For the 3.2 million people that live here, Anaheim and the greater Orange County area deliver a laid-back cosmopolitan lifestyle, complete with private residential enclaves and all the trappings of the good life.
But don’t get it wrong. There’s a lot more to Anaheim than midday martinis at the country club. Right alongside Orange County’s homey suburbs and cool, metropolitan vibe is an economy that’s valued at $1.5 trillion.
The Orange County Business Council aptly calls it an “economic mega region,” complete with massive multinationals and a thriving startup community that’s backed by effective resources and real opportunities that give the area plenty to brag about… It has the highest per capita economic output, the highest educated workforce, the lowest unemployment rate, and the second largest workforce in Southern California.
From established business leaders to hungry aspiring execs, there are near-endless opportunities to tap into Orange County’s dynamic economy. Home to powerhouses like the Walt Disney Company, Boeing, and Bank of America, being competitive here takes real ideas, tenacity, and a set of skills and knowledge that only come with an MBA.
Anaheim’s Enchanted Economy: The Financial Magic of Disneyland
On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opened to the public. The rest, they say, is history.
Originally called The Mickey Mouse Park and Disneylandia before becoming Disneyland, the park quickly became a sensation, drawing more than five million visitors in its first year alone. Today, the park welcomes some 17 million visitors annually, making it the most visited theme park in the world, second to only Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida.
But for business professionals, Disneyland’s most impressive stats are those involving its impact on Southern California’s economy. When considering the park’s value to the region, you got tourism revenue, employment, and tax revenue all pitching in. Let’s not forget that Anaheim was essentially built around the world-class theme park.
In 2023, Disneyland commissioned Cal State Fullerton’s Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting to provide them with an assessment of the company’s impact on the region, and the results were truly eye-opening.
No surprise here – With more than 78,000 employees, it’s the largest employer in Orange County. It serves as a catalyst for the creation and growth of other recreational activities and establishments tied to tourism, and it continuously feeds the economy through major construction projects.
The study found that in 2018, Disneyland had a total economic impact of $8.5 billion in the region, increasing by 50 percent since 2013. During this time, it generated about $509 million in state and local taxes. Disneyland is responsible for more than $160 million in annual tax revenue to the City of Anaheim’s General Fund alone.
And the Walt Disney Company isn’t taking its foot off the gas. They recently announced the creation of a new project called DisneylandForward, a nearly $2 billion expansion that economists estimate will generate some $244 million in annual tax revenue for the city.
Why Orange County Has Some of the Best Online MBA Programs and Campus Options in California
Anaheim’s Disneyland may be the first thing to come to mind when considering the strength of Orange County’s economy, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. Fortune 100 companies like Charter Communications, Amazon, and JP Morgan Chase all have operations here staffed to the rafters with talent coming out of the areas ten premier business schools.
Sure, legacy companies provide the foundation for Orange County’s economy, but its startup sector ensures continued growth for this region for decades to come. Startups thrive in Orange County’s diverse economy, home to major healthcare, biotech, and aerospace companies. Irvine and Anaheim pride themselves on ensuring budding enterprises have access to resources, talent, and networks, offering the incubators and accelerators to back it up.
For example, the Orange County Startup Council (OCSC) serves as a hub for connecting startups with customers, investors, and talent. And the City of Irvine hosted its first-ever Tech Week in 2024 – a week-long event that brought together venture capitalists and startups for unmatched educational and networking opportunities.
Orange County’s major universities produce a steady stream of business talent for the region’s new and established companies through the top-tier MBA programs they offer. At UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, you’ll find three nationally ranked MBAs – the Full-Time MBA, the Flex MBA, and the Executive MBA. And Cal State Fullerton offers two MBA programs – the Flexible MBA and the Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) – that are part of its College of Business and Economics, which boasts an alumni network of 79,000+.
Accredited Online MBA Programs and Campus Options in Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, and Throughout Orange County
Orange County’s MBA programs continue to rank among the best in California. Housed in esteemed schools of business, these programs can bring you closer to starting your own business venture or competing for prime C-suite positions.
Schools in Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Ana, and beyond offer MBA programs that come complete with flexible online delivery options. Just some of the areas of specialization offered through Orange County-based MBAs include healthcare administration, finance, accounting, nonprofit management, and business analytics.
Many MBAs are designed for emerging leaders with little experience, while executive-level programs are designed for business professionals with extensive industry experience.
University of Massachusetts Global
School of Business and Professional Studies
Viejo, CA
Website
- MBA (Accounting, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Finance, Healthcare Administration, HR, Marketing, Organizational Leadership) (online)
California State University, Fullerton
College of Business and Economics
Fullerton, CA
Website
- Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) (on-campus)
- Flexible MBA (Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Organizational Leadership, Management, HR, Risk Management and Insurance, Finance, Information Systems, Business Analytics, Accounting, General Management) (on-campus)
- Accreditation: AACSB
Hope International University
College of Business and Management
Fullerton, CA
Website
- MBA (Marketing Management, Non-Profit Management, General Management, Customized) (on-campus)
- Accreditation: IACBE
West Coast University
Irvine, CA
Website
- MBA (Health Administration and Leadership, Project Management, Public Health) (online)
Westcliff University
College of Business
Irvine, CA
Website
- MBA (Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Global Business, Healthcare Administration, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Organizational Management, Strategic and Innovative Leadership, Cybersecurity, IT Management, IT Project Management, Web Development and Design, Applied AI in Business, Business Analytics, Digital and Strategic Marketing) (on-campus, online)
Concordia University Irvine
School of Business and Economics
Irvine, CA
Website
- MBA (Sports Business) (on-campus)
- Accreditation: IACBE
University of California-Irvine
Paul Merage School of Business
Irvine, CA
Website
- Full-Time MBA (on-campus)
- Flex MBA (on-campus, online, hybrid)
- Executive MBA (hybrid)
- Accreditation: AACSB
Chapman University
Argyros College of Business and Economics
Orange, CA
Website
- Full-Time MBA (Accounting, Business Analytics, Entertainment and Media Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Business, Marketing, Strategic Management) (on-campus)
- Flexible MBA (Accounting, Business Analytics, Entertainment and Media Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Business, Marketing, Strategic Management) (on-campus)
- Executive MBA (on-campus)
- Accreditation: AACSB