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About the College of Business at California State University, Chico
The Chico Experience — It’s a time-honored phrase that best captures the highly engaging, tight-knit, collaborative community of California State University Chico and its famed College of Business, a regional leader in business education and scholarship.
Through innovative programs that emphasize applied scholarship and the responsible stewardship of environmental, social and economic resources, the College of Business has built a community that’s decidedly student-centered, practice-relevant, and connected to the greater business community.
The Chico State College of Business is home to some 2,100 students and a broad range of graduate and undergraduate programs, minors, and certificates, including a flexible MBA program that features online and on-campus study options and opportunities to specialize.
The College of Business serves business students in the broader Northern California region, producing capable and ethical visionaries and changemakers prepared to confidently lead enterprises of any size and any kind.
MBAs and Other Programs Offered Through the California State University Chico, College of Business
Chico State’s College of Business has been offering its flagship MBA program since 1968. Today, the MBA is offered in a number of formats to suit students with different academic needs and professional interests:
- General MBA (available online and on campus)
- MBA with a Project Management specialization (available online and on campus)
- MBA with a Business Analytics specialization (available on campus)
- MBA with a Health Services Administration specialization (available online)
In-Person MBA
The College of Business’ In-Person MBA features on-campus, semester-long courses.
- 30-36 units (11-13 courses)
- On-campus evening classes (5PM or later, Monday-Thursday)
- Options to choose from a General MBA or specialization in Project Management or Business Analytics
- Full- and part-time study available
Online MBA
The Online MBA consists of:
- 30-36 units (11-13 courses)
- A fully asynchronous online format
- Options to choose from a General MBA or specialization in Health Services Administration or Project Management
- Completion times: General MBA (18 months), MBA in Project Management (23 months), MBA in Health Services Administration (24 months)
- Two start dates per year (fall and spring)
- Courses are taken one at a time and delivered in three-, five-, and six-week sessions
The Online General MBA also offers FAST (Focused. Applied, Strategic Thinking) Electives, three-week courses that are designed to arm students with immediate skills and tools in areas like project management, persuasive writing, and Excel. Students choose from one of three FAST Electives:
- Advanced Excel Analysis and Reporting
- CRM/Salesforce Knowledge and Applications
- Everyday Project Management: Knowledge and Applications
Other Graduate Degrees
- MS in Business Analytics (starting Fall 2025)
- Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Information Systems (not currently being offered; under review and revision)
The College of Business also offers a Business Certificate in Enterprise Information Systems Certificate for graduate students.
Undergraduate Business Degrees
- BS in Business Administration
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- HR Management
- Management
- Marketing
- Project Management
- BS in Business Information Systems
- Business Analytics
- Management Information Systems
- Operations & Supply Chain Management
The College of Business also offers a host of minors that can be added to any undergraduate degree:
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
- International Business
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Managing Diversity in Organizations
- Managing for Sustainability
- Marketing
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Project Management
The College of Business is home to a selection of undergraduate Business Certificates:
- Entrepreneurship Certificate
- Information Technology Certificate
- Professional Management Consulting Certificate
- Professional Sales Certificate
MBA Program Customization
The Chico State College of Business MBA can be earned as a General MBA or customized through your choice of specializations:
- Project Management specialization (available online and on campus)
- Business Analytics specialization (available on campus)
- Health Services Administration specialization (available online)
MBA Admissions Requirements
The MBA is open to all bachelor’s degree holders, regardless of major, with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (achieved overall or through the last 60 semester units). Professional experience and GMAT/GRE scores are NOT required for admission.
International Students
Students who earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution where English was not the principal language of instruction must submit scores for one of the following English proficiency exams:
- TOEFL: 550 (or 80 for the Internet-based exam).
- IELTS: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 59
MBA Program Highlights
Course Delivery | · General MBA (online and on campus) · MBA in Project Management (online and on campus) · MBA in Business Analytics (on campus) · MBA in Health Services Administration (online)
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Class Size | 93 (total for on-campus and online MBA) |
MBA Program and Business School Accolades | Ranked among the Best Business Schools in the nation by the Princeton Review
Ranked among the Best Online MBA Programs by the Princeton Review
MBA named as one of CEO Magazine’s Tier One North America MBAs
Online MBA named as one of CEO Magazine’s Global Online MBAs
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Official MBA STEM Designation | MBA in Business Analytics |
One of the Most Affordable Tuition Rates Among California Business Schools
Chico State offers outstanding affordability for both undergraduate and graduate students. Chico State graduates have among the lowest levels of student debt and among the highest return on educational investment. Forbes ranked it among the top 25% of schools on its America’s Best Value Colleges list in 2022.
MBA
Tuition prices for the MBA vary based on what (if any) specialization is chosen.
- In-Person MBA: $28,550 - $30,260 (resident), $41,150 - $45,380 (non-resident)
- Online MBA: $30,000 - $36,000
Undergraduate Business Program
The BSBA is priced at $8,476 per year ($33,904 total) for in-resident students and $21,076 per year ($84,304 total) for non-resident students.
Specialty Business Program Accreditation
The Chico State College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), recognized for the rigorous standards it sets for business school quality.
Today, just about 5 percent of all business schools worldwide have met these standards and earned the distinction of holding AASCB accreditation. Accredited schools must meet specific targets regarding strategic planning, faculty and staff resources, curriculum, student progression, impact of scholarship, and more.
Experiential Learning and Travel Opportunities
Business students have completed thousands of internships through Chico State programs. The Career Center offers an exceptional array of resources and assistance aimed at connecting students to exciting internship experiences. The university’s successful partnerships with corporate sponsors have created outstanding opportunities for experiential learning.
The university’s Study Abroad & Exchange (SAE) team oversees the university’s dynamic study abroad programs, available to more than 200 locations in 40 different countries. Just some of the study abroad locations include South Africa, Israel, England, France, Germany, Greece, Australia, Brazil, and Chile.
Unique Business Student Supports, Clubs, and Networking Opportunities
Students of the College of Business enjoy superb opportunities to participate in events, competitions, and programs through the Centers of Excellence. The Center for Entrepreneurship is a one-stop shop for resources, support, and mentorship for entrepreneurially minded students. The Center for Enterprise Systems and Informatics Research offers exciting opportunities for industry networking, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and participation in local, regional, and national competitions for students involved in information technology. And the Center for Excellence in Finance provides finance-focused students with opportunities to learn more about finance, markets, and corporate finance.
It’s also easy to connect with your peers and the larger business community through participation in student clubs and organizations, such as:
- Accounting Society
- American Marketing Association
- Association for Women in Business
- Business Information Systems
- Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization
- Graduate Business Association
- Investor’s Club
- Management Club
International Student Supports
International student support is abundant at Chico State. Clubs, resources, events, workshops, and more offered through the International Education and Global Engagement (IEGE) office ensure a positive academic experience for international students and scholars. Just some of the efforts here aimed at international students include:
- The Cross Cultural Leadership Center (CCLC) works to improve cultural awareness through educational programs.
- The Office of Diversity & Inclusion hosts a variety of diversity-related events, activities, initiatives, and discussions.
- The International Student Ambassador Fellowship Program (ISAF) pairs international student newcomers with experienced international students.
- The Global Allies Volunteer Team helps out at international events and activities as a Global Ally.
- The Global Student Society seeks to celebrate the international community at Chico State and build a strong international campus community. The Society supports international students through workshops, events, and guest lectures.
- The International Wildcat Program is home to a host of activities and events designed to connect and engage the international student community at Chico State.
- The Global Café – English Conversation Hour is a weekly program that provides international students with opportunities to connect and socialize with their peers.
Why We Recommend the College of Business at California State University, Chico
Home to an exceptional selection of majors, minors, certificates, and a flexible MBA with a choice of on-campus or online study —the Chico State College of Business is everything a well-rounded college of business should be. AACSB accreditation serves as a stamp of approval for everything from academic excellence to faculty credentials to positive student outcomes, while tuition prices keep the undergraduate and graduate programs here among the most affordable in the state.
The Chico State College of Business MBA is designed to appeal to students who value a traditional, on-campus program of study, as well as those whose busy lives demand the convenience of online study. And three specialization options allow students to customize the MBA to align with specific professional goals. At the undergraduate level, the College is anything but one-note, offering a BSBA with seven concentration options, along with close to a dozen minors and a handful of undergraduate certificate programs.
Opportunities for real-world learning, plentiful student groups, innovative academic centers, and outstanding international student support round out the Chico Experience, making Chico State it an obvious choice for today’s discerning business students.