The Master of Business Administration (MBA) at San Diego State University offers a flexible schedule, hands-on learning experiences, and a full-range of specializations, allowing students the opportunity to customize their degree while getting real-world experience.
SDSU provides transformative experiences for students in the areas of research, international study, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and a broad range of student life and leadership opportunities.
About
From the School
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Campus and Location
With a total enrollment of nearly 36,000 undergraduate, masters and doctoral students, San Diego State University is a public institution that was founded in 1897. It's 288-acre San Diego campus is set in an urban environment and it utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. SDSU has campuses in both San Diego and Imperial County, California.
Facilities
The Fowler College of Business is home to the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, SDSU's Artificial Intelligence Lab, Digital Innovation Lab and numerous other institutes and laboratories. The college's Career Management Center helps prepare MBA students with resume advice, career advising and placement assistance.
Director, Graduate Business Programs
San Diego, CA 92182-8228
United States
Admissions
Admissions
Overview
From The School
Successful applicants must demonstrate significant quantitative performance and strong communications skills. A GMAT or GRE score is not required for admission. The application process for the fall semester admissions runs from October 1- March 1. For more information, please visit https://business.sdsu.edu/grad/apply.
Test Scores
Deadlines
Other Admission Factors
GMAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
School Type And Accreditation
Selectivity Rating
Academics
Academics
Overall
From the School
Degrees Offered
SDSU offers an on-campus MBA experience allowing students to select from 10 different specializations:
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Health Services
- Information Systems (STEM designated)
- International Business
- Management
- Marketing
- Project Management
- Supply Chain Management
Additionally, students can also choose concurrent degree programs as in the Juris Doctor program (MBA/JD) or the Latin American Studies program (MBA/MA).
Academic Programs
Students must complete 35-45 credits to earn their MBA. The curriculum must include:
- 10 Units - Foundational Core
- 20 Units - Professional Core
- 9-15 Units - Electives
- 1-3 Units - Culminating Experience
Special Academic Programs
SDSU also offers a Sports Business MBA program specifically for individuals wishing to pursue careers in sports front office management positions. For more information, please visit https://business.sdsu.edu/grad/sports-mba.
Faculty
All tenured and tenure-track faculty of Fowler College of Business must have completed their Ph.D.from accredited institutions before their hire date at SDSU. Fowler Faculty have earned Ph.D.s from University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), Duke University, UC Berkeley, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Southern California, New York University (Stern), UCLA, University of Texas, and the University of Washington.
Program Types
Faculty Information
Students Say
What students walk away with will depend on their own focus and drive, since the “quality of professors is highly volatile and you can’t be sure how well they will teach or lecture.” However, when the professors are good, the classroom experience is very worthwhile. Business students are glad that “professors with long work experience are common.” For example, one student boasts, “The two courses in my last semester consisted of a senior director and a CEO from Qualcomm (a Fortune 500) and biotech firm, respectively.” That “large depth of experience and knowledge” these educators share with their students suggests “professors promote critical thinking in class, as opposed to just lecturing. More emphasis is placed on in-depth analysis than on test taking.” One student without a strong background in business was glad to note, “This school made my transition from a non-business background to a business program very smooth.”
Such experience extends to the students. “Fifty percent of people have their own business in my classes,” one student notes. Even for those without a wealth of previous business experience, SDSU offers a “consistently [top] ranked” entrepreneurship program and a Sports MBA program that boasts “access to many higher-ups in the sports industry in the San Diego and Southern California area.” It also takes part in a Venture Capital Investment Competition that gains big exposure for participants. Some students worry that “ridiculous budget cuts” will mar the MBA program, but for others the future looks bright. Current administrators are “transforming the program,” and the school is “integrating lecturers into the courses,” all of which indicates a program that is sometimes “flying by the seat of its pants” but is generally on the upswing.
Concentrations
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Information Systems/Information Technology
International Business
JD/MBA - Dual Degree
Leadership/Management
Marketing
Supply Chain Management
Specialized Masters
Business Administration
Financial Planning
Information Systems/Information Technology
Certificate Programs
Center for Research
International Business
Real Estate
Specialities of Faculty
Sustainability
Careers
Careers
Career Overview
From The School
The Career Management Center empowers Fowler business students to identify and attain successful and fulfilling careers. They offer career and resume counseling, job fairs, mock interviews and other resources to help students and alumni succeed. They also collaborate with employers to build a presence on campus and facilitate connections with Fowler students and alumni. They are committed to serving Fowler students, alumni, and community partners through our core values: integrity, professionalism, dedication, respect and teamwork.
Finding Jobs & Internships
Graduates Employed by Area of Practice
Graduates Employed by Region
Students Say
Job Function
Job Function | % of Grads Seeking Employment Who Accept Jobs w/in 3 Months |
Median Salary | Mean Salary | Low Base Salary | High Base Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finance / Accounting | 31% | ||||
Marketing / Sales | 25% | ||||
Information Technology | 19% | ||||
Operations / Logistics | 13% | ||||
Other | 13% |
Industries
Industries | % of Grads Seeking Employment Who Accept Jobs w/in 3 Months |
Median Salary | Mean Salary | Low Base Salary | High Base Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Technology | 33% | ||||
Financial Services | 20% | ||||
Petroleum / Energy | 13% | ||||
Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology / Healthcare | 13% | ||||
Manufacturing | 7% | ||||
Consulting | 7% | ||||
Media / Entertainment | 7% |
Prominent Alumni
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Basic In-State Tuition and Fees: $9,570
Out-of-State and International Tuition and Fees: $9,570+ $396 per unit (In addition to basic ttuition and fees, foreign and out-of-state students will be charged an additional $396 per unit.)
Business Graduate Fee: $270 per unit
Estimated Off-Campus Housing and Food: $16,144
Books, Supplies Transportation, Other Expenses: $4,984
Health Insurance (International Students Only): $1,703
Financial aid and scholarships are available to all qualified SDSU students. Please visit https://sacd.sdsu.edu/financial-aid for more information.
Dates
Financial Aid Statistics
Tuition Full-Time (per year)
Tuition Part-Time (per credit hour)
Expenses per Academic Year
Student Body
Student Body
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Campus Life
From The School
Total Enrollment: 207
Full-Time Enrollment:74
Part Time Enrollment: 133
In State: 186
Out of State and International: 21
Foreign Countries Represented: 3
46% female (all graduate business degrees)
54% male (all graduate business degrees)
The Fowler College of Business has a diverse group of students and has been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. In 2021, nearly 46% of students earning graduate degrees from the Fowler College of Business were women and nearly 56% were students of color or international students.
Students Say
Like the surrounding city itself, students here are “very outgoing and easy to interact and work with,” a group of “high achievers with a strong competitive drive and interest in furthering their careers.” SDSU keeps students “very busy with work,” while the city offers ample opportunities for entertainment. Whether full-time students who are “hard-working, motivated individuals who want to improve their future career possibil- ities” or part-time students who are “busy, working professionals, mostly young in their careers,” students here tend to be “diverse, friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful.”