True to its reputation, San Diego is where on any given morning, you’re guaranteed to see a steady stream of surfers heading out to catch waves at Black’s Beach. Tropes aside, chances are good that you’re one of the early risers here that save the surfing for Saturday so you can pour every ounce of energy you’ve got into turning your ideas into a viable business.
An enterprising spirit co-exists here with the laid-back West Coast lifestyle, and it’s drawn big thinkers and creatives to the area like a rip current since the beginning.
The life sciences, biotech, research/manufacturing, and defense sectors are all a big deal here, rewarding talent and creating opportunities for contractors and next-gen startups to thrive. The Port of San Diego, the busiest land port of entry in the Western Hemisphere, makes SD a natural hub for international trade.
Trailblazing tech companies and research organizations take advantage of the talent being born out of world-class universities like UC San Diego and San Diego State University. An MBA is still the degree to earn here. Built to create ethical leaders, strategic thinkers, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs, MBAs in San Diego ensure graduates are ready for a global and tech-forward business environment.
Setting a New $14 Billion Record in 2023, Tourism Business Still Drives San Diego's Economy
In San Diego, tourism is still king.
Hospitality, tourism, and travel management companies number in the hundreds… Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity, Crystal, and Princess cruise lines have major operations here… and hotels and dining establishments reap the rewards of a steady stream of tourists which, as of 2023, numbered some 32 million, according to the San Diego Tourism Authority.
They come for the sunny skies and pristine shores; for some of Southern California’s largest conventions and events like San Diego Comic-Con and San Diego Pride; and for major sporting events and concerts at places like Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium. And they flock to Balboa Park and take in performing arts, botanical gardens, museums and, of course, the San Diego Zoo.
According to Airbnb, 1.7 million guests staying at Airbnb rentals in the San Diego area contributed about $1.6 billion to the region’s economy in 2023 alone.
In 2023, the San Diego Tourism Authority announced a record-breaking year for tourism in San Diego. During this time, tourism generated more than $14 billion in revenue for San Diego County – that’s nearly $1 billion more than 2022.
Why San Diego County Has Some of the Best Online MBA Programs and Campus Options in California
From major multinationals to emerging startups, companies need focused, confident business leaders who understand the current business climate and have a sense of what comes next.
Big players here like Qualcomm, Illumina, and Scripps Health are some of the biggest employers in San Diego County, with Qualcomm alone employing more than 10,000 in the region. But startups are also big here, and so is the support to get them off the ground.
More than 80 San Diego startups made the 2024 Inc. 5000 list – a ranking of the fastest growing private companies. Incubators like Aquillius, focused on life sciences and medtech… business accelerators like Hera Labs, aimed at women-owned startups… and co-working spaces like BioLabs San Diego and LabFellows ensure the region’s emerging and established startups have the assistance and backing they need to thrive.
Business ventures both large and small call for top-notch business talent, and San Diego universities are producing capable professionals through nationally ranked MBA programs.
The University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business is making waves with the opening of its new Knauss Center for Business Education, a home for state-of-the-art analytics labs and a student startup incubator. And UC San Diego has long been the go-to university here for MBAs. Its Rady School of Management hosts countless opportunities for students to explore the innovative San Diego business scene. For example, students, faculty, and recent alumni often participate in their Border Innovation Challenge, a competition focused on highlighting business solutions that address the efficiency and security challenges facing the Port of San Diego.
Accredited Online MBA Programs and Campus Options in San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, and Throughout San Diego County
A big selection of MBA programs in San Diego County ensures that both emerging and established business professionals have access to the education they need to get their ideas off the ground. MBA programs in San Diego County have produced their share of Fortune 500 CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other C-suite executives who go on to do great things.
Whether you’re in Chula Vista, Oceanside, or San Diego, there’s an MBA program here designed with you in mind. MBA programs here aren’t just one-note programs. They’re structured and delivered in a variety of formats and designs to ensure a tailored student experience.
Many are offered as traditional programs that provide new business professionals with a solid foundation in business and leadership, while others are aimed at mid- and senior-level professionals who are looking for a more tailored program. Depending on the school, MBA specializations may include finance, international business, HR management, supply chain management, business analytics, and much more. Many are offered in an on-campus setting, while perhaps just as many are offered in flexible formats that include hybrid and online classes.
MBA accreditation is an important component of any program. External accreditation by one of the three major accrediting agencies—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), or the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)—carries a lot of weight in the MBA world. It signifies that the program has met specific educational outcomes for its students through rigorous curriculum and faculty excellence.
California State University San Marcos
College of Business Administration
San Marcos, CA
Website
- Fully-Employed MBA Program (hybrid)
- Specialized MBA Program (Supply Chain Management, International Business, Business Analytics) (on-campus)
- Accreditation: AACSB
San Diego State University
Fowler College of Business
San Diego, CA
Website
- MBA - Finance, Health Services Administration, Information Systems (on-campus, online)
- Accreditation: AACSB
United States University
College of Business and Technology
San Diego, CA
Website
- MBA (online)
- International MBA (iMBA) Track for Foreign F1 Visa Students option (hybrid)
National University
School of Business and Economics
San Diego, CA
Website
- MBA (Behavioral Economics, Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Financial Technology, Global Business Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership Studies, Project Management, Strategic Marketing, Supply Chain Management) (on-campus, online)
- Accreditation: ACBSP (online), IACBE (campus)
Point Loma Nazarene University
Fermanian School of Business
San Diego, CA
Website
- MBA (Organizational Leadership, Sport Management, Global Leadership, Project Management) (on-campus, online)
- Accreditation: ACBSP
University of California-San Diego
Rady School of Management
La Jolla, CA
Website
- Full-Time MBA (on-campus)
- FlexEvening MBA (on-campus)
- Executive MBA (hybrid)
- Accreditation: AACSB
University of San Diego
Knauss School of Business
San Diego, CA
Website
- Full-Time MBA (Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Supply Chain Management) (on-campus)
- Part-Time MBA (Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Supply Chain Management) (on-campus)
- Flex MBA (Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Supply Chain Management) (hybrid)
- Accreditation: AACSB