depth knowledge of environmental and social dimensions in the business world. The program focuses on three aspects of sustainable business to improve a company’s long-term performance:
- Learning to manage regulations, reputation, litigation and market risks
- Skills in value-driven leadership
- Recognition of market opportunities created by challenges related to the environment and social factors
- Students develop the skills to articulate their business plan for sustainability, while learning to develop and lead external forces necessary to establish change in an organization. In addition, students learn to implement the metrics necessary to measure progress and provide accountability.
MBA – Emphasis on Social Innovation
The Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in social innovation teaches students to apply business skills and innovation to meet needs in society that are not currently being met. Students develop skills to work across business, government and non-profit sectors to provide necessary services to those who need them. The program is designed for social entrepreneurs or for mid-career professionals working in social change organizations. Objectives for the program include:
- Communicate social innovation requirements to senior management and others within an orgainziation>/li>
- Promote creativity within an organization
- Use creative problem-solving to address complex social challenges and implement those solutions throughout an organization
Contact
San Francisco State University
835 Market Street, Suite 550
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415- 817-4300
E-mail: mba@sfsu.edu
Website
Tuition: Out of State: $17,610 In State: $6,450
Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University is located just one hour north of San Francisco in the heart of wine country. It is a small campus with traditions that focus on intellectual and personal growth, as well as providing leadership opportunities and technological proficiency. Approximately 34 percent of all students live on campus, and approximately 80 percent of all incoming freshman are from outside the North Bay region. Sonoma State provides students with the skills and knowledge to achieve their goals with an emphasis on the global economy. Sonoma State offers the only Wine Business Institutes in the United States.
School of Business and Economics
The School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State embraces the new global economy with principles and values that address today’s business landscape. With an emphasis on sustainability and creativity, students are provided the tools necessary to succeed in today’s business world. Sonoma State offers two MBA options – the Executive MBA and the Evening MBA.
Executive MBA
The Executive MBA at Sonoma State creates the leaders necessary in the business world today. Traditional programs are available as are wine intensive MBA courses, designed for those who plan to enter the wine business that exists in the area surrounding the college. The Executive MBA is a more traditional program, although the curriculum is very forward thinking. Instructors are experienced in the subjects they teach as many are or were professionals in their field.
Evening MBA
The Evening MBA program at Sonoma State is newly redesigned and provides the strategies necessary for students to succeed in the ever-changing business climate. Students are taught how to read financial documents, but are also given instruction on less-tangible factors related to business. Students learn how to develop a brand, how to deliver exceptional customer experiences and integrate marketing messages across multiple channels.
Contact
Sonoma State University
School of Business and Economics
1801 East Cotali Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-664-2377
Email: sbedean@sonoma.edu
Website
Tuition: Out of State: $18,394 In State: $7,234
Trident University International
Trident University offers students a connected learning experience delivered with the passion of those who are experts in their field. The university provides outstanding services, cutting-edge technology and a highly-qualified faculty, 90 percent of which hold doctoral degrees in their field of expertise. Trident offers unrivaled excellence, uncommon passionate support and unparalleled access. There is no application fee and military benefits cover the entire tuition for those who have served in the United States military.
College of Business
The College of Business at Trident provides an outstanding course of study for those who want to succeed in the business world. More than 90 percent of the faculty has doctorate level degrees in their fields of expertise and are required to do hands-on research one quarter each year. The school is accredited by the Western Association of School a nd Colleges, which also accredits such top level schools as UCLA and Pepperdine.
Master of Business Administration
The College of Business Administration offers a Master of Business Education that is recognized throughout the business world as a leader in graduate level business education. The program is student-oriented that uniquely serves students who have been under-served due to employment, distance or other obligations that have prevented them from furthering their education. The program is an online degree program, allowing students to create a unique, flexible schedule in order to achieve their professional goals.
Contact
Trident University International
5757 Plaza Drive, Suite 100,
Cypress, CA 90630
Telephone: 800) 579-3170
Website
Tuition: $6,600
University of the West
The University of the West was originally known as the His Lai University, founded in 1991 with the goal to create inspired, prepared and educated students who would be able to meet the challenges in an increasingly complex world. The free exchange of ideas and traditions is no longer limited by borders as technology now connects distance worlds. The college is deeply committed to the diversity of the business world.
Department of Business Administration
The mission of the Department of Business Administration at the University of the West is to prepare students to enter the business world with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing business climate. The programs within the department build on the knowledge blocks using cross-cultural expertise and the tradition of community service.
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration program is a two-year program for those attending full-time. Students may complete the program early by attending summer sessions. Students must complete 15 units of foundation, 21 units of coure, at least nine units of concentration and three units of capstone. The MBA program emphasizes cultural differences and students learn with hands-on experience. Students are encouraged to expand their knowledge by taking courses outside the business department.
Contact
Department of Business Administration
University of the West
1409 Walnut Grove Avenue
Rosemead, CA 91770
Telephone: 626-571-8811
Website
Tuition: $9,486
These programs in California provide students with an affordable option to advance their careers through higher education. As some of the best value MBA degrees in California, the programs offer outstanding academics as well as hands-on experience so students gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
For more information on earning a MBA degree, please see The 20 Most Affordable Top-Ranked Business Schools and MBA Programs.