The Best MBA Programs in San Diego for 2026
The best MBA programs in San Diego are the accredited schools that graduate their students and charge honestly for it, not the ones with the biggest name on the building. Hakia analyzed 10 accredited MBA programs in San Diego and the surrounding metro and ranked 10 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 10 ranked schools runs from $6,084 to $58,420 a year, a $52,336 spread for the same credential.
San Diego State University leads with a 94.6 Hakia Score on a 76% graduation rate, at $6,084 a year. Across all 10 ranked MBA programs in San Diego the average graduation rate is 57%, ranging from 11% to 84%. 2 of the 10 are 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.
Below is the full ranked table, followed by a school-by-school look at what actually separates the MBA programs in San Diego: cost, completion, selectivity, and where the degree leads. This list covers San Diego County, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table. Every figure is drawn from federal IPEDS and BLS data, and no school pays for placement.
Key Takeaways on the Best MBA Programs in San Diego
- San Diego State University ranks first among MBA programs in San Diego with a 94.6 Hakia Score and a 76% graduation rate.
- Tuition across the 10 ranked MBA programs in San Diego spans $6,084 to $58,420 a year, a $52,336 gap for the same credential.
- The 10 ranked MBA programs in San Diego graduate 57% of students on average, from 11% to 84%.
- 2 of the 10 ranked schools are public, where the in-state rate is what California residents actually pay.
- 5 of the 10 offer a confirmed online option, which matters in a city where commuting time is the real cost.
- National median pay in the field is $105,770 (BLS), the same benchmark whichever San Diego school a student picks.
Hakia analyzed 10 accredited MBA programs in San Diego and the surrounding metro reported to IPEDS, scoring each on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes, then ranked one entry per school on its strongest program. No school is rewarded for sticker price alone, and none pays for inclusion.
The 10 Best MBA Programs in San Diego, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA | Public | $6,084 | 76% | 36% | 94.6 |
| 2 | University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA | Nonprofit | $58,420 | 84% | 52% | 92.2 |
| 3 | Point Loma Nazarene UniversitySan Diego, CA | Nonprofit | $45,300 | 77% | 84% | 80.8 |
| 4 | California Miramar UniversitySan Diego, CA · online option | For-profit | $9,744 | 50% | 18% | 77.7 |
| 5 | National UniversitySan Diego, CA · online option | Nonprofit | $13,284 | 43% | NR | 74.2 |
| 6 | California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos, CA | Public | $6,084 | 55% | 95% | 73.9 |
| 7 | Alliant International University-San DiegoSan Diego, CA | For-profit | $13,944 | NR | NR | 69.5 |
| 8 | Northcentral UniversitySan Diego, CA · online option | Nonprofit | $11,064 | NR | NR | 68.9 |
| 9 | United States UniversitySan Diego, CA · online option | For-profit | $6,328 | NR | NR | 67.4 |
| 10 | Ashford UniversitySan Diego, CA · online option | For-profit | $11,040 | 11% | NR | 65.1 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
The Top MBA Programs in San Diego at a Glance
Each program scores 0 to 100 on the Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. Longer bars rank higher.
Inside the Top MBA Programs in San Diego
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 76%
- Admit rate
- 36%
- In-state
- $6,084
- Out-of-state
- $18,684
At $6,084 a year in-state, San Diego State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 94.6 Hakia Score on a 76% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 94.6, #1 of 10
- 76% graduation rate
- $6,084 in-state vs $18,684 out-of-state
- Lowest in-state tuition here
San Diego State is a public institution in San Diego, CA. Its MBA program ranks #1 of the 10 analyzed here with a 94.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 76.4 group average. The program graduates 76% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. San Diego State admits 36% of applicants, more selective than the 57% average for the group. That is more open than the 18% rate at California Miramar, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 11% to 84%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 41,137 students.
On cost, San Diego State charges $6,084 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $18,684 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with above-average completion.
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 84%
- Admit rate
- 52%
- In-state
- $58,420
- Out-of-state
- $58,420
University of San Diego graduates 84% of its students, above the 57% average across this ranking, on a 92.2 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 92.2, #2 of 10
- 84% graduation rate
- $58,420 tuition
- Top graduation rate on this list
University of San Diego is a private, nonprofit institution in San Diego, CA. Its MBA program ranks #2 of the 10 analyzed here with a 92.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 76.4 group average, in the top third of the 10 ranked programs, 2.4 points behind top-ranked San Diego State. The program graduates 84% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. University of San Diego admits 52% of applicants, more selective than the 57% average for the group. That is more open than the 18% rate at California Miramar, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 11% to 84%. The university enrolls 9,714 students overall.
On cost, University of San Diego charges $58,420 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 77%
- Admit rate
- 84%
- In-state
- $45,300
- Out-of-state
- $45,300
Point Loma Nazarene graduates 77% of its students, above the 57% average across this ranking, on an 80.8 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 80.8, #3 of 10
- 77% graduation rate
- $45,300 tuition
- Admits just 84% of applicants
Point Loma Nazarene is a private, nonprofit institution in San Diego, CA. Its MBA program ranks #3 of the 10 analyzed here with an 80.8 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 76.4 group average, in the top third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 77% of its students, above the 57% average across the ranked schools. Point Loma Nazarene admits 84% of applicants, less selective than the 57% average for the group. That is more open than the 18% rate at California Miramar, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 11% to 84%. The university enrolls 4,757 students overall.
On cost, Point Loma Nazarene charges $45,300 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its above-average completion.
California Miramar University
San Diego, CA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 18%
- In-state
- $9,744
- Out-of-state
- $9,744
At $9,744 a year in-state, California Miramar is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 77.7 Hakia Score on a 50% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 77.7, #4 of 10
- 50% graduation rate
- $9,744 tuition
- Most selective program here
California Miramar is a private, for-profit institution in San Diego, CA. Its MBA program ranks #4 of the 10 analyzed here with a 77.7 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 76.4 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 50% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. California Miramar admits 18% of applicants, more selective than the 57% average for the group. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 11% to 84%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 247 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, California Miramar charges $9,744 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with genuine selectivity.
National University
San Diego, CA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 43%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $13,284
- Out-of-state
- $13,284
National ranks #5 of the 10 mba programs in this analysis, with a 74.2 Hakia Score and a 43% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 74.2, #5 of 10
- 43% graduation rate
- $13,284 tuition
- Online option available
Based in San Diego, CA, National is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #5 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 74.2 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 76.4 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 43% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 11% to 84%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 22,115 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, National charges $13,284 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 55%
- Admit rate
- 95%
- In-state
- $6,084
- Out-of-state
- $18,684
At $6,084 a year in-state, California State-San Marcos is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 73.9 Hakia Score on a 55% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 73.9, #6 of 10
- 55% graduation rate
- $6,084 in-state vs $18,684 out-of-state
- Admits just 95% of applicants
California State-San Marcos is a public institution in San Marcos, CA. Its MBA program ranks #6 of the 10 analyzed here with a 73.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 76.4 group average, in the middle third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 55% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. California State-San Marcos admits 95% of applicants, less selective than the 57% average for the group. That is more open than the 18% rate at California Miramar, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 11% to 84%. The university enrolls 16,237 students overall.
On cost, California State-San Marcos charges $6,084 a year in-state, roughly 3x the $18,684 out-of-state rate. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the main draw here is its low in-state cost.
Alliant International University-San Diego
San Diego, CA · For-profit
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $13,944
- Out-of-state
- $13,944
Alliant International-San Diego ranks #7 of the 10 mba programs in this analysis, with a 69.5 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 69.5, #7 of 10
- $13,944 tuition
- 4,530 students enrolled
Based in San Diego, CA, Alliant International-San Diego is a private, for-profit institution. Its MBA program lands at #7 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 69.5 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 76.4 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The university enrolls 4,530 students overall.
On cost, Alliant International-San Diego charges $13,944 a year in-state. That puts it at the higher end on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. It earns its place in the top 10 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.
Northcentral University
San Diego, CA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $11,064
- Out-of-state
- $11,064
Northcentral ranks #8 of the 10 mba programs in this analysis, with a 68.9 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 68.9, #8 of 10
- $11,064 tuition
- Online option available
Based in San Diego, CA, Northcentral is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #8 of the 10 ranked here, earning a 68.9 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 76.4 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The university enrolls 9,489 students overall. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Northcentral charges $11,064 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.
United States University
San Diego, CA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $6,328
- Out-of-state
- $6,328
At $6,328 a year in-state, United States is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 67.4 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 67.4, #9 of 10
- $6,328 tuition
- Online option available
United States is a private, for-profit institution in San Diego, CA. Its MBA program ranks #9 of the 10 analyzed here with a 67.4 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 76.4 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,454 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, United States charges $6,328 a year in-state. That puts it among the most affordable on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the draw here is low in-state cost paired with an online option.
Ashford University
San Diego, CA · For-profit · online option
- Grad rate
- 11%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $11,040
- Out-of-state
- $11,040
Ashford ranks #10 of the 10 mba programs in this analysis, with a 65.1 Hakia Score and an 11% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 65.1, #10 of 10
- 11% graduation rate
- $11,040 tuition
- Online option available
Ashford is a private, for-profit institution in San Diego, CA. Its MBA program ranks #10 of the 10 analyzed here with a 65.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 76.4 group average, in the lower third of the 10 ranked programs. The program graduates 11% of its students, below the 57% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 11% to 84%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 28,004 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Ashford charges $11,040 a year in-state. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Diego State to $58,420 at University of San Diego. As a private institution, its tuition does not change with residency, unlike the public universities on this list. For prospective students, the main draw here is its an online option.
What MBA Programs in San Diego Cost
Tuition across the 10 ranked schools runs from $6,084 to $58,420 a year. San Diego State University anchors the low end at $6,084 a year, while University of San Diego sits at the top at $58,420. The cheapest public option among the MBA programs in San Diego is San Diego State University at $6,084; the cheapest private is United States University at $6,328.
Over the two years the credential takes, that is roughly $12,168 in tuition at San Diego State University against about $116,840 at University of San Diego. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to San Diego 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 San Diego Are
Admission odds across the MBA programs in San Diego are nowhere near uniform. California Miramar University admits 18% of applicants, the tightest on this list, while California State University-San Marcos admits 95%. A candidate with an uneven undergraduate record has real options here without leaving San Diego.
That is a 77-point spread, wide enough that the MBA programs in San Diego do not form a single tier. A file that is competitive at California State University-San Marcos will not necessarily clear California Miramar University, so applying across the range rather than within one band is the sensible strategy here. Completion does not follow the same order: University of San Diego finishes 84% of its students, the strongest on this list on a 52% admit rate, which is why selectivity is one input to the Hakia Score rather than the score itself.
Accreditation Across San Diego Business Schools
The MBA programs in San Diego lean private: 8 of the 10 ranked schools are private against 2 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 $58,420 is not thereby carrying it. Confirm it on the school's own page: United States University at $6,328 and the priciest name on this list are held to the same standard.
Why Study for an MBA in San Diego
The 10 ranked schools sit across 2 towns, close enough that most San Diego candidates can reach several of them. San Diego State University leads, followed by University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene University, and the table names the town of each. That density is worth using: applying to three schools inside one metro costs application fees and nothing else, and the recruiting calendars overlap.
5 of the 10 also run a confirmed online option, which keeps the credential but gives up most of the local access that justifies studying in San Diego in the first place.
Careers and Pay After a San Diego MBA
Every one of the MBA programs in San Diego 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 $6,084 at San Diego State University or $58,420 at University of San Diego. 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 10-fold tuition spread on this page is the reason to look hard at the cheap end before the famous end. San Diego State University and University of San Diego 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 San Diego 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.
MBA Programs in San Diego: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best MBA program in San Diego?
By Hakia Score, San Diego State University ranks first among the 10 ranked MBA programs in San Diego, with a 94.6 score and a 76% 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 San Diego require the GMAT?
Fewer of them every year, and the 10 ranked here are not uniform about it. California Miramar University is the tightest on this list at 18% and California State University-San Marcos the most open at 95%, 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 San Diego?
Tuition among the ranked San Diego schools runs from $6,084 to $58,420 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 San Diego living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many MBA programs in San Diego does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 10 accredited MBA programs across San Diego and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 10 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers San Diego 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 San Diego instead of online?
5 of the 10 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in San Diego this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. 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 $6,084 in-state, San Diego State University is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.
What salary can graduates expect?
The BLS reports a national median of $105,770 a year for the field. It is a national benchmark rather than a San Diego figure or a promise from any school on this page. Its use is scale: the same median sits behind San Diego State University at $6,084 a year and University of San Diego at $58,420, and that is the comparison worth making before committing to the second.
How the MBA Programs in San Diego Are Scored
Every program earns a Hakia Score from 0 to 100, built only from federal data (IPEDS, the U.S. Department of Education, and BLS) and scored against its true peers: programs in the same field at the same degree level. No reputation surveys, no pay-to-play. Here is how the score is weighted:
- Outcomes44%
Graduation rate (26%) and real per-school graduate earnings (18%). Does the program get students to the finish line, and where do they land?
- Selectivity & academics38%
Admissions selectivity (24%) and the academic profile of admitted students (14%).
- Scale & value18%
Enrollment (7%), cost-to-earnings value (6%), and the number of graduates a program produces (5%).
Weights renormalize over the data each program actually reports, so a school missing a metric (many open-access colleges do not publish entrance scores or earnings) is never penalized for it. Scores are percentiles within the peer group, curved to a 0-to-100 scale. What the score does not measure: individual instructor quality, specific course content, or campus culture. Verify those directly with the program.