The Best Online MBA Programs In California

Program summary

Courses run one at a time in 6-week sessions, and admission rests on two years of relevant work experience rather than GMAT or GRE scores.

The program requires ten courses taken one at a time: each semester holds two 6-week sessions with one course per session, and summer has two 5-week sessions. Students can finish on a 21-month track or choose the Flex track for more time, and coursework is delivered asynchronously. An MBA Boot Camp (an introductory module and six topic modules) supports the courses, and the Portfolio course and Comprehensive exam come in the final semester.

No GMAT or GRE is required; instead, applicants must meet the Business Aptitude Requirement with at least two years of relevant work experience. The program is aimed at applicants with early- or mid-career experience, is open to qualified students regardless of undergraduate major, and awards a diploma that reads Master in Business Administration, with no mention of online study.

Program summary

A single cohort moves together through a fully asynchronous program with no required class times, finishing in as little as 12 months in classes of up to 25 students.

Courses follow a semester system and begin in the fall semester (August), and classes of up to 25 students feature instructor-led discussion.

GMAT and GRE scores are not required. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA or greater, professional work experience is preferred, and the process includes one or more letters of recommendation and a 30-45 minute interview with the program director. Designed for working professionals, the program is cohort-based, so students progress with the same group of peers from start to finish.

Program summary

Live online lectures meet on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings during weeks 1, 2 and 4 of each class, after a free two-day online Bootcamp opens the program.

The iMBA is a fully online, one-year, cohort-based program. Students attend required live online lectures during weeks 1, 2 and 4 of each class, on Fridays from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The program is offered in partnership with the College of Continuing Education and admits students for both spring and fall semesters.

The College of Business has waived the GMAT and GRE for all iMBA applicants, and no admission interviews are currently required. Applicants need an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA, plus two professional letters of recommendation. International students may apply, but F-1 student visas are not issued for this fully online program.

Program summary

FAST electives, worth 1.5 units and finished in three weeks, train general-path students in tools such as Excel and CRM/Salesforce.

Students take one course at a time in three-, five- and six-week sessions, and the program is 100 percent online. Everyone completes 21 units of core coursework, then follows the general path or a specialization in Health Services Administration or Project Management. The general path can be finished in as few as 18 months, the Project Management specialization in 23 and Health Services Administration in 24.

GMAT or GRE scores are not required, and neither is work experience. Admission opens twice a year, for fall and spring starts. Prerequisites in financial and managerial accounting, business statistics and microeconomics can be met with earlier coursework or waived with professional experience, and the statistics and economics requirements can be satisfied through online, non-credit, self-paced leveling courses.

Program summary

Four start dates a year and two on-campus residencies frame an online program with five concentrations, including Data Science and Business Analytics and Leading Innovative Organizations.

Students can graduate in as little as two years, starting in fall, winter, spring or summer, and the program runs on a quarterly schedule. Coursework is online, with two on-campus residencies for hands-on learning and networking with peers, faculty and industry leaders. Students choose a broad-scope curriculum or one of five concentrations: Leading Innovative Organizations, Finance, Marketing, Data Science and Business Analytics, or Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation.

The GMAT or GRE is required, but waivers are available for qualified applicants. MBA applicants need three or more years of professional work experience and complete a personal admission interview, which can take place in person, via Zoom or by telephone. The curriculum is designed for working professionals.

Program summary

The 30-unit OMBA culminates in an online, open-book comprehensive exam of seven questions, one per core course, taken alongside the capstone course MGT 5900.

The OMBA is a 30-unit program of ten courses, seven core classes and three electives, followed by a comprehensive exam. Students can finish in as little as 1.5 years or take up to seven years. The three electives can form a concentration in Business Analytics, Digital & Social Media Marketing, Finance, or Human Resource Management, or a General Track that mixes areas.

No GMAT or GRE is required, and the program is built for working professionals and executives. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is required in all courses counted toward the degree, and every requirement, including the comprehensive exam, must be met within seven years of admission.

Program summary

Cohorts pair studio-produced asynchronous content with live class sessions twice a week, and students take part in a week-long international trip visiting companies abroad.

The Online MBA is a two-year program that combines self-paced, asynchronous coursework with live, interactive learning. Asynchronous material includes video presentations produced in Marshall's in-house studio, self-assessment exercises and interactive games, while synchronous class sessions meet twice a week. Students move through the program in cohorts of professionals from diverse industries.

Submitting GMAT, GRE or Executive Assessment scores is optional, and there is no application fee. Applicants submit essays, letters of recommendation (one must come from a professional contact) and a required online video interview. Students who need an F-1 or J-1 visa are not eligible, and the university cannot enroll residents of Mississippi, North Dakota or Puerto Rico.

Program summary

The STEM-designated program pairs small, synchronous online seminars each week with required multi-day in-person residentials.

The 72-unit program can be completed in as little as 24 months, with four start dates a year (fall, winter, spring and summer). Students take 10 core courses plus electives, and concentrations are offered in Business Analytics, Finance and Accounting, Leadership, and Marketing. Self-paced video lectures and case studies are combined with live online classes scheduled outside of standard business hours.

GMAT and GRE scores are optional, and admissions decisions weigh professional experience and leadership potential alongside a resume, personal statements, professional recommendations and transcripts. The format is designed for working professionals. In the Integrated Management Project capstone, students work on the executive team of a simulated startup, where they formulate and defend a strategic vision.

Program summary

Apart from a one-time, three-day in-person workshop, the curriculum is 100% digital, and it includes E2B projects in which students act as consultants to real companies.

The Online MBA requires 52 units: 38 units of foundation courses and 14 units of electives that can be applied toward one of seven concentrations. Students can take up to 7 years to finish, with start options in August, January and May, and they can mix online, in-person and hybrid evening classes. The program starts with a 3-day in-person residential experience, scheduled over an extended weekend near the school's campus locations.

Under the Fast-Pass admission option, essays, resumes and test scores are optional, and no interview is required; applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Classes run at a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students may also take a one-week Global Business Intensive (GBI) elective abroad.

Program summary

Classes run half live on Zoom, on weeknights, and half asynchronous, in a cohort-model program that is not open to out-of-state or international applicants.

The Online MBA is a fully online, cohort-model program with a two-year full-time track and a three-and-a-half-year part-time track, chosen at admission with a guaranteed schedule for each. Live sessions meet Monday through Thursday evenings starting at 6 or 7 p.m., and the asynchronous half uses pre-recorded lectures and discussion boards. Classes hold 25 to 35 students.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and three or more years of work experience is preferred. Admission runs in both fall and spring cycles, and because of NC-SARA rules the program does not accept out-of-state or international applicants.