One of the significant challenges professionals face when considering an MBA is the cost. With rising expenses across the board, from daily living to long-term financial commitments, the idea of investing in graduate education can feel like a substantial hurdle.

“As educational costs continue to rise, it’s crucial for prospective students to consider the value of their investment,” says Kellee Carter, senior assistant director of operations and enrollment management for Cal State Fullerton’s Graduate Business Programs.

“Our programs offer a high-quality education, with courses led by accomplished faculty and industry professionals, all at a fraction of the cost compared to many MBA programs in the area. Our graduate students enjoy the benefits of a large business school’s resources while still experiencing small class sizes and direct access to faculty, ensuring personalized attention and support.”

Concern about the MBA degree cost in today’s economy is a significant issue. According to Education Data Initiative in February 2024, the average MBA cost in the U.S. is $56,850. In California, MBA programs average $57,450. Thankfully, tuition is 74% lower at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, where the MBA tuition cost is $33,000. The college’s MBA program ranks in the top 40% most affordable MBA programs in California, according to data from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the world’s top accrediting body for business schools. Within Orange County, the college’s MBA programs are 66% to 73% lower than accredited competitors within the county.

Our Flexible MBA is the most cost-effective in that it allows students to continue working full-time while enabling them to study at their own pace. Eleven concentrations, covering accounting, information systems, finance, management and marketing, enable specialization to succeed in one’s chosen subset of business, which is ideal for personalized career advancement.

Cody McAllister ’22, an MBA grad who is now manager of project cost development for Southern California Edison, notes that the flexibility and affordability of the MBA program were both major benefits of earning his degree at Cal State Fullerton.

“Courses offered on both weekdays and weekends and various modes of instruction allowed me to balance my professional, academic and personal lives. CSUF offers flexibility that helped me navigate the program without any additional pressures of schedule challenges or finding myself in a non-preferred class,” he says.

“The quality and reputation of the College of Business and Economics, combined with the total cost of the program, made the decision to get my MBA much easier. I wasn’t burdened by carrying the significant costs I saw from other programs.”

Among the many MBA scholarships available to graduate business students at CSUF is the Michael A. Reagan Graduate Scholarship, a $10,000 non-need-based award for first-semester students with outstanding academic performance. Additional scholarships are available through the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for those pursuing government finance and management careers. Women and students from historically underprivileged ethnicities such as Hispanics have additional scholarships available to them.

Affordability, world-class teaching and research faculty, and a strong reputation in Southern California and beyond, along with over 80,000 alumni ready to support your next steps, are just some of the reasons to choose CSUF Business Graduate Programs. Immersive extracurricular opportunities are another important factor.

Carter encourages all those considering a business graduate degree to turn to Cal State Fullerton. “It is a time of growth and vitality at Cal State Fullerton’s business college, a perfect time to attain your affordable and attainable MBA degree. Your ticket to the next level of your career is easier to obtain than you thought. We encourage you to explore our MBA program, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions,” she says.

For more information or to apply today, visit Business Graduate Programs online. Or read more of our articles on grad school at the College of Business and Economics.