MBA Degree Programs Serving Business Students in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Santa Clarita, and Throughout LA County, California

young businessman in los angeles

Nucleus, epicenter, hub – whatever you want to call it, there’s no debating the fact that Los Angeles County is the beating heart of Southern California, financially, commercially, and culturally.

Entertainment and digital media, the biosciences and big ag, technology, fashion, pharma—whatever the industry or sector, there are endless opportunities to sink your teeth into LA’s diverse economy, fill your belly, and come up grinning.

Fortune 500 companies? Yeah, Los Angeles County has its share. The City of Angels is where the Walt Disney Company, Mattel, and Warner Brothers were born. It’s where companies like Space X (Hawthorne) and Hulu (Santa Monica) rule the region’s economy. And it’s where tech startups are as common as a Monday morning backup on the Hollywood Freeway corridor.

The landscape’s competitive here, for sure, but the opportunities are limitless. Grit and perseverance are a must, but to make your mark, you’ve got to back that tenacity up with a formal education in global business.

And that’s where the MBA comes in.

Second to none in terms of preparing today’s leaders, changemakers, executives, and entrepreneurs, the MBA is still your best bet at a ticket to ride through LA’s hypercompetitive business landscape to your final stop in the land of milk and honey.

Crypto, Gaming, and Cleantech – The Magic of L.A.'s Startup Scene

light bulb over los angelesLos Angeles has earned itself a global reputation as a startup powerhouse, coming in third in the U.S. for the strength of its startup ecosystem, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2024.

Crypto, gaming, cleantech, and more, talent and investment in LA County’s startup sector continues to find support from a creative business community and plenty of venture capital funding.

Westwood-based BAM Ventures has been the money behind successful startups like Glendale’s LegalZoom.com and El Segundo’s The Honest Co. VC companies in the Los Angeles region number more than 500.

Aerospace companies like SpaceX make their home here, an enterprise that’s graduated from the ranks of innovative startup to become one of the biggest government contractors in the world in just a few short years. Activision Blizzard Inc. is also among the once-small-now-huge startups that got its start in the Los Angeles startup scene.

Among the younger enterprises born here is Marina del Rey’s Dollar Shave Club.

Entrepreneurial pursuits also benefit from the steady stream of talent coming out of the region’s nationally renowned universities. At UCLA, budding entrepreneurs in the tech space are supported by the Anderon Venture Accelerator, while the Rothenberg Innovation Initiative is behind outstanding innovations at the California Institute of Technology.

Suburbs of Los Angeles like Glendale, home to more than 1,500 tech businesses, and Santa Monica, which serves as the headquarters for more than 3,000 tech and creative businesses, are busy making waves. And the most recent count has the region’s most spritely unicorns – those companies valued at no less than $1 billion – at 27.

Why Los Angeles County Has Some of the Best Online MBA Programs and Campus Options in California

You need only look as far as UCLA to know that Los Angeles County is a top dog in terms of MBA programs. Its Anderson School of Management boasts an alumni network of more than 44,000. In the last ten years alone, the school counts more than 550 companies founded by its alumni.

But UCLA’s not the only show in town. Far from it. More than two dozen public and private schools host MBA programs with entry-points for early- and mid-career professionals and top executives, along with specialized MBAs aimed at technology, consulting, financial services.

It’s no wonder MBA options here are impressive. Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation (10.5 million and counting) and has the largest county economy in the nation. If Los Angeles County were a nation, its economy would rank 19th in the world.

The Los Angeles Economic Development Policy Committee (Committee) has identified no less than seven, targeted industries here: healthcare services, manufacturing, trade/logistics, leisure/hospitality, film and digital media, bioscience, and construction. Los Angeles County is the largest manufacturing center in the U.S. and its seaport complex is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. No less than 244,000 businesses support a labor force of nearly five million here.

The sheer number of businesses here means companies can’t stake a claim without a good fight. Everyone knows you have to be resilient to get your piece of the pie in a place that’s known to chew up and spit out its share of enterprises. If you’re not ahead of the game in Los Angeles County, chances are, you’re already behind. What that means is that strong, focused business leaders with a vision of what’s next are something companies are glad to pay a premium for.

Whether you have plans to branch out on your own and explore entrepreneurship in all its glory or you’ve set your sights on rising through the ranks and securing a C-suite position with a legacy enterprise, the MBA must be a consideration, especially in the cut-throat business landscape of SoCal.

Accredited Online MBA Programs and Campus Options in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, and Throughout Los Angeles County

An MBA is an investment, so it comes as no surprise that colleges and universities are vying for ways to stand out from the crowd and provide a consistent, trusted course of education. In the world of business education. One way they’re doing this is through specialty accreditation.

The big three MBA accreditors are the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

To earn accreditation, MBA programs must meet some rigorous standards for student outcomes and curriculum development as outlined by each accrediting body. It’s not necessary to choose an accredited MBA program, but it’s a great indication of program quality.

There is no shortage of MBA programs in Los Angeles County, offering a diversity of formats and specializations for students to choose from. Some programs are aimed at emerging leaders, while others are targeted directly at those with significant management experience. Many of today’s programs are offered in flexible, hybrid and online formats to accommodate working professionals. Today’s MBAs also often include an international focus, with global study and travel opportunities.

California State University Northridge

University of California - Northridge

David Nazarian College of Business and Economics
Northridge, CA
Website

California State University Los Angeles

California State University Los Angeles

College of Business and Economics
Los Angeles, CA
Website

California State University Long Beach

California State University Long Beach

College of Business
Long Beach, CA
Website

California State Polytechnic University

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Singelyn Graduate School of Business
Pomona, CA
Website

University of the People

University of the People

Pasadena, CA
Website

America Evangelical University

America Evangelical University

School of Business
Gardena, CA
Website

Life Pacific University

Life Pacific University

School of Arts and Sciences
San Dimas, CA
Website

Abraham Lincoln University

Abraham Lincoln University

School of Business Administration
Glendale, CA
Website

Antioch University

Antioch University

Culver City, CA
Website

The Master’s University and Seminary

The Master’s University and Seminary

School of Business and Communication
Santa Clarita, CA
Website

Learnet Academy Inc

Learnet Academy Inc

Los Angeles, CA
Website

Los Angeles Pacific University

Los Angeles Pacific University

San Dimas, CA
Website

Fremont University

Fremont University

College of Business
Cerritos, CA
Website

California Institute of Advanced Management

California Institute of Advanced Management

Alhambra, CA
Website

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University

School of Business and Management
Azusa, CA
Website

Angeles College

Angeles College

Los Angeles, CA
Website

University of the West

University of the West

Rosemead, CA
Website

Alliant International University

Alliant International University

California School of Management and Leadership (CSML)
Alhambra, CA
Website

Biola University

Biola University

Crowell School of Business
La Mirada, CA
Website

DeVry University

DeVry University

Keller Graduate School of Management (campus locations across CA)
Long Beach, CA
Website

University of La Verne

University of La Verne

College of Business
La Verne, CA
Website

University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Los Angeles - ucla

John E. Anderson School of Management
Los Angeles, CA
Website

University of Southern California

University of Southern California - usc

Marshall School of Business
Los Angeles, CA
Website

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University

Graziadio Business School
Malibu, CA
Website

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont Graduate University

Drucker School of Management
Claremont, CA
Website

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University

College of Business Administration
Los Angeles, CA
Website

Woodbury University

Woodbury University

School of Business
Los Angeles, CA
Website

Mount Saint Mary’s University

Mount Saint Mary’s University

Department of Business Administration
Los Angeles, CA
Website

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