A great AACSB accredited program, desirable specializations, small classes, and a beautiful campus, all at far below the average price of an MBA. The Chico State MBA offers a great program at an exceptional value.
Great programs at an exceptional value. That is what you will find at California State University, Chico. A recent graduate noted "The MBA program was an affordable option where I could get the training I needed." At California State University, Chico you can earn a general MBA, or specialize in enterprise information systems or project management. Our EIS MBA is a STEM designated degree, making it especially attractive for international students.
Desirable Specializations
The Chico State College of Business is a recognized leader in enterprise information systems (EIS). The EIS emphasis is designed to meet the growing job demands for professional consultants, business process analysts, IT infrastructure specialists, SAP functional analysts, and relationship management specialists. Our EIS MBA option is now a STEM-designated degree, offering international students a full three years of OPT after graduation. The EIS emphasis curriculum is a pathway toward SAP TS410 certification (formerly TERP 10) a valuable addition to your resume. In 1996, SAP, the world's largest inter-enterprise software company in the world selected the CSU, Chico College of Business as its first partner in the SAP America University Alliance Program (SAP UAP). Our relationship with SAP has grown where we are now one of two "mega hosting" centers serving more than 100 institutions in the SAP UAP.
Project management skills and knowledge are in high demand. Students leave the program with a strong grasp of business and the importance of keeping projects on time and under budget something all businesses value. Students who complete an appropriate series of courses within this emphasis are prepared to sit for the Project Management Institute's (PMI) CAPM or PMP certification exam. Our instructors in the project management area are all Stanford certified or PMP certified. Our students from last semester posted a 100% pass rate on the CAPM certification exam, which is far above the typical pass rates.
Get a Degree That Will Help You Get a Job
Students leave our program knowing business fundamentals, but are also ready to apply practical skills to get the job done. Students graduating from our MBA program have worked on numerous team projects and refined their soft and hard skills. In fact, recruiters regularly comment how Chico State students hit the ground running when they enter a new position. Our students have this reputation amongst recruiters since they take courses that give them real world skills. Our graduates have found fantastic positions with Chevron (IT Business Analyst), Deloitte Consulting, NetSuite (SAP Solutions Architect), Salesforce, Workday (Consultant), Amazon.com (Distribution & Analytics), Lenovo (Supply Chain Business Specialist), Qualcomm (Business Intelligence Analyst), Target Corporation (Executive Team Lead), Accenture (SAP Analyst), Slalom Consulting (Management Consultant), and other firms. International students who pursue the EIS MBA option will also have the luxury of a 3 year OPT, making the process of securing long term employment in the US much more likely.
An Outstanding Reputation
The College of Business at California State University, Chico is one of just 15% of all business schools in the world that meet the rigorous standards for accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB International). Chico State is also one of the few AACSB accredited programs where students can get specialized project management or enterprise information systems skills and knowledge. The College of Business has been AACSB accredited since 1972.
Our program is regularly cited by the Princeton Review as one of the nation's best business schools. The College of Business at CSU, Chico has also been recognized by US News & World Report and EDUNIVERSAL for its strong national reputation. CSU, Chico has also recently been named as one of the "Best Colleges for your Money" (Money Magazine) and "Best Bang for the Buck" (Washington Monthly) illustrating that our MBA is very affordable.
Small Class Sizes Mean a More Personal, Hands-on, Engaging Learning Environment At Chico State you will be taught by extremely supportive faculty in a small class, seminar type environment. The small class sizes allow students to better refine their critical thinking and analytical skills and work closely with the faculty. The small class size is representative of the program's hands-on, high-engagement teaching philosophy.
A Great Program at an Exceptional Value
A great AACSB accredited program, desirable specializations (with a STEM degree option), small classes, and a beautiful campus, all at far below the average price of an MBA. The Chico State MBA offers a great program at an exceptional value.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Admissions Office Contact
Campus and Location
Located in Northern California, Chico State is a beautiful residential campus. Established in 1887, Chico State is considered one of the top institutions in the 23 campus California State University system. Chico State offers more than 150 undergraduate degrees and 50 graduate programs to a student body of nearly 16,000 students.
Facilities
M.B.A. students at CSU, Chico have access to the MBA Collaboration Center. This center is solely for MBA students and includes computer facilities, two state-of-the-art teamwork computer learning pods, printer, dry erase board, and comfortable seating area.
Other centers include:
- Center for Enterprise Systems and Informatics Research (CESR)
- Center for Entrepreneurship
- SAP University Alliance Program Research
- Seufferlein Sales Program
- Professional Consulting Program
Generally, the university has fantastic facilities for students including study rooms, a student center, phenomenal fitness center, and an elegant performing arts center. In addition our campus welcomes international students and we have a fantastic staff that helps international students seamlessly transition into our MBA program. More information on the Office of International Education can be found at http://www.csuchico.edu/international/index.shtml
Contact
Nicole Gager
Graduate Business Student Advisor
Graduate Business Student Advisor
Address
321 Glenn Hall
CSU, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0021
United States
CSU, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0021
United States
Phone
530-898-4480
Fax
530-898-5598
Email
mba@csuchico.edu
Save School
Admissions
Admissions
Overview
From The School
The program is designed for all majors and has a limited number of prerequisites. Students apply online via www.calstate.edu/apply. Students are asked to have GMAT or GRE score at the 50th percentile or higher (GMAT 570+, GRE 303+) and a GPA of 2.75 or higher.
Applicants: 66
Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average Undergrad GPA 3.20
Years Work Experience: 4.3
Average Age: 25
Test Scores
GMAT (25th and 75th percentiles)
535 - 595
GPA
2.9 - 3.5
Deadlines
Regular Application Deadline
March 1
Rolling Admission Deadline
March 1
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Undergraduate GPA
Letters of Recommendation
Essay / Personal Statement
Non-Academic
Work Experience
School Type And Accreditation
School Type
Public
AACSB-approved
Yes
Selectivity Rating
Academics
Academics
Overall
From the School
Degrees Offered
General MBA, MBA with an option in Enterprise Information Systems, or MBA with an option in Project Management.
Academic Programs
The university is a member of the University Study Abroad Consortium (USAC). The College of Business sends more students abroad than any other college on campus. Through USAC students have an incredible number of options for studying abroad.
Recently several MBA students completed graduate courses overseas and we work with students to make sure the courses they are taking will transfer back to our MBA program.
Faculty
Nearly all classes are taught by Ph.D faculty who are actively involved in research and their teaching. Chico State is a student-centered institution where experienced, engaged faculty teach all the courses.
Program Types
Full-Time
Yes
Part-Time
No
Evening
Yes
Executive
No
Online
Yes
Faculty Information
Student/Faculty
25:1
Total Faculty
13
70
Full-time
30
Part-time
15
Underrepresented Minorities
15
Female
Students Say
California State University, Chico offers a practical and personable MBA program, well suited to Northern California professionals. With a “great regional reputation,” Chico students feel confident they can leverage their education in the workplace. Above all else, professors have “a lot of relevant industry experience” and offer “good insight into the business world.” Across disciplines, Chico professors “keep up with current events,” and class content is constantly “changing according to the news today.” Chico distinguishes itself academically through a focus on project management, information technology and business information systems. Chico State’s innovative Center for Information Systems Research involves students in a variety of hands-on projects in the business technology sector, and the school has been “a member of the SAP alliance” since 1996.
While academics are strong, the environment is remarkably supportive, too. When a student needs extra assistance, professors are “easily accessible” and “always available outside of class.” A current student shares, “I have met many professors through independent projects, and they have been very helpful and guided me to the right resources.” Throughout the curriculum, there is an “emphasis on teamwork, interpersonal skills, and both qualitative and quantitative learning.” Students are encouraged to engage with the work, and “most professors try to create an environment that promotes active discussions.” The focus on group work, as well as real world applications, make for a “very practical learning experience,” which is immediately applicable to the real world. A small business owner tells us, “Classes are at night, and my real-life laboratory is my business during the day.”
Working students appreciate the balance at Chico, saying, “The atmosphere is focused, but there is not too much pressure on the students.” “Overall, the program is consistent and organized,” and the “staff is flexible and understanding” with students who work full-time. On the other hand, some feel the Chico experience “might be better if we had a more competitive environment,” noting that there is a noticeable “lack of rigor in some classes.” In addition to the value offered to professionals, Chico also offers a “3+2” program for business undergraduates from partner schools, which offers the “opportunity to get a masters degree one year after your bachelor degree.” Several international universities also participate in the school’s 3+2 program, which brings “a large number of international students” to campus. For many, the international community is an unexpected plus of a Chico education, helping them to develop “cultural skills in a business environment that is less cutthroat than the real business world.”
Concentrations
Information Systems/Information Technology
Leadership/Management
Product Management
Leadership/Management
Product Management
Specialized Masters
Business Administration
Center for Research
Entrepeneurship
Information Systems/Information Technology
Marketing
Information Systems/Information Technology
Marketing
Specialities of Faculty
Academic specialties of faculty
URL
Business Information Systems
Project Management
Center for Entrepreneurship
Professional Sales Program
Sustainability
Courses in Sustainability
Yes
Sustainability course is
Optional
Description
Managing for Sustainability - This course examines the ways in which organizations can be managed to meet the triple bottom line: profit, ethical treatment of workers, and environmental sustainability. Students learn to analyze organizational impacts and develop practices that foster a balanced ecosystem as well as organizational effectiveness.
Research Opportunities in Sustainability
Yes
Description
Students conduct research related to sustainability in the course Managing for Sustainability, but are also involved in research projects if they are members of Net Impact or Sustainable Consultations of Office Practices.
School's environmental commitment 1:
Two key student organizations are actively learning key sustainability skills to prepare them for future careers, all while making a positive difference on campus and within the community. The first group, Sustainable Consultations of Office Practices works with administrators and faculty to reduce energy, water, solid waste and pollutants in offices on campus. Students have the opportunity to be heavily engaged with senior executives, facilities management, and Associated Students to green their offices. Net Impact is a second student organization that is making inroads. Net Impact connects students to business leaders that manage for sustainability. They also conduct project management and research for businesses in the local area.
School's environmental commitment 2:
Since 2006, CSU, Chico has received multiple awards for leadership in sustainability, including being named the top campus in the nation in 2007 by the National Wildlife Foundation for innovative efforts to curtail global warming and CSU, Chico was named one of the top five “green” colleges in the United States by Yahoo! News.
Three buildings on campus are LEED Gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council: the Wildcat Recreation Center, the Gateway Science Museum, and the Sutter Hall residential complex.
The annual This Way to Sustainability conference is the nation’s largest student-run sustainability conference. The campus also hosted the 2011 convergence of the California Student Sustainability Coalition.
School's environmental commitment 3:
The College of Business has a minor in sustainability management for undergraduate students that is open to all majors. Students learn to manage successful organizations with a holistic approach to economic performance, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Students are well-prepared to sit for the Sustainability Management Association’s Sustainability Management Certified Associate to receive accreditation for the body of knowledge widely accepted in sustainability management.
Students learn to manage for people, profit, and the planet.
Careers
Careers
Career Overview
From The School
Our career center hosts two career fairs each year. Our MBA students are placed in leading firms including Deloitte, Chevron, Accenture, Lenovo, Target, and more.
Average Starting Salary
$71,588
Finding Jobs & Internships
Source Of Full-Time Job Acceptances
63%
Unknown
38%
School Facilitiated
Source Of Internship Acceptances
50%
School Facilitiated
Graduates Employed by Area of Practice
30%
Information Technology
25%
Finance/Accounting
15%
Marketing
15%
Consulting
15%
General Management
Graduates Employed by Region
48%
West
38%
International
15%
Southwest
Students Say
As a part of California State University, Chico, business students have access to the University’s Career Center, where they can sign up for individual consultations with a career counselor. Students can also attend the Career Center ’s workshops and career development events throughout the year. Located in Northern California, Chico State maintains a “strong relationship with the San Francisco business community,” and, every year, “CSU Chico brings in various companies at the career fair.” International students, however, feel the school could do a better job helping them score internships and jobs, while locals say it is “very difficult to find employment” in surrounding Chico, which was affected by the economic downturn.
Around forty percent of Chico’s MBA candidates are already employed when they begin the program, and most plan to stay at their current position after graduation. For those taking new positions, the mean base salary for graduates was $71,588 in 2010, with close to 80 percent of students remaining in the western United States. Chevron USA, KPMG, and Deloitte are among the school’s top employers.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information Technology | 30% | $67,500 | $67,500 | $65,000 | $70,000 |
| Finance / Accounting | 25% | $46,000 | $46,000 | $40,000 | $52,000 |
| Consulting | 15% | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 |
| Marketing / Sales | 15% | $41,000 | $41,000 | $41,000 | $41,000 |
| General Management | 15% | $132,000 | $132,000 | $132,000 | $132,000 |
Industries
| Industries | % of Grads Seeking Employment Who Accept Jobs w/in 3 Months |
Median Salary | Mean Salary | Low Base Salary | High Base Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | 25% | $67,500 | $67,500 | $65,000 | $70,000 |
| Consulting | 20% | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 | $65,000 |
| Government | 20% | $46,000 | $46,000 | $40,000 | $52,000 |
| Manufacturing | 20% | $41,000 | $41,000 | $41,000 | $41,000 |
| Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology / Healthcare | 15% | $132,000 | $132,000 | $132,000 | $132,000 |
Prominent Alumni
Steve Perricone
Entrepreneur
Michael Polenski
Founder, Blackbird Vineyard and Former President/ CEO of Chase Manhattan Corp’s Global
Scott Hanson
Founder/Principle Hanson McClain Financial Advisors
Stephen Goodall
Executive VP and Principle with Outsell Inc. and Former President of J D Power Associates (retired 2009)
Prabhakar Kalavacherla
Full time Member of International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition and fees for California residents will cost about $25,000 and be about $35,000 for non-resident students, putting our MBA cost at about half the expense of most other programs.
The school offers a variety of scholarships and grants that are specific to MBA students. Financial aid is also available.
Dates
Application Deadlines
Mar 2
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Aid Package
$16,279
Average Scholarship / Grant Aid Package
$4,470
Students Receiving Some Form Of Aid
40%
All Students Receiving Scholarships / Grants
40%
New Students Receiving Some Form Of Aid
40%
New Students Receiving Scholarships / Grants
40%
New Students Receiving Loans
30%
Tuition Full-Time (per year)
Tuition (In-State)
$8,786
Tuition (Out-State)
$8,786
Fees (In-State)
$4,860
Fees (Out-State)
$11,988
Tuition Part-Time (per credit hour)
Tuition (In-State)
$0
Tuition (Out-State)
$0
Fees (In-State)
$0
Fees (Out-State)
$0
Expenses per Academic Year
Estimated Room And Board On-Campus
$0
Estimated Room And Board Off-Campus
$10,000
Academic Expenses
$1,000
Student Body
Student Body
Student Body Profile
Total Full-Time Enrollment
66
Part Time
43%
In State
79.0%
Out of State
21.0%
Foreign Countries Represented
6
Demographics
2.00%
Underrepresented Minorities
21.00%
International
55% female
45% male
Campus Life
From The School
The university typically enrolls about 16,000 students with more than 40 countries represented. The MBA program typically has 60-80 students, with about 25% being international students.
Students Say
Chico State is a vibrant and bustling university, located in a pretty town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The “beautiful campus” makes a wonderful backdrop to the business school, and “there are always people hanging out on campus” before and after class. There are “lots of things happening around campus” for those who want to partake, including “great cultural activities” and plenty of “volunteer opportunities” in the local community. While “most MBAs don’t have time to participate in the many activities offered by the school,” others say they make a concerted effort to get involved.
At this medium-sized public school, graduate students are “close-knit,” yet diverse cul- turally, socially, and academically. Some students are “fresh out of undergraduate school with no experience” in the workplace, while others are seasoned professionals, who continue to work full-time throughout the duration of the program. Many students are “very passionate about learning,” while “others are not very serious about the program.” Because the school operates a partner program with several international universities, there are numerous students from overseas. With regards to the international communi- ty, a current student tells us, “Getting to know them on a collegial, friendly level during my MBA has been one of the most important experiences so far.”
More Information
% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
Internet Access for All Students
Yes
