The Best MBA Programs in Los Angeles for 2027
Key Points: Best MBA Programs in Los Angeles
- University of California-Los Angeles ranks #1 in the Los Angeles area on a 96.9 Program Score, with a 93% graduation rate.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- University of Southern California follows at #2 with a 96.3 Program Score.
- Programs analyzed
- 24
- Schools ranked
- 9
- Average graduation rate
- 69%
We analyzed 24 accredited MBA programs in Los Angeles and the surrounding metro and ranked 9 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 9 ranked schools runs from $12,260 to $69,904 a year, a $57,644 spread for the same credential.
University of California-Los Angeles leads with a 96.9 Program Score on a 93% graduation rate, at $12,260 a year. Across all 9 ranked MBA programs in Los Angeles the average graduation rate is 69%, ranging from 21% to 93%. 1 of the 9 is public and 8 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below. National median pay for the field is $105,770 a year per the BLS, the benchmark every school on this list feeds into regardless of what it charges.
The Top MBA Programs in Los Angeles at a Glance
UCLA leads at 96.9, and Los Angeles Pacific closes the chart at 65.0. Longer bars rank higher.
How the MBA Programs in Los Angeles Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 9 Best MBA Programs in Los Angeles, Ranked for 2027
The 9 best MBA Programs in Los Angeles, ranked by outcomes.
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 93%
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
University of California-Los Angeles's Anderson's MBA lets applicants submit a GMAT Focus, GRE or Executive Assessment score and offers three-year concurrent degrees with urban planning, computer science and Latin American studies.
- 93% graduation rate
- Program Score 96.9
- 9% admit rate
- Three concurrent degree options
The University of California-Los Angeles lists its Master of Business Administration through the Anderson Graduate School of Management. No specific undergraduate major is required, though applicants are expected to have completed elementary algebra and differential calculus before entering. Admission is limited to fall, with three application rounds in October, January and April. Applicants may submit a GMAT Focus, GRE General Test or Executive Assessment score, plus two letters of recommendation, and the school gives preference to those with full-time work experience after the bachelor's degree. Concurrent degrees are available: an MBA/Master of Urban and Regional Planning, an MBA/MS in Computer Science and an MBA/MA in Latin American Studies, each completed in three academic years.
The federal data show a 93% graduation rate at UCLA, and the university admits 9% of applicants, so this is a highly selective path that rewards a strong record and real work history. The program carries a Program Score of 96.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. It fits professionals with a few years of experience who want a full-time MBA with the option to pair management training with planning, technical or regional specialties.
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 92%
- Admit rate
- 10%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
University of Southern California's Marshall built this MBA for the online format, pairing weekly live webcam classes with a required one-week residency in Los Angeles.
- 92% graduation rate
- Program Score 96.3
- Weekly live webcam classes
- One-week Los Angeles residency
The University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business offers a Master of Business Administration designed for the online format. It launched in 2015 and pairs foundational business skills with contemporary issues such as analytics-driven decision-making, communication and remote collaboration. Instruction combines video content produced in the school's in-house studio with weekly live class sessions held by webcam. A one-week on-campus session in Los Angeles is a required element of the curriculum. The page lists graduates working in entertainment, IT and services, investment management, hospital and healthcare, banking, the military and financial services, and it describes career services support for online students. The school says U.S. News & World Report and Poets and Quants have recognized the program.
USC reports a 92% graduation rate and admits about 10% of applicants. The program's Program Score is 96.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The format suits working professionals who want a selective school's MBA without relocating, provided they can travel to Los Angeles for the residency week and commit to scheduled live sessions each week. The page stresses leadership and critical thinking more than a single functional specialty, so students who already know they want a narrow concentration should check the course list before applying. Admission is competitive, so applicants should expect to document their work history and goals.
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 79%
- Admit rate
- 45%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Loyola Marymount University's 30-unit M.S. in Management is built for non-business majors and can be finished in 9 months, ending in a capstone project.
- Program Score 91.5
- 79% graduation rate
- 9-month full-time format
- Marketing or Sustainability concentration
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) offers a Master of Science in Management designed for people whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than business. The program is 30 units and takes 9 months full time, delivered on campus with weekday and weeknight classes. The curriculum covers accounting, finance, marketing, organizational behavior and business analytics. A dedicated course on career readiness, personal branding and professional skill-building helps students set a career path, and a capstone project lets them explore industries and business challenges that match their interests. Students can choose a Marketing or Sustainability concentration. Those who complete three Business of Sports electives with a grade of B or higher also earn a Business of Sports Certificate. The school reports an average graduate class size of 13 and an 11:1 student to faculty ratio.
The program has a Program Score of 91.5 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. LMU's federal graduation rate is 79% and its admit rate is 45%. Applicants need a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher, plus a resume, personal statement and two letters of recommendation, with GMAT or GRE scores required unless waived. It suits career changers who want a short, full-time reset into business.
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 83%
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Pepperdine University's Graziadio offers its MBA in full-time, part-time, online, executive and 20-month Fast Track formats, plus joint degrees with law and public policy.
- 83% graduation rate
- Program Score 90.6
- Full-time, part-time, online and executive formats
- JD/MBA and MBA/MPP options
Pepperdine University's Graziadio Business School runs several MBA formats under one umbrella. The part-time track includes hybrid, online and a 20-month Fast Track option for working professionals. The full-time MBA is taught on the Malibu campus, with courses, concentrations and a SEER certificate, in traditional, one-year and 20-month versions. The school also lists an Executive MBA for mid- to senior-level professionals and a Presidents and Key Executives MBA for CEOs, founders and senior leaders. Students from the online Bachelor of Science in Management can use a pathway that finishes the MBA in as little as 30 units rather than the standard 52. Joint options include a JD/MBA with the law school and an MBA/MPP with the public policy school.
Federal data show Pepperdine graduates 83% of its students and admits 63% of applicants, so it is selective without being closed. The master's program carries a Program Score of 90.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The range of formats makes it a fit for several kinds of students: career changers who can study full time in Malibu, working professionals who need evening or online pacing, and executives who want a cohort of peers. Applicants should compare the formats on the school's comparison page before choosing, since requirements and schedules differ by track.
Angeles College
Los Angeles, CA · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 93%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A 54-quarter-credit MBA built around 11 core courses and a two-course capstone, which the school says can be finished in 60 weeks.
- 93% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.1
- Open admission
- 54 quarter credits in 60 weeks
Angeles College describes its Master of Business Administration as a practical foundation in accounting, finance, economics, marketing and information technology, with added attention to organizational behavior, ethical leadership, emotional intelligence and strategy. The program is 620 clock hours and 54 quarter credit units, and the school says students can complete it in 60 weeks. Core courses include Financial Resource Management, Managerial Accounting, Operations Management, Managerial Economics, Managerial Ethics and International Management. Electives cover Marketing Analytics, Social Media Marketing, Health Service Management and Global Health. A two-course Strategic Management capstone closes the program, and a bachelor's degree or equivalent is the prerequisite. Classes run Monday through Friday on weekdays at the City of Industry location, with a fall quarter start listed for September 28, 2026.
The federal data shows a 93% graduation rate at Angeles College, and the school is open admission, so there is no selective admit cutoff to clear. The program's Program Score is 84.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The format suits working professionals with a bachelor's degree who want a short, structured sequence with a general management core and a capstone, and who can attend weekday sessions in person.
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 62%
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
The Master of Business Management can be completed in 12 to 30 months, starts in any of six sessions a year, and requires no GMAT or GRE.
- 62% graduation rate
- Program Score 73.4
- 12 to 30 month completion
- No GMAT or GRE required
Azusa Pacific University (APU) offers a 39-unit Master of Business Management through its School of Business and Management. The page describes a program for working professionals that can be finished in 12 to 30 months, with students admitted in any of six sessions during the school year. It offers a wide range of concentrations, flexible class times and formats, and locations in Azusa, the Inland Empire, Murrieta, Orange County and online. Students complete real-world projects, can earn microcredentials, and study ethics through a Christ-centered approach. No GMAT or GRE score is required, and applicants need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Federal data shows a 62% graduation rate and an 88% admit rate. The program has a Program Score of 73.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. APU enrolls about 6,272 students. The format fits professionals who need to keep working while they study and want a management credential rather than a traditional MBA. Applicants with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 are considered for conditional admission, and may need up to three prerequisite courses, so students with a thinner academic record still have a path in.
Woodbury University
Burbank, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 82%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Woodbury University's MBA runs 36 to 45 credits with one evening class per week and ends in a real client consulting capstone.
- 60% graduation rate
- Program Score 69.6
- One evening class per week
- Client consulting capstone
Woodbury University's Master of Business Administration, run through the Woodbury Business Institute, is built on three tenets: responsible leadership, sustainable business, and self-empowerment. The program is offered in person (the page lists Redlands and Los Angeles) and online in synchronous and asynchronous formats. Each class meets one evening per week, and students take 36 to 45 credits over 12 to 30 months with fall, spring, and summer starts. Students without an undergraduate business degree complete nine credits of foundation courses in accounting, organizational behavior, and finance. The core covers financial accounting, quantitative methods, managerial economics, and ethical leadership. Concentrations include AI, finance, entrepreneurship, GIS, healthcare administration, human resources, marketing, and organizational leadership. The capstone has students perform consulting work for a real client.
Woodbury graduates 60% of its students and admits 82% of applicants. With about 850 students enrolled, it is a small school with small classes. The program earns a Program Score of 69.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals in the Los Angeles area who want an evening or online MBA, career changers who need the foundation courses, and students who want a specialty such as healthcare administration or AI alongside the general business core.
University of the People
Pasadena, CA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 34%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Varies by program
An online MBA of 12 courses and 36 credits with no live lectures and no GRE or GMAT, offered by an open-admission school.
- Program Score 68.9
- 34% graduation rate
- Open admission
- 12 courses, no live lectures
The University of the People offers a Master of Business Administration fully online. The program is 12 courses with no live lectures, and the school says students can finish in less than a year. The 36 credits break into 24 major course credits, 9 elective credits and 3 capstone credits. Core courses include Managerial Accounting, Financial Management, Marketing Management, Organizational Theory and Behavior, MIS and Technology, and Business Law, Ethics and Social Responsibility, none with prerequisites. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and a letter of recommendation, and no SAT, ACT, GRE or GMAT scores are required.
The university is open admission and reports a 34% graduation rate. The program carries a Program Score of 68.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults who need to study on their own schedule, without scheduled class times, and who already hold a bachelor's degree. The graduation rate is a reminder that a self-paced online format takes steady discipline, so prospective students should plan their weekly study time before applying.
Los Angeles Pacific University
San Dimas, CA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 21%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A 36-credit, 100% online MBA taught through a Christian worldview, with eight-week sessions and six starts a year.
- Program Score 65
- 21% graduation rate
- Open admission
- 36 credits, 100% online
Los Angeles Pacific University, which brands itself APU Global on the program page, offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) that runs 36 credits and is delivered 100% online. Courses run in eight-week sessions with six starts a year, and the school says there is no GRE or GMAT requirement. The curriculum covers strategic management, marketing, organizational finance, accounting, business intelligence, innovation and ethics, with a Christian worldview applied throughout. Listed courses include Accounting Reporting and Analysis, Business Law, Business Analytics for Decision Making, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. Applicants need a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, and the page says a 3.0 GPA is preferred. The school reports regional accreditation through WSCUC and nonprofit status.
The program earns a Program Score of 65 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. Federal data show a 21% graduation rate at the university, which is open admission, so no entrance-rate cutoff stands between an applicant and enrollment. That graduation figure is low, so check how the eight-week pace fits your schedule. The program suits working adults with an undergraduate degree who want a faith-informed general MBA they can complete entirely online and who do not want to sit a standardized test to get in.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked MBA Programs in Los Angeles
The median school on this list graduates 79% of its students. The highest rates belong to University of California-Los Angeles (93%) and Angeles College (93%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 University of California-Los Angeles93% graduation rate
- #5 Angeles College93% graduation rate
- #2 University of Southern California92% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the MBA Programs in Los Angeles?
On this list, 3 of 9 schools are open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Of the rest, 3 schools admit fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being University of California-Los Angeles at 9%.
- #1 University of California-Los Angeles9% admitted
- #2 University of Southern California10% admitted
- #3 Loyola Marymount University45% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private MBA Programs in Los Angeles
This list holds 1 public, 7 private nonprofit, and 1 for-profit schools.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Online Options Among the MBA Programs in Los Angeles
Of the 9 schools ranked here, 2 offer distance education. The highest ranked is University of the People, at #8.
- #8 University of the PeoplePasadena, CA
- #9 Los Angeles Pacific UniversitySan Dimas, CA
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the MBA Programs in Los Angeles
Enrollment on this list runs from 603 at Angeles College to 47,335 at University of California-Los Angeles. Of the 9, 3 enroll 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the MBA Programs in Los Angeles Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of California-Los AngelesUCLA | $223,358 |
| #2 | University of Southern CaliforniaUSC | $181,250 |
| #4 | Pepperdine UniversityPepperdine | $141,949 |
| #6 | Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa Pacific | $98,437 |
| #7 | Woodbury UniversityWoodbury | $86,351 |
| #9 | Los Angeles Pacific UniversityLos Angeles Pacific | $100,643 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $86,351 at Woodbury to $223,358 at UCLA.
UCLA leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level.
What MBA Programs in Los Angeles Cost
Tuition across the 9 ranked schools runs from $12,260 to $69,904 a year. University of California-Los Angeles anchors the low end at $12,260 a year, while University of Southern California sits at the top at $69,904. The cheapest public option among the MBA programs in Los Angeles is University of California-Los Angeles at $12,260; the cheapest private with a published rate is Los Angeles Pacific University at $12,360.
Over the two years the credential takes, that is roughly $24,520 in tuition at University of California-Los Angeles against about $139,808 at University of Southern California. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Los Angeles from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
How Selective MBA Programs in Los Angeles Are
Admission odds across the MBA programs in Los Angeles are nowhere near uniform. University of California-Los Angeles admits 9% of applicants, the tightest on this list, while Azusa Pacific University admits 88%. A candidate with an uneven undergraduate record has real options here without leaving Los Angeles.
That is a 79-point spread, wide enough that the MBA programs in Los Angeles do not form a single tier. A file that is competitive at Azusa Pacific University will not necessarily clear University of California-Los Angeles, so applying across the range rather than within one band is the sensible strategy here. Completion does not follow the same order: University of California-Los Angeles and Angeles College each finish 93% of their students, the strongest on this list, which is why selectivity is one input to the Program Score rather than the score itself.
Accreditation Across Los Angeles Business Schools
The MBA programs in Los Angeles lean private: 8 of the 9 ranked schools are private against 1 public, which is most of why the tuition column above spans what it does. Accreditation is what makes those prices comparable at all. For an MBA the signal employers read is business-school accreditation from AACSB sitting on top of the university's institutional accreditation, and a private school charging $69,904 is not thereby carrying it. Confirm it on the school's own page: Los Angeles Pacific University at $12,360 and the priciest name on this list are held to the same standard.
Why Study for an MBA in Los Angeles
The 9 ranked schools are spread across 6 towns, which makes "Los Angeles" a looser description than the heading suggests. University of California-Los Angeles tops the list, with University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University behind it, and the table names the town of each. For a part-time cohort meeting on weeknights that spread is the deciding constraint: a campus across the metro is a different degree from one on the way home, whatever the ranking says.
2 of the 9 also run a confirmed online option, which keeps the credential but gives up most of the local access that justifies studying in Los Angeles in the first place.
Careers and Pay After a Los Angeles MBA
Every one of the MBA programs in Los Angeles points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay for the field at $105,770 a year, a figure that describes the profession rather than any single school here, and it holds whether a graduate paid $12,260 at University of California-Los Angeles or $69,904 at University of Southern California. That is the tradeoff this ranking exists to expose: in the federal wage data, a higher price does not buy a higher salary.
Set against a single national benchmark, the nearly sixfold tuition spread on this page is the reason to look hard at the cheap end before the famous end. University of California-Los Angeles and University of Southern California feed graduates into the same wage distribution, and nothing in the federal data attaches a higher salary to the higher price. Pay in a metro the size of Los Angeles generally runs above the national median, and so does the cost of living that absorbs it. Full occupational detail, including job-growth projections and metro wage breakdowns, is published by the BLS.
Keep Exploring
MBA Programs in Los Angeles: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best MBA program in Los Angeles?
By Program Score, University of California-Los Angeles ranks first among the 9 ranked MBA programs in Los Angeles, with a 96.9 score and a 93% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Do MBA programs in Los Angeles require the GMAT?
Fewer of them every year, and the 9 ranked here are not uniform about it. University of California-Los Angeles is the tightest on this list at 9% and Azusa Pacific University the most open at 88%, so the answer depends on which of them a candidate is applying to. Many programs now waive the GMAT or GRE for applicants with several years of relevant work, and the terms differ program by program, so check them on each school's admissions page before registering for a test. A waiver saves the fee and the study time, and it does not loosen the rest of the file.
How much does an MBA cost in Los Angeles?
Tuition among the ranked Los Angeles schools runs from $6,084 to $69,904 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Los Angeles living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many MBA programs in Los Angeles does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 24 accredited MBA programs across Los Angeles and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 9 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers Los Angeles County, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth doing an MBA in Los Angeles instead of online?
Only 2 of the 9 ranked schools are confirmed online, so in Los Angeles the campus route is the one most of this list offers. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $12,260 in-state, University of California-Los Angeles is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.