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Master of Business Administration
A Flexible MBA That Fits Your Schedule
Accelerate your career on your own terms with our self-paced Master of Business Administration program. Our AACSB-accredited program ensures you receive the highest caliber business education within a curriculum tailor-fit to your interests. A per-unit fee structure and a variety of electives to choose from enable you to create a unique experience on an affordable budget.
We cater our program to YOU:
- All classes are offered in-person, Monday - Thursday, from 6:00 - 8:50 pm, to fit your full-time work schedule.
- You decide how many classes to take: finish the program in as little as three semesters, or enroll part-time.
- Fees are also determined by the number of units you enroll in each semester to accommodate your budget.
Dedicated faculty bring academic expertise and real-life business experience to the classroom to ensure you receive a rigorous education that prepares you to meet your goals.
Whether it's starting your own business, changing careers, or advancing in your current company, our personalized career services and extensive connections in the Sacramento area provide a valuable network you can leverage at every step.
Optimize Your Experience with One of Three Concentrations
Choose the classes that interest you and concentrate your MBA experience in one of the following areas:
- Finance
- Business Analytics in Healthcare
- Entrepreneurship & Global Business
- General Management (no concentration)
Learn More About the Application Process
Preparing to apply for Fall 2023 but could use some assistance? Read our step-by-step instructions and watch the recording of our most recent Application Tips Workshop, where you'll learn more about our program, the application materials required, how to navigate Cal State Apply, the interview process, and much, much more.
Find even more information about the application process in the "How to Apply" section below, and linked in the index on the left.
Download Cal State Apply Application Instructions
Watch Application Tips Workshop Recording
Check out the additional information on this page to learn about the expansive curriculum, how you can customize the program to your specific interests and personal schedule, and so much more!
You may also contact us at any time with questions at mba@csus.edu.
Application Dates & Deadlines
The Sacramento State MBA program admits students for both the spring and fall semesters each year.
Spring 2023 - CLOSED Sept. 15, 2022; no longer accepting applications
Fall 2023
- Cal State Apply application available: October 1, 2022
- All application materials due: February 15, 2023
Spring 2024
- Cal State Apply application available: August 1, 2023
- All application materials due: September 15, 2023
To successfully apply for the program, you must submit the Cal State Apply application, pay the $70 fee, ensure both letters of recommendation are uploaded into Cal State Apply, and submit all official transcripts by the deadline. See the "How To Apply" section below for more information and to download instructions.
MBA Recent Class Profile
| Criteria | Average |
|---|---|
| Age | 31 |
| Under-Represented Minority & First Generation Students | 60% |
| GPA | 3.28 |
| Years of Work Experience | 6 |
| Female Students | 51% |
Admissions Criteria
The following represent minimum academic qualifications and admission criteria. As the College of Business receives a large number of applications each cycle, it often admits fewer applicants than those who meet the minimum criteria.
2.50 Minimum Cumulative GPA
Title V of the California Educational Code requires that MBA candidates must have earned a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA and an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution. Foreign undergraduate degrees must be evaluated as equivalent to a 4-year, U.S. bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA on a U.S. 4.0 scale.
MBA Interview
After preliminary review of completed applications, competitive applicants will be identified and selected to complete an interview. The interview will be used to further assess the strength of their application and to make a final admission decision.
Minimum Admission or Language Test Scores
Unless a valid waiver is presented, applicants who conducted their undergraduate studies in another country must also submit English Language Proficiency exam scores that meet the following minimum criteria.
| Test | Minimum Scores Accepted | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GMAT | NOT REQUIRED FOR FALL 2023 | No exams required for admission (GMAT or GRE not required).The College of Business has waived the admission test requirement for ALL applicants to the MBA degree. You do not need to submit a valid GMAT or GRE score as part of your application nor to be admitted to the program. The waiver is automatic; no waiver form is required. |
| GRE (General Test) | NOT REQUIRED FOR FALL 2023 | |
| TOEFL | Paper-based: 550 | Only applies to international applicants or students whose undergraduate degree was conducted in a language other than English. |
| Internet-based: 80 | ||
| IELTS | 6.5 | |
| PTE | 65 |
MBA Foundation Courses
The MBA curriculum consists of 33-44 semester units depending on your academic background and professional experience.
The MBA "foundation courses" provide an academic background in basic business concepts, which the MBA curriculum will build upon.
While they do not affect your admissibility and they are not required to be completed prior to admission to the program, they do take priority over the MBA core and elective classes. Thus, they must be completed before you start the regular MBA coursework and with a cumulative foundation course GPA of 3.0. Foundation course waivers are available and are determined either at the time of admission, or upon a request for waiver by the student after application.
| MBA Foundation Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| ECON 204 | Business Economics (3 units) | Equivalent to Microeconomics AND Macroeconomics at the undergraduate and community college level. |
| MBA 201 | Accounting (2 units) | Equivalent to Financial Accounting at the undergraduate and community college level. |
| MBA 202 | Business Communications (2 units) | Graduate-level writing course. No undergraduate or community college equivalent. |
| MBA 203 | Legal Environment of Management (2 units) | Equivalent to Business Law at the undergraduate and community college level at a U.S. institution. |
| MBA 206 | Managerial Statistical Analysis (2 units) | Equivalent to an upper-division undergraduate statistical analysis course. No community college equivalent. |
MBA Core & Elective Courses
All students in the program take five (5) Core classes, considered to be the backbone of the MBA degree. Core classes can be taken at any time, unless designated as a prerequisite for an elective course.
Elective courses provide students the opportunity to match their interests with their coursework, and are contained within four concentrations: Finance, Entrepreneurship & Global Business, Business Analytics in Healthcare, and General Management.
Your MBA career concludes with a Culminating Experience, taking the form of either the MBA 501 course in Business & Strategy, or a thesis or project.
| MBA Core & Elective Courses | |
|---|---|
| MBA Core Courses | |
| MBA 210 | Management Accounting |
| MBA 220 | Financial Management |
| MBA 230 | Behavioral Science Applications in Management |
| MBA 240 | Marketing Management |
| MBA 280 | Value Chain Integration |
| MBA Elective Courses | |
| Finance Concentration | |
| MBA 221 | Financial Markets |
| MBA 222 | Security Analysis & Portfolio Management |
| MBA 223 | Asset Valuation |
| MBA 224 | Advanced Investment Strategies |
| MBA 251 | Real Estate Finance & Investment |
| Entrepreneurship & Global Business Concentration | |
| MBA 235 | Management of Innovation |
| MBA 243 | Global Marketing Environment (not currently offered) |
| MBA 270 | Global Business Management |
| MBA 271 | Integrative Entrepreneurship Management |
| MBA 272 | Entrepreneurial Resource Management (not currently offered) |
| MBA 282 | Global Supply Chain Management |
| MBA 232 | Negotiation & Relationship Management |
| Business Analytics in Healthcare Concentration | |
| MBA 225 | Financial Aspects of Healthcare Administration |
| MBA 262 | Integrated IT in Healthcare |
| MBA 281 | Quality & Process Improvement in Healthcare |
| MBA 235 | Management of Innovation |
| MBA 260 | Management of Technology Intensive Enterprises |
| MBA 261 | Integrated Business Process Management (not currently offered) |
| MBA 263 | Project & Outsourcing Management |
| MBA 264 | Business Intelligence |
| General Management Concentration | |
| MBA 231 | Managing in High Performance Work Organizations |
| MBA 260 | Management Information Systems |
| MBA 270 | Management of International Operations |
| 9 units of elective coursework, including from any of the MBA concentrations or other non-business graduate classes. | |
| Culminating Experience | |
| MBA 501 | Culminating Experience Project in Business & Strategy |
| MBA 500A | Thesis |
| MBA 500B | Project |
How To Apply
Steps to Complete the MBA Application & Downloadable Instructions
Ready to apply? Below is a step-by-step guide that details how to apply to the MBA program.
NOTE: You must complete the entire Cal State Apply graduate application and pay the $70 fee and ensure both letters of recommendation are uploaded by the appropriate deadline to be considered an applicant to the program. Official transcripts from all institutions attended must also be received by the deadline. Incomplete applications missing letters of recommendation or transcripts will not be reviewed.
Download Cal State Apply Application Instructions
Watch Application Tips Workshop Recording
| Steps | Details |
| Complete the Cal State Apply Online Graduate Application - CURRENTLY CLOSED; APPLICATION OPENS OCT. 1, 2022 | Complete the online application via Cal State Apply. You must pay the application fee of $70 and press the "Submit" button to officially complete the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered and the portal will close promptly at 11:59pm on February 15, 2023. |
| Required Supplemental Documents/Components of the Cal State Apply Application: | |
| 1) Current Professional Resume (1 - 2 pages) | |
| 2) Statement of Purpose - Answer the following two (2) questions. Format separately into two sections, but upload as one document. | |
| Prompt 1: The MBA classroom is a diverse, dynamic learning environment. Please describe how you will contribute to the Sacramento State MBA program, highlighting any significant events, experiences, hardships, or people that have affected your life. (500 words maximum) | |
| Prompt 2: The Sacramento State College of Business is committed to developing the next generation of leaders in the region. Discuss how as both an MBA student and an alumnus you hope to impact or give back to the greater Sacramento community. (250 words maximum) | |
| 3) Two (2) Letters of Recommendation - Submitted directly by your recommenders through the Cal State Apply application portal. Letters submitted by the applicant will not be accepted. Please check your Cal State Apply portal often to ensure both letters show as "Completed" by to the deadline. Applications missing letters of recommendation or with letters submitted past the deadline will NOT be reviewed. | |
| NEED HELP? | DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAL STATE APPLY APPLICATION |
| NEED TIPS? | WATCH APPLICATION TIPS WORKSHOP RECORDING |
| DOWNLOAD APPLICATION TIPS WORKSHOP PRESENTATION SLIDES | |
| Create a SacLink account and email address | An email will be sent to you approximately one week after you submit your Cal State Apply application. The email will come from the University Office of Graduate Studies or International Admissions and contains instructions on how to create a SacLink account and Sac State email address. |
| Submit all official transcripts | You must submit transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended to the Office of Graduate Studies or International Admissions by the application deadline. Please send transcripts AFTER you submit your application; doing so before will delay your application. |
| International Students: submit transcripts to the Office of International Admissions (intlinfo@csus.edu) | |
| Sacramento State current students or graduates: only submit transcripts not previously submitted to the university or from institutions attended after graduation. | |
| Send official digital transcripts (preferred) to gradtranscripts@csus.edu. Paper transcripts should be mailed to the following address and received by the application deadline: | |
| Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) California State University, Sacramento Riverfront Center, Room 215, MS 6112 6000 J St. Sacramento, CA 95819‐6112 |
|
| College of Business Faculty Interview (competitive applicants only) | After preliminary review of their completed application, competitive applicants will be identified and selected to complete an interview with a College of Business faculty member. The interview will be used to further assess the strength of their application and to make a final admission decision. Not all applicants will be selected for interview. |
International Applicants
International students are encouraged to apply to the MBA program and are welcomed on our culturally diverse and globally engaged campus in Sacramento. Learn more about the application and admissions process on the International Programs & Global Engagement site.
International applicants must answer "yes" to the question, “Do you have a U.S. visa?” on the Cal State Apply application. This indicates that you currently possess, or you intend to obtain, a U.S. F or J visa.
Please submit your whole application package, including supplemental application documents (resume, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, admission test scores, and official transcripts) by the deadline. Additional materials may also need to be submitted for visa processing and to enroll in the program.
English Language Requirement
Students who earned a degree from an institution located in a nation where English is not the official language, or where the language of instruction at that institution was not English, must take the TOEFL or IELTS or PTE and receive a passing score. A list of countries not held to the English Proficiency Requirement can be found here.
Official English Proficiency Minimum Scores:
- TOEFL - Minimum of 80 internet-based (iBT), 550 paper-based (pbt), 213 computer-based (cbt)
- IELTS - Minimum of 6.5
- PTE - Minimum of 65
(Please Use Institution Code 4671 when sending official score reports)
U.S. Residents/Citizens With Foreign Documents
U.S. residents or citizens who completed their undergraduate studies abroad and have international transcripts must either:
- Submit all official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) AT LEAST ONE MONTH PRIOR to the application deadline for internal evaluation (Spring app = August 15; Fall app = January 15); OR
- Have all official transcripts evaluated by an outside company. The three agencies we accept evaluations from along with additional information for applicants with foreign documents can be found here.
Transcripts submitted to OGS for internal evaluation after the internal one-month-prior deadline will NOT be reviewed and your application will be denied as incomplete. If you apply beyond that deadline, please seek outside agency evaluation of your transcripts and ensure the evaluation is received by OGS by the final application deadline.
MBA Program Costs
As part of the California State University system, Sacramento State offers the lowest available tuition and fees for an AACSB-accredited MBA program in the Sacramento region.
Total cost for the program when enrolled as a part-time California resident student (6 units/semester) is approximately $27,000 and can be completed in an average of 2½ years.
Total cost for international students enrolled full-time (at least 9 units/semester) is approximately $38,000 and is completed in an average of 1 1/2 years.
Housing, books, parking, and other living expenses are not included in the fees below and are the responsibility of the student.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
At this time, no merit scholarships are available to new students. The MBA program does not provide graduate assistantships.
We encourage you to apply for financial aid by completing your FAFSA application by the priority deadline and to visit the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships webpage to learn more about this process. A full list of scholarships available at Sac State can be found here.
Academic Year Enrollment Fees
| Student | Detail | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| California Residents | 0 - 6 Units Per Semester | $2,953 |
| ≥7 Units Per Semester | $4,459 | |
| Graduate Business Professional Fee | $270 per unit | |
| Non-Residents & International Students | 0 - 6 Units Per Semester | $2,953 + $396 per unit |
| ≥7 Units Per Semester | $4,459 + $396 per unit | |
| Graduate Business Professional Fee | $270 per unit | |
| MBA Foundation Courses | Administered by the College of Continuing Education (CCE). Courses are either 2 or 3 units each. | $630 per unit |
Contact Information
Prospective Students & Admissions
Sophie Mills Duncan, J.D.
Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator
(916) 278-4501
Tahoe Hall - Room 1020
mba@csus.edu
Current Students & Academic Advising
Jeanie Williams, MBA
Graduate Coordinator & MBA Advisor
(916) 278-3354
Tahoe Hall - Room 1020
mps@csus.edu
Mailing Address
California State University, Sacramento
College of Business - MBA Program
Tahoe Hall, Room 1020
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6088