Enrolling in one of the best online programs in Los Angeles provides an array of benefits for students. After graduating from business schools in Los Angeles, students can leverage their university’s connections, perhaps to earn a role in LA’s thriving entertainment industry. During school, students can find internship and fellowship opportunities in one of the nation’s largest cities and business hubs.
Students may wish to enroll in MBA programs in Los Angeles online to avoid the city’s famously expensive housing costs. Online students also enjoy the option of keeping their day jobs and continuing to work while earning a degree to advance their careers. Moreover, these students can still leverage their school’s connections in Los Angeles if they wish to move there for a job after graduating.
Read on to learn more about the best online MBA options in LA.
Career Outlook With an MBA in Los Angeles
Several elements of the top MBA programs in Los Angeles could entice students to enroll either online or on-campus. The Los Angeles and Orange County areas house many of California’s strongest online MBA offerings. For more information about those programs, consult our California state page. Moreover, given their location, some business schools in Los Angeles maintain connections with entertainment industry companies. As such, students interested in pursuing entertainment careers may wish to investigate local options in LA.
Like most major cities, Los Angeles offers plenty of job opportunities and strong starting salaries in the management, business, and financial operations industries. MBA graduates should find plenty of opportunities to start their business or finance careers in Los Angeles. Though Los Angeles does have a high cost of living, professionals in these fields generally earn higher salaries than comparable professionals in other cities.
Students can dodge this increased cost of living by enrolling in an online MBA program in LA. This option often appeals to California residents who live in less expensive areas of the state. These students can pursue their degrees while keeping their full-time jobs or continuing to raise their families.
Given LA’s thriving business and entertainment communities, MBA programs in Los Angeles offer plenty of opportunities for networking and mentorship. The city also houses several business industry-specific professional organizations, which can help graduate students advance or prepare for their careers while still in school.
Online MBA Programs for You
Grow your career, leadership, and business acumen with an accredited online MBA program.
Education Statistics for Los Angeles, California
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APU is a private, Evangelical Christian institution founded in 1899. The school offers more than 100 academic programs, including an online MBA. APU features 12-credit business specialization areas in accounting, finance, marketing, organizational science, and sports management. Distance learners can complete this program entirely online with no on-campus obligations.
In total, students must complete 42 credits for graduation. Required courses include managerial economics, ethical leadership, strategic management, marketing strategy, and high-performance people management. Regardless of their concentrations, all remote pupils can complete a capstone project. Most students take 1-2 classes per eight-week session and complete the program in 15-30 months. A graduate learner enrolled in this MBA program in Los Angeles must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing with the department.
Interested students with a 3.25 GPA or higher do not need to submit GMAT scores for consideration. A prospective learner needs a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with at least a 2.5 GPA. Each application must include official transcripts, a personal statement, and a professional resume.
Cal Lutheran is a private nonprofit school that holds regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Established in 1959, this liberal arts university offers hybrid and fully online MBA programs in Los Angeles. Students may enroll as part- or full-time learners and finish in 12-24 months.
Each distance student needs to complete 45 credits, or 15 courses, to graduate. MBA seekers can choose between a general track or a concentration in finance, information technology, international business, or marketing. An MBA candidate can also complete a three-credit capstone course or internship experience.
Remote learners can take advantage of resources in the school's career services office to locate the best internship opportunities in their local communities. Students can also participate in Cal Lutheran's study abroad program to gain international business experience and grow their professional networks.
Each interested MBA seeker must submit an application containing their official transcripts, two professional letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and their GMAT scores. Prospective students also need to participate in interviews with admissions counselors.
Established in 1960, CSUDH is a public university with one of the best business schools in Los Angeles. Remote students can take advantage of its online MBA program. CSUDH helps students obtain multidisciplinary skills to become competitive, teamwork-oriented professionals in today's dynamic business environment. Distance students can develop the essential professional competencies needed to secure managerial and administrative positions with specialized training in areas such as finance, marketing, management, information technology management, and international business.
Faculty members deliver courses asynchronously to incorporate both traditional classroom components and the advantages of digital learning platforms. Students can engage with text materials, video lectures, interactive online meetings, and discussion boards to keep up with course requirements. In total, each distance learner needs 21 credits for graduation.
A prospective MBA student needs a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 2.5 GPA. A competitive student must also possess at least a 450 on the GMAT or score above the 25th percentile on the GRE. Each application must include a personal statement and a professional resume.
MCU is a Catholic university that enrolls approximately 1,000 students. The school holds regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and offers one of the best MBA programs in Los Angeles. A remote student may pursue this graduate degree entirely online or in a blended format. MCU prides itself on offering business training focused on global economies and ethical entrepreneurial leadership. MCU alums often seek employment in for-profit and nonprofit organizations, start-up companies, and other entrepreneurial endeavors.
Each MBA seeker needs 36 total credits for graduation. Popular courses at MCU include organizational strategy and planning, innovation management, global entrepreneurship, and finance for managers. Remote students must also complete final research projects and presentations.
A prospective student must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution to apply. Applicants should have a history of undergraduate coursework in statistics, accounting, or a related area with "C" grades or higher. Applications must also include official transcripts and standardized test scores.
Pepperdine is a private, nonprofit institution located in Malibu, California. The school holds regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Online students can take advantage of its online MBA program through the Graziadio Business School, which combines leadership skills, ethics, technology, and business strategies to prepare students for careers in a globalized marketplace. Pepperdine also offers a general MBA track or concentrations in marketing, finance, leadership, or digital innovation.
In total, students can complete 15 courses, or 52 credits, for graduation. Required classes at Pepperdine include financial management, information and process systems, behavior in organizations, and valuation and corporate combinations. Additionally, each learner must attend two immersion experiences in Los Angeles. These in-person requirements allow students to collaborate with the school's corporate partners, develop leadership skills, and network with other MBA seekers. A distance student may complete this MBA program in Los Angeles in as little as 20 months.
Each prospective Pepperdine student must submit an online application, application fee, statement of purpose, resume, GMAT or GRE scores, and their official transcripts for consideration.
TUW is a Jewish-sponsored nonprofit institution and part of Touro College and University system. Established in 1971, the school now serves approximately 18,000 students. This Los Angeles online MBA program provides a flexible education for distance learners, with affordable tuition rates and six start dates throughout the year. Many students can complete the MBA in as little as 12 months.
Online learners can choose from several concentrations at TUW, including accounting, global management, marketing, human resources management, health administration management, and nonprofit management. Each student must complete 36 credits for graduation, including a capstone course. Required classes for MBA seekers include strategy and planning, contemporary marketing, ethics for business professionals, and management across cultures.
Incoming students need a bachelor's degree with a 2.5 GPA or higher, while a transfer student needs to provide evidence of at least a 2.75 GPA. Prospective learners do not need to submit GRE or GMAT scores for consideration.
UCLA's MBA program in Los Angeles offers hybrid and online learning options for distance students. The school's innovative flex scheduling option allows busy working professionals to earn their MBAs remotely. This graduate program also offers specializations such as entrepreneurship, executive development, finance, marketing, entertainment management, global management, and social impact.
Located in the Anderson School of Management, the department requires students to visit campus only four times per quarter. In-person visits take place on weekends about once every three weeks. Additionally, each student must attend an orientation and leadership foundations course held in the last week of August, before classes start.
In total, the MBA degree requires students to complete 80 credits. Enrollees may complete the degree in as few as 27 months. Required classes include managerial economics, foundations of finance, marketing management, and organizational behavior. For graduation, all learners complete a capstone project.
A prospective student needs to submit official transcripts, GRE, GMAT, or executive assessment scores, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and two essays. Each MBA applicant must also participate in an on-campus interview.
Established in 1891, La Verne is a private university with approximately 10,000 students. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, this MBA program in Los Angeles provides a flexible and convenient education for remote students. Distance pupils can follow predetermined coursework schedules to can finish assignments, view lectures, and participate in discussion board postings on their own time from anywhere with internet access.
La Verne's 100% remote program ensures that students absorb the necessary information in areas such as economics, marketing, management, and statistics before entering the job market. In total, each enrollee must complete 36 credits, or 12 courses, to complete the MBA. Required classes include financial management, management in a global economy, and business finance, plus quantitative and statistical analysis. A distance learner may use elective credits to obtain a concentration area such as information technology, supply chain management, health services management, or international business.
A prospective student needs a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Applications must include two or three letters of recommendation, writing sample, statement of purpose, and official transcripts.
USC, a private research institution established in 1880, offers one of the best MBA programs in Los Angeles. It is the oldest private university in the state and serves approximately 46,000 students. Master's students can engage with a rigorous curriculum that teaches them essential business skills and problem-solving techniques. Faculty members deliver courses in a dynamic online learning environment that uses PlayPosit interactive video platforms, zoom video conferencing, and Canvas.
MBA students can complete five multidisciplinary courses that cover business areas such as finance, management, entrepreneurship, and marketing. Following a two-week introductory course, USC requires an immersive six-day residency on campus. The in-person gathering allows master's students to attend workshops and lectures, network with peers, and interact with alumni and faculty members.
Each MBA student needs 51 credits for graduation. In most cases, enrollees can complete the program in five semesters or 21 months. Each applicant must possess a four-year undergraduate degree and a minimum of two years of work experience. Applications must include three letters of recommendation, GRE or GMAT scores, and a resume.
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