College of Business Administration | San Marcos, CA | Visit website
About the College of Business Administration at California State University, San Marcos
The California State University San Marcos College of Business Administration is built on academically rigorous and innovative programs, a diverse community of students and scholars, and an expansive network of business, nonprofit, and community partners. The exceptional, real-world learning experiences here help transform students into business visionaries prepared to make lasting changes in the business world.
The College of Business Administration boasts an excellent selection of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including two MBA programs —the Fully Employed MBA and the Specialized MBA —to suit learners at different points in their careers and with different professional goals.
MBAs and Other Programs Offered Through the California State University San Marcos, College of Business Administration
The Cal State University San Marcos College of Business Administration offers two, distinct MBA programs, both of which are designed with flexibility, convenience, and real-world learning in mind.
Both programs culminate in a Master’s Experience, a signature program of Cal State San Marcos that allows students to connect with business organizations to perform consulting projects. The Master’s Experience represents the capstone experience for both MBA programs.
Fully Employed MBA
The Fully Employed MBA is a 41-credit generalist MBA that’s designed for students with at least three years of professional experience. Highlights of this program include:
- Cohort model
- Accelerated design – Five-week classes
- 18-month completion time
- Hybrid classes offer a blend of virtual and in-person learning (Students can attend class virtually on two Saturdays and two Wednesdays per five-week course.)
- Evening and weekend class times (most classes held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings)
- Critical-skills workshops – focused workshops that are designed to enhance your essential knowledge and critical skills in areas like ethics and communication, career development, business law, business writing, and more
- Meet the Leader Series - provides students with a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders in an informal setting
Specialized MBA
The 36-credit Specialized MBA is designed for recent graduates and early-career professionals who want to customize their MBA to align with specific professional interests and career goals. Highlights of this program include:
- Options to specialize in Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, or International Business (requires an international study trip)
- Hybrid classes offer a blend of virtual and in-person learning
- Accelerated cohort (12-month completion time) and part-time (two- to three-year completion time) formats available
- Weekday evening classes (5:30PM-8:15PM)
Other Graduate Degrees
- Business Foundation Certificate of Advanced Study
- Business Intelligence Certificate of Advanced Study
- Core Business Knowledge Certificate of Advanced Study
- Health Information Technology Certificate
- Hospitality and Tourism Management Certificate of Advanced Study
- International Business Certificate of Advanced Study
- Professional Accounting Certificate of Advanced Study
Undergraduate Business Degree
BSBA with concentrations in:
- Accounting
- General
- Professional
- Finance
- Global Business
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Business Analytics
- Global Supply Chain Management
Minors are available in:
- Business Administration
- Global Business Management
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Supply Chain Management
Undergraduate certificates include:
- Certificate of Specialized Study in Water Management & Leadership-Intermediate Level
- Military Science Certificate of Specialized Study
MBA Program Customization
While the Fully Employed MBA provides students with a generalized plan of study, the Specialized MBA allows students to customize the MBA through a choice of specialization in Supply Chain Management, International Business, or Business Analytics.
MBA Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements vary based on the MBA program:
Fully Employed MBA
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in any major
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 units
- At least three years of full-time professional work experience
- GMAT/GRE NOT required
Your application should include:
- A Personal Achievements essay: one-page essay outlining your significant career milestones and achievements and describing the impact these achievements had on your professional journey.
- A Program Experience essay: one-page essay explaining the reasons for your application and the relevance of the MBA toward achieving your goals
- Two letters of recommendation
- Resume
- Unofficial transcripts
Specialized MBA
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in any major
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 units
- GMAT/GRE NOT required
Your application should include:
- Statement of Purpose: one-page essay that provides a comprehensive overview of your background, career achievements, goals, and specific reasons for seeking admission to the MBA program
- One letter of recommendation
- Resume
- Unofficial transcripts
International Students
International applicants whose bachelor’s degree is from an institution where English is not the principal language of instruction must satisfy the English language proficiency requirement by submitting scores from one of the following:
- TOEFL score of 80 iBT
- IELTS overall band score of 6.0, writing score no lower than 6.0 and no section score below 5.5
MBA Program Highlights
Course Delivery | FEMBA: Hybrid (blend of evening/weekend classes and online classes)
Specialized MBA: Hybrid (blend of evening weekday classes and online classes) |
Class Size | Record class size of 112 students in 2024 – Specialized MBA was divided into two cohorts of 28 (afternoon) and 36 (evening); FEMBA had 48 students
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Alumni Network | 85% of alumni remain in the region after graduating
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One of the Most Affordable Tuition Rates Among California Business Schools
The MBA programs of the California State University San Marcos College of Business Administration are priced among the most affordable in the state:
- Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA): $32,582 (resident), $50,939 (non-resident)
- Specialized MBA: $33,375 (resident), $51,732 (non-resident)
Note: Students specializing in International Business will have an additional International Experience fee of approximately $4,000-$6,000.
Undergraduate Business Program
The BSBA is priced at $8,082 per year ($32,328 total) for residents and $18,162 per year ($72,648 total) for non-residents.
Specialty Business Program Accreditation
The Cal State San Marco College of Business Administration is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), an internationally recognized sign of excellence in business education. Through its accreditation processes, the AACSB recognizes colleges and universities that have met rigorous standards for program quality and student outcomes. Today, just 5 percent of all business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation.
Experiential Learning and Travel Opportunities
The College of Business Administration offers an outstanding selection of experiential learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate business students. Both MBA programs provide students with exciting opportunities to connect with companies, nonprofits, and governmental agencies and complete real-world consulting projects through the Master’s Experience.
Students of the Specialized MBA who choose the International Business specialization also participate in a ten-week international experience, the first five of which are spent preparing for the experience and the other five traveling to international locations where Cal State San Marcos has established relationships (Denmark, Taiwan, China, Ecuador, India, etc.). International students who complete this specialization remain in Southern California and engage in company visits and projects.
Unique Business Student Supports, Clubs, and Networking Opportunities
Real-world learning experiences are a hallmark of the Cal State University San Marcos College of Business Administration. Through a series of Signature Programs, business students are afforded outstanding opportunities to engage with, and learn from, business executives while learning skills immediately applicable to today’s business environment. Some of the College’s Signature Programs include:
- Center for Leadership Innovation and Mentorship Building (CLIMB): Established in 2004, CLIMB is involved in research with students, faculty, business and community organizations, and more. It also provides small businesses with unique opportunities to leverage the resources and expertise of the College of Business Administration and the university as a whole.
- Business Professional Development Program (BPD): The program, now a required business course, is taught by experienced business professionals (called Executives in Residence) who help students experience success in a competitive business environment.
- Executives in Residence (EIR): Executives in Residence are business professionals who help students navigate the BPD. They instruct and coach students to help ensure positive student outcomes and professional success.
- In the Executive’s Chair: Top business leaders gather weekly to talk to students about their careers and the business strategies that made them successful.
- Career Mentor Program: Open to all undergrad juniors and seniors, as well as MBA students, the Career Mentor Program allows students to connect with industry mentors who provide them with invaluable academic and career advice and guidance.
- Peer Mentor Program: The College’s Peer Mentor Program connects pre-business students with business students in their junior and senior years who help them adjust to life at college.
An outstanding selection of student organizations provides students with exciting opportunities to get involved and connect with their peers:
- Accounting Society
- Entrepreneurship Society
- Finance Society
- Global Supply Chain Management Society
- Management Society
- Marketing Society
- Management Information Systems (MIS) Society
- Latino Business Student Association
International Student Supports
International students enjoy a host of services and resources designed to ensure a successful academic experience. International Student Advisors serve as the primary contact for all international students, offering them assistance with academic matters, adjustment issues, visa problems, and more.
Cat State San Marcos also offers a wide array of events and programs that allow the international student community to connect with their peers and become acclimated to their new surroundings and culture:
- International Coffee Hour: A monthly gathering where students and faculty celebrate the university’s diversity
- International Education Week: A week-long celebration of the benefits of international education
- The International Fair: An exciting annual event chock-full of events, demonstrations, and activities
- Global Connections: A student organization that offers international students and domestic students the chance to connect with each other and learn about different cultures; Global Connections also provides support services to international students when they arrive at the university.
Why We Recommend the College of Business Administration at Cal State University, San Marcos
The Cal State San Marco College of Business Administration is where applied learning is practiced every day and real-world experiences are woven into the fabric of the learning experience.
Fostering an environment built on real-world learning are more than 20 industry advisors, more than 200 C-suite executive speakers for the In the Executive’s Chair program, 500-plus in-class guest speakers, more than 75 professional mentors, and more than 20 Professional Executives in Residence.
You’ll love Cal State San Marcos and its business programs for the value and commitment to academic integrity they offer, but the College of Business Administration’s focus on learning by doing is what is sure to leave a lasting impression. From mentorship and career guidance from some of the region’s top business executives to unparalleled hands-on learning experiences that allow students to begin applying scholarly study into practice in real-world settings, the business programs here are second to none in terms of practical learning.
The Cal State San Marcos College of Business Administration also lands a spot among our top business schools for its exciting selection of business programs. Its MBA programs, one of which is designed for business newcomers and the other for early- to mid-career professionals, are both offered in a blended format for superior convenience and flexibility. On the undergraduate side, the BSBA here offers no less than 11 concentration options for a truly customizable education, serving as an outstanding introduction to the study of business.