Orfalea College of Business | San Luis Obispo, CA | Visit website
About the Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University
Learn by Doing — the Cal Polytechnic State University signature approach to learning is embedded into the way the Orfalea College of Business prepares students to become leaders and entrepreneurs.
Offering three undergraduate majors and three distinct graduate programs, plus its respected MBA, the Orfalea College of Business is backed by a diverse faculty with the kind of real-world experience it takes to impart hard-won knowledge about how business gets done.
MBAs and Other Programs Offered Through the Orfalea College of Business
Known for its focus on career-readiness and professionalism, the Orfalea MBA delivers advanced business skills through field trips that provide unique opportunities for students to see and experience business operations firsthand.
This 60-credit MBA can be completed in a traditional format delivered over two years, or in a ten-month accelerated format.
Other Business Graduate Degrees
- MS in Business Analytics (MSBA)
- MS in Quantitative Economics
- MS in Taxation
Undergraduate Business Degrees
- BS in Business Administration
- BS in Economics
- BS in Industrial Technology & Packaging
Th College of Business offers a full slate of undergraduate concentrations and minor options that can be added to the majors above:
- Optional concentrations in Accounting, Consumer Packaging, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Information Systems, Industrial Technology, Management and Human Resources, Marketing, Packaging Technology, Quantitative Analysis, and Real Estate Finance
- Optional minors in Accounting, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Industrial Technology, Packaging, and Sales
MBA Program Customization
The MBA is grounded in business administration mainstays like economics, finance, accounting, and organizational behavior, but is also highly customizable through your choice of electives. Choose from specialized courses like Data Management for Business Analytics, Project Management, Negotiation, Human Resource Management, and Entrepreneurship & New Venture Management to design a program that best reflects your professional goals.
MBA Admissions Requirements
Cal Poly’s MBA is open to all bachelor’s degree holders, regardless of major or discipline, with a GPA of at least 2.5. Particular attention is given to how students performed on the last 60 semester units of undergraduate coursework.
While not required, professional experience is strongly preferred for admission. Applicants without at least one year of full-time work experience should ensure their resume includes details covering other relevant experience, including internships, part-time work, and volunteerism.
Your admission application should include:
Statement of Purpose
Admission into the MBA must include a Statement of Purpose of between 500-750 words that answers one of the following questions:
- Why do you want to get an MBA from Cal Poly?
- How have your experiences prepared you to (a) reach your goals as an MBA student and (b) serve as a constructive member of your MBA cohort?
Resume
Your resume should detail your education, professional experience, volunteer work, and any other relevant experience.
Letters of Recommendation
You must provide the email addresses for two supervisors or professors for the admissions committee to contact. Once contacted, they will be instructed on how to upload their confidential letters of recommendation directly through the Cal State Apply system.
GRE/GMAT Scores
GRE or GMAT scores are optional; however, students with a GPA below 3.0 are strongly encouraged to include their scores.
Undergraduate Transcripts
Undergraduate transcripts must be sent directly to Cal Poly from the institution that conferred the bachelor’s degree.
Proof of English Proficiency (international students only)
If your native language is not English, you must submit an English proficiency exam (TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo) with your application.
MBA Program Highlights
| Course Delivery | On Campus: All classes are offered Monday through Thursday, on-campus, with Fridays reserved for special projects, guest speakers, and other extracurricular activities. |
| Class Size | 13 students per class (26 total enrollment) |
| MBA Program and Business School Accolades | Orfalea has been ranked as the top public university in the West by U.S. News & World Report for 30 consecutive years. Orfalea has the 14th highest recruitment rate among the top 25 Silicon Valley employers. |
| MBA Graduates Outcomes | 97% job placement rate within 90 days of graduation (across all School of Business grad programs) |
One of the Most Affordable Tuition Rates Among California Business Schools
The Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business offers some of the most competitive tuition rates in California, for both its graduate and undergraduate programs.
Graduate Business Programs
- MBA
- Traditional, two-year MBA $41,112 ($58,383 out-of-state, $63,183 international)
- Accelerated, ten-month MBA $30,234 ($43,674 out-of-state, $46,304 international)
Both MBA programs come in well below the state average of $44,606 for public university MBAs, with the traditional, two-year MBA priced nearly $4,000 below the state average for similar programs, and the ten-month accelerated program nearly $15,000 below.
- MS in Business Analytics: $34,905 (in-state, out-of-state), $37,389 (international)
- MS in Quantitative Economics: $30,285 (in-state, out-of-state), $32,769 (international)
Undergraduate Business Program
Orfalea’s BSBA is priced at about $12,846 per year (or $51,348 total) for in-state students, and about $33,915 per year (or $135,660 total) for out-of-state students. Tuition varies for undergraduate programs based on the addition of concentrations and minors.
Specialty Business Program Accreditation
Cal Poly State’s Orfalea College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the largest network and global standard-setting body for business education. Business programs that earn AACSB accreditation are recognized as having met or exceeded rigorous criteria focused on excellence in teaching, research, curriculum development, and learner success. Accreditation through the AACSB is highly selective, with fewer than 6 percent of all business schools worldwide achieving it.
Experiential Learning and Travel Opportunities
Building upon Cal Poly’s ethos of learning by doing, the MBA program comes complete with opportunities to take day and overnight trips to local firms, where students can engage in lively gatherings, network with industry professionals, and get an insider’s look at some of the most successful companies in not just the region, but the world. Just some of the firms MBA students have visited recently include BlackRock, Adobe, Apple, Tesla, Salesforce, and Airbnb.
The MBA has a strong recruiting record, with dedicated members of Cal Poly’s Career Services on hand to provide support, counseling, and mentorship as students prepare to transition to the field. An annual Grad Programs Career Fair also provides exciting opportunities to connect with local firms looking to snag their next rising star.
Unique Business Student Supports, Clubs, and Networking Opportunities
MBA students at Cal Poly are afforded many opportunities to get involved and get familiar with their peers, and the regional business scene.
The MBA Student Association provides a unique opportunity to engage in business and networking events. The MBA Student Association Board regularly arranges guest speakers and dynamic activities and events aimed at professional development.
MBA students also enjoy access to Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), a hub where students and community members can gain the tools needed to realize their entrepreneurial goals. The CIE is home to a number of exciting activities, events, and programs including the Entrepreneurship Forum Services, which hosts social events within the San Luis Obispo entrepreneurial community; the Faculty Fellow program, an initiative that gathers faculty members from each of the university’s six colleges to serve as CIE ambassadors who guide students’ entrepreneurial pursuits; and Startup Launch Weekend, an engaging multi-day project that involves going through the steps of building a business in just one weekend.
International Student Supports
Cal Poly is home to a host of resources for international students. The university’s International Students & Scholars unit within the International Center provides visiting students and scholars with support and guidance aimed at their success while at the university and in the U.S.
The university offers both formal exchange programs, as well as a unique offering called VISIT Cal Poly, a short-term program for international students looking to learn and live in the U.S. without having to enter into a formal exchange agreement with the university.
International students at Cal Poly are assigned an International Welcome Ambassador who is there to help as they settle into the university, register for classes, maintain their F-1 status, and adjust to life at the university.
The International Welcome Ambassador Program here also offers a variety of group events and social activities designed to bring both international and domestic students together. Short trips to Santa Cruz, a Thanksgiving dinner, and beach activities are just some of the past events the program has organized.
International students at Cal Poly may join the International Student Friendship group, a student-run social support system that helps students from different cultural, religious, and political backgrounds connect and build friendships.
Why We Recommend the Cal Poly State University Orfalea College of Business
For nearly 100 years, Cal Poly State has been educating students from California’s Central Coast region and beyond through an experience-focused, polytechnic approach to learning. You can’t go wrong in terms of academic quality and value, which is evident through Orfalea’s AACSB accreditation, and the affordable tuition rates that fall well below the state average for comparable programs.
We also appreciate the MBA’s flexible pacing options. Interested in a traditional, two-year MBA, or does an accelerated MBA make more sense at this stage of your career? The Cal Poly Orfalea College of Business offers its MBA in both formats, so you can choose the option that best aligns with your schedule and career obligations.
It’s easy to create a custom-tailored MBA by choosing electives that best match your career goals and interests.
And at Cal Poly, the MBA experience is about more than just the study of business theory within the confines of a classroom; it reflects the university’s commitment to experiential learning. While classroom learning takes place Monday through Thursday, Fridays are reserved for field trips, guest speakers, and other events that encourage collaboration, communication, and networking.
Cal Poly State University’s MBA ranks among our favorites for its focus on creating career-ready business professionals prepared to enter the job market with a significant amount of valuable experience.