California has the largest higher education system in the United States. The sheer size of California's college system means students have many options in and outside of major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
California's job market also has many opportunities for MBA graduates. Given its large population, thriving economy, and strong corporate base, California ranks among the top U.S. destinations for business professionals.
Master of business administration (MBA) students should consider factors like school reputation, alumni networks, and concentration availability can impact career outcomes.
Start your journey by exploring a ranked list of California's best online MBA programs, accreditation, schooling costs, and career paths.
Popular Online Programs
Best Online MBA Programs in California
How We Choose Programs
At OnlineMBA.com, we rely on reputable sources to rank the best MBA programs. We use trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to find standout programs. We consider four metrics: affordability, reputation, academics, and program availability.
This list has not been updated for 2025. Visit our rankings methodology page to learn more about how we rank programs.
Why Get an Online MBA in California?
California has a large, diversified economy and a dense concentration of corporate and industrial activity. These features create an ongoing demand for MBA graduates and give the Golden State the potential to deliver strong returns on your educational investment.
Specific benefits of earning an online MBA in California include:
School Choice As of September 2024, the NCES's College Navigator tool counts 118 California schools offering business programs leading to advanced degrees. For context, that figure exceeds the total number of NCES-recognized degree-granting institutions in 42 states.
Networking Opportunities With so many business schools, and with MBA alumni employed in such large numbers throughout the state, California students can take advantage of exceptional networking opportunities.
Strong Career Prospects California has a large corporate presence and an enduring reputation as a leading hub of industry, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Given these factors, MBA graduates in California appear poised to enjoy bright career prospects.
Accreditation for California Schools
Accredited institutions deliver an academically rigorous education that meets the high-quality standards of independent evaluators. Proper accreditation also ensures that employers and other accredited schools will recognize your degree.
Institutional accreditation extends to all departments and academic programs hosted at a particular school. You should consider it a mandatory feature of any college or university you might attend as an online student. Use this Department of Education tool to research a school's institutional accreditation status.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) has traditionally served as the primary institutional accreditor of California schools. Despite recent changes to the U.S. higher education accreditation system, WASC remains the Golden State's most recognized accrediting body.
Some business schools and MBA programs also hold endorsements from programmatic accreditors. Examples of these accreditors include the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
While programmatic accreditation is optional, it can signal a worthwhile educational experience. Specially accredited programs build specific, in-demand competencies and align with the sharply focused and demanding academic standards enforced by the AACSB, ACBSP, and similar agencies.
How Much Do MBAs Cost in California?
Business schools charge highly variable tuition rates. Key factors that influence online MBA costs include:
School infrastructure, prestige, and reputation among employers
Program delivery format
Space availability and demand among students
A school's status as a public or private institution can also impact costs. Private institutions often charge more, but many also offer generous financial aid programs. If you attend a public institution, your status as an in-state or out-of-state student could affect the price you pay. Higher rates may apply to California non-residents.
In terms of hard figures, consider these graduate school tuition averages reported by the NCES for the 2021-22 school year:
Public institutions: $12,596
Private for-profit institutions: $14,161
Private nonprofit institutions: $29,931
Overall average among all institution types: $20,513
The NCES does not break down average graduate tuition costs by state, but the agency's undergraduate data shows that students at California's public colleges tend to pay a little less than the national average while those at private California colleges face higher-than-average costs.
You can earn an online MBA in California without physically relocating. This can help you avoid some of the state's highest living costs in the nation.
If you need financial aid, begin by seeking scholarships, grants, and awards offered by your school. Use the link below to connect with further financial aid resources.
What California Jobs Can MBAs Get You?
Completing an online MBA in California can open doors to management and executive career paths. These jobs can offer both high salaries and advancement potential.
If California were a country, it would have the world's fifth-largest economy. In 2023, the state had a nominal gross domestic product of almost $3.9 trillion. These statistics speak to the wealth of opportunities the state offers to business professionals with highly marketable MBA degrees.
California has especially large healthcare, professional services, hospitality, transportation, utilities, information technology, and construction industries. MBA-adjacent roles in these industries include positions like:
Management analysts
Logistics managers
Project managers
Read on to explore state-specific profiles for each of these roles.
California has 21 public healthcare systems, which complement a large network of privatized providers. Health services managers work in both public and private health institutions, administering resources and ensuring providers meet care quality and compliance standards. In May 2023, health services managers in California earned an average salary of $156,140 per year.
Job Outlook in California (2022-32):+39.6%
Sources: BLS, Projections Central
Management Analyst or Consultant
Professional and business services rank among the largest employment sectors in California's labor force. Management analysts operate in this sector, applying specialized business knowledge and training to identify areas for efficiency and performance improvements. As of May 2023, they earned an average annual salary of $119,370 in California. Management consultants are analysts who work for various businesses on a contract basis.
Job Outlook in California (2022-32):+9.3%
Sources: BLS, Projections Central
Logistics Manager
Many businesses depend heavily on smooth supply chains. Logistics managers specialize in this area. They monitor raw materials inventories, manage shipping and transportation needs, and negotiate with suppliers. The BLS tracks the role in its "logisticians" category, citing an average annual California salary of $94,310 per year in May 2023.
Job Outlook in California (2022-32):+21.1%
Sources: BLS, Projections Central
Information Systems Manager
Information systems managers function at the crossroads of technology and business management. They assess organizational technology and information management needs, design and maintain responsive systems, and supervise technical IT staff. Computer and information systems managers earned an average annual salary of $217,030 in California, as of May 2023.
Job Outlook in California (2022-32):+15.7%
Sources: BLS, Projections Central
Project Manager
Project managers oversee goal-oriented business initiatives by managing human resources, costs, budgets, and schedules. You can earn an online MBA in California with a project management concentration. Some schools offer project management MBA concentrations specific to particular industries, such as construction. In California, project management specialists earned an average salary of $117,410 per year as of May 2023.
Job Outlook in California (2022-32):+9.5%
Sources: BLS, Projections Central
California's Top MBA Employers[/hen-ui-heading]
BLS data for California offers insights into industries that employ MBA graduates in especially large numbers, along with industries and roles that offer the highest pay rates.
Management, business, and financial occupations with high levels of employment in California include:
General and operations managers
Project managers
Management analysts
Market research analysts
From this perspective, MBA concentrations like management, project management, and marketing hold relevance for California's labor market.
In terms of average pay, these MBA-oriented management, business, and financial occupations offer some of the state's highest salaries:
Computer and information systems managers
Training and development managers
This list excludes chief executives, who earned an average base salary of $281,030 per year in California as of May 2023.
California's major metropolitan areas, including the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco and San Jose areas of northern California, may offer salary premiums. However, they are also expensive places to live. A 2024 CNBC analysis of the U.S. cities with the highest living costs featured all three of these areas in the top 10.
Three major employers you could target after graduating with an online MBA in California include:
Top MBA Employers in California
AECOM: AECOM is a major international infrastructure-focused professional services firm. Employing 87,000 people globally, the company maintains a major regional office in Los Angeles and has a continuous need for MBA graduates, especially in its construction, capital management, and management services divisions.
Amgen: One of just 30 companies included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Amgen ranks among the world's largest and most valuable biotechnology companies.With 2023 revenues of more than $28 billion, Amgen has strong and ongoing needs for professionals with MBA-adjacent managerial proficiencies.
Salesforce: Salesforce is a well-known provider of customer relationship management software. The company has integrated artificial intelligence into its flagship product lines, positioning itself for sustained growth.The company operates recruitment campaigns at colleges and business schools and hires MBA graduates for both domestic and international roles.
Questions About MBAs in California
California has a prosperous, diversified economy, a large population, and a strong concentration of industrial and corporate activity. These factors combine to give the state a favorable profile for MBA graduates.
