The Best MBA Programs in San Francisco for 2026
The best MBA programs in San Francisco 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 13 accredited MBA programs in San Francisco and the surrounding metro and ranked 13 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 13 ranked schools runs from $6,084 to $60,639 a year, a $54,555 spread for the same credential.
University of California-Berkeley leads with a 95.2 Hakia Score on a 93% graduation rate, at $12,260 a year. Across all 13 ranked MBA programs in San Francisco the average graduation rate is 66%, ranging from 7% to 100%. 5 of the 13 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 Francisco: cost, completion, selectivity, and where the degree leads. This list covers the wider Bay Area, so some schools sit well 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 Francisco
- University of California-Berkeley ranks first among MBA programs in San Francisco with a 95.2 Hakia Score and a 93% graduation rate.
- Tuition across the 13 ranked MBA programs in San Francisco spans $6,084 to $60,639 a year, a $54,555 gap for the same credential.
- The 13 ranked MBA programs in San Francisco graduate 66% of students on average, from 7% to 100%.
- 5 of the 13 ranked schools are public, where the in-state rate is what California residents actually pay.
- 1 of the 13 offers 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 Francisco school a student picks.
Hakia analyzed 13 accredited MBA programs in San Francisco 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 13 Best MBA Programs in San Francisco, Ranked for 2026
| # | Program | Type | In-state tuition | Grad rate | Admit rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | Public | $12,260 | 93% | 11% | 95.2 |
| 2 | Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA | Nonprofit | $60,639 | 88% | 48% | 94.0 |
| 3 | Golden Gate UniversitySan Francisco, CA | Nonprofit | $11,088 | NR | NR | 88.7 |
| 4 | University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | Nonprofit | $59,950 | 70% | 62% | 88.1 |
| 5 | Lincoln UniversityOakland, CA | Nonprofit | $12,600 | 100% | NR | 87.3 |
| 6 | San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA | Public | $6,084 | 69% | 85% | 81.3 |
| 7 | Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael, CA | Nonprofit | $51,316 | 78% | 83% | 81.2 |
| 8 | Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga, CA | Nonprofit | $57,303 | 70% | 87% | 80.3 |
| 9 | Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CA | Public | $6,084 | 58% | 93% | 76.1 |
| 10 | San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA | Public | $6,084 | 50% | 96% | 74.3 |
| 11 | California State University-East BayHayward, CA | Public | $6,084 | 48% | 97% | 72.9 |
| 12 | Sofia UniversityPalo Alto, CA | For-profit | $18,000 | NR | NR | 66.7 |
| 13 | Notre Dame de Namur UniversityBelmont, CA · online option | Nonprofit | $15,792 | 7% | NR | 65.6 |
NR — not reported by the institution in the latest IPEDS collection.
The Top MBA Programs in San Francisco 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 Francisco
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 93%
- Admit rate
- 11%
- In-state
- $12,260
- Out-of-state
- $44,148
UC Berkeley graduates 93% of its students, above the 66% average across this ranking, on a 95.2 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 95.2, #1 of 13
- 93% graduation rate
- $12,260 in-state vs $44,148 out-of-state
- Most selective program here
UC Berkeley is a public institution in Berkeley, CA. Its MBA program ranks #1 of the 13 analyzed here with a 95.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That is the highest score in the ranking, well above the 80.9 group average. The program graduates 93% of its students, above the 66% average across the ranked schools. UC Berkeley admits 11% of applicants, more selective than the 74% average for the group. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 45,882 students.
On cost, UC Berkeley charges $12,260 a year in-state, roughly 4x the $44,148 out-of-state rate. That puts it mid-pack on price on this list, where annual in-state tuition runs from $6,084 at San Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. The spread makes the program a clearer value for CA residents than for out-of-state students. For prospective students, the draw here is above-average completion paired with genuine selectivity.
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 88%
- Admit rate
- 48%
- In-state
- $60,639
- Out-of-state
- $60,639
Santa Clara graduates 88% of its students, above the 66% average across this ranking, on a 94.0 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 94.0, #2 of 13
- 88% graduation rate
- $60,639 tuition
- Admits just 48% of applicants
Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #2 of the 13 ranked here, earning a 94.0 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 80.9 group average, in the top third of the 13 ranked programs, 1.2 points behind top-ranked UC Berkeley. The program graduates 88% of its students, above the 66% average across the ranked schools. Santa Clara admits 48% of applicants, more selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. The university enrolls 9,728 students overall.
On cost, Santa Clara charges $60,639 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
Golden Gate University
San Francisco, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $11,088
- Out-of-state
- $11,088
At $11,088 a year in-state, Golden Gate is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding an 88.7 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 88.7, #3 of 13
- $11,088 tuition
- 3,098 students enrolled
Based in San Francisco, CA, Golden Gate is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #3 of the 13 ranked here, earning an 88.7 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 80.9 group average, in the top third of the 13 ranked programs, 6.5 points behind top-ranked UC Berkeley. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 3,098 students.
On cost, Golden Gate charges $11,088 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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 low in-state cost.
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 62%
- In-state
- $59,950
- Out-of-state
- $59,950
University of San Francisco graduates 70% of its students, above the 66% average across this ranking, on an 88.1 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 88.1, #4 of 13
- 70% graduation rate
- $59,950 tuition
- Admits just 62% of applicants
University of San Francisco is a private, nonprofit institution in San Francisco, CA. Its MBA program ranks #4 of the 13 analyzed here with an 88.1 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 80.9 group average, in the top third of the 13 ranked programs, 7.1 points behind top-ranked UC Berkeley. The program graduates 70% of its students, above the 66% average across the ranked schools. University of San Francisco admits 62% of applicants, more selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. The university enrolls 8,913 students overall.
On cost, University of San Francisco charges $59,950 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
Lincoln University
Oakland, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 100%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $12,600
- Out-of-state
- $12,600
Lincoln graduates 100% of its students, above the 66% average across this ranking, on an 87.3 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 87.3, #5 of 13
- 100% graduation rate
- $12,600 tuition
- Top graduation rate on this list
Lincoln is a private, nonprofit institution in Oakland, CA. Its MBA program ranks #5 of the 13 analyzed here with an 87.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 80.9 group average, in the middle third of the 13 ranked programs, 7.9 points behind top-ranked UC Berkeley. The program graduates 100% of its students, above the 66% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 436 students.
On cost, Lincoln charges $12,600 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 69%
- Admit rate
- 85%
- In-state
- $6,084
- Out-of-state
- $18,684
At $6,084 a year in-state, San Jose State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding an 81.3 Hakia Score on a 69% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 81.3, #6 of 13
- 69% graduation rate
- $6,084 in-state vs $18,684 out-of-state
- Lowest in-state tuition here
Based in San Jose, CA, San Jose State is a public institution. Its MBA program lands at #6 of the 13 ranked here, earning an 81.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits above the 80.9 group average, in the middle third of the 13 ranked programs. The program graduates 69% of its students, above the 66% average across the ranked schools. San Jose State admits 85% of applicants, less selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 37,661 students.
On cost, San Jose 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 78%
- Admit rate
- 83%
- In-state
- $51,316
- Out-of-state
- $51,316
Dominican University of California graduates 78% of its students, above the 66% average across this ranking, on an 81.2 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 81.2, #7 of 13
- 78% graduation rate
- $51,316 tuition
- Admits just 83% of applicants
Dominican University of California is a private, nonprofit institution in San Rafael, CA. Its MBA program ranks #7 of the 13 analyzed here with an 81.2 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits above the 80.9 group average, in the middle third of the 13 ranked programs. The program graduates 78% of its students, above the 66% average across the ranked schools. Dominican University of California admits 83% of applicants, less selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 1,900 students.
On cost, Dominican University of California charges $51,316 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 87%
- In-state
- $57,303
- Out-of-state
- $57,303
Saint Mary's College of California graduates 70% of its students, above the 66% average across this ranking, on an 80.3 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 80.3, #8 of 13
- 70% graduation rate
- $57,303 tuition
- Admits just 87% of applicants
Based in Moraga, CA, Saint Mary's College of California is a private, nonprofit institution. Its MBA program lands at #8 of the 13 ranked here, earning an 80.3 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 80.9 group average, in the middle third of the 13 ranked programs. The program graduates 70% of its students, above the 66% average across the ranked schools. Saint Mary's College of California admits 87% of applicants, less selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands among the strongest in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 2,734 students.
On cost, Saint Mary's College of California charges $57,303 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- 93%
- In-state
- $6,084
- Out-of-state
- $18,684
At $6,084 a year in-state, Sonoma State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 76.1 Hakia Score on a 58% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 76.1, #9 of 13
- 58% graduation rate
- $6,084 in-state vs $18,684 out-of-state
- Admits just 93% of applicants
Based in Rohnert Park, CA, Sonoma State is a public institution. Its MBA program lands at #9 of the 13 ranked here, earning a 76.1 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 80.9 group average, in the lower third of the 13 ranked programs. The program graduates 58% of its students, below the 66% average across the ranked schools. Sonoma State admits 93% of applicants, less selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. The university enrolls 5,891 students overall.
On cost, Sonoma 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 50%
- Admit rate
- 96%
- In-state
- $6,084
- Out-of-state
- $18,684
At $6,084 a year in-state, San Francisco State is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 74.3 Hakia Score on a 50% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 74.3, #10 of 13
- 50% graduation rate
- $6,084 in-state vs $18,684 out-of-state
- Admits just 96% of applicants
San Francisco State is a public institution in San Francisco, CA. Its MBA program ranks #10 of the 13 analyzed here with a 74.3 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 80.9 group average, in the lower third of the 13 ranked programs. The program graduates 50% of its students, below the 66% average across the ranked schools. San Francisco State admits 96% of applicants, less selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. It is one of the larger campuses in the ranking, enrolling 22,563 students.
On cost, San Francisco 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- 97%
- In-state
- $6,084
- Out-of-state
- $18,684
At $6,084 a year in-state, California State-East Bay is among the more affordable mba programs ranked here, holding a 72.9 Hakia Score on a 48% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 72.9, #11 of 13
- 48% graduation rate
- $6,084 in-state vs $18,684 out-of-state
- Admits just 97% of applicants
California State-East Bay is a public institution in Hayward, CA. Its MBA program ranks #11 of the 13 analyzed here with a 72.9 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 80.9 group average, in the lower third of the 13 ranked programs. The program graduates 48% of its students, below the 66% average across the ranked schools. California State-East Bay admits 97% of applicants, less selective than the 74% average for the group. That is more open than the 11% rate at UC Berkeley, the most selective program on this list. Its completion rate lands in the middle of the pack in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. The university enrolls 12,326 students overall.
On cost, California State-East Bay 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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.
Sofia University
Palo Alto, CA · For-profit
- Grad rate
- NR
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $18,000
- Out-of-state
- $18,000
Sofia ranks #12 of the 13 mba programs in this analysis, with a 66.7 Hakia Score.
- Hakia Score 66.7, #12 of 13
- $18,000 tuition
- 1,145 students enrolled
Based in Palo Alto, CA, Sofia is a private, for-profit institution. Its MBA program lands at #12 of the 13 ranked here, earning a 66.7 Hakia Score that weighs graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and outcomes. That sits below the 80.9 group average, in the lower third of the 13 ranked programs. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 1,145 students.
On cost, Sofia charges $18,000 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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 13 on the balance of cost, completion, and outcomes.
Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 7%
- Admit rate
- NR
- In-state
- $15,792
- Out-of-state
- $15,792
Notre Dame de Namur ranks #13 of the 13 mba programs in this analysis, with a 65.6 Hakia Score and a 7% graduation rate.
- Hakia Score 65.6, #13 of 13
- 7% graduation rate
- $15,792 tuition
- Smallest campus in this ranking
Notre Dame de Namur is a private, nonprofit institution in Belmont, CA. Its MBA program ranks #13 of the 13 analyzed here with a 65.6 Hakia Score, a composite of graduation rate, cost, selectivity, and graduate outcomes. That sits below the 80.9 group average, in the lower third of the 13 ranked programs. The program graduates 7% of its students, below the 66% average across the ranked schools. Its completion rate lands toward the lower end in a group where graduation runs from 7% to 100%. It is one of the smaller campuses here, with 306 students. The degree is also offered online, which widens access for working students.
On cost, Notre Dame de Namur charges $15,792 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 Jose State to $60,639 at Santa Clara. 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 Francisco Cost
Tuition across the 13 ranked schools runs from $6,084 to $60,639 a year. San Jose State University anchors the low end at $6,084 a year, while Santa Clara University sits at the top at $60,639. The cheapest public option among the MBA programs in San Francisco is San Jose State University at $6,084; the cheapest private is Golden Gate University at $11,088.
Over the two years the credential takes, that is roughly $12,168 in tuition at San Jose State University against about $121,278 at Santa Clara University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to San Francisco 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 Francisco Are
Admission odds across the MBA programs in San Francisco are nowhere near uniform. University of California-Berkeley admits 11% of applicants, the tightest on this list, while California State University-East Bay in Hayward admits 97%. A candidate with an uneven undergraduate record has real options here without leaving San Francisco.
That is an 86-point spread, wide enough that the MBA programs in San Francisco do not form a single tier. A file that is competitive at California State University-East Bay in Hayward will not necessarily clear University of California-Berkeley, so applying across the range rather than within one band is the sensible strategy here. Completion does not follow the same order: Lincoln University in Oakland finishes 100% of its students, the strongest on this list, which is why selectivity is one input to the Hakia Score rather than the score itself.
Accreditation Across San Francisco Business Schools
The MBA programs in San Francisco lean private: 8 of the 13 ranked schools are private against 5 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 $60,639 is not thereby carrying it. Confirm it on the school's own page: Golden Gate University at $11,088 and the priciest name on this list are held to the same standard.
Why Study for an MBA in San Francisco
The 13 ranked schools are spread across 11 towns, which makes "San Francisco" a looser description than the heading suggests. University of California-Berkeley tops the list, with Santa Clara University and Golden Gate 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.
1 of the 13 also runs a confirmed online option, which keeps the credential but gives up most of the local access that justifies studying in San Francisco in the first place.
Careers and Pay After a San Francisco MBA
Every one of the MBA programs in San Francisco 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 Jose State University or $60,639 at Santa Clara University. 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 Jose State University and Santa Clara University 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 Francisco 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 Francisco: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best MBA program in San Francisco?
By Hakia Score, University of California-Berkeley ranks first among the 13 ranked MBA programs in San Francisco, with a 95.2 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 San Francisco require the GMAT?
Fewer of them every year, and the 13 ranked here are not uniform about it. University of California-Berkeley is the tightest on this list at 11% and California State University-East Bay in Hayward the most open at 97%, 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 Francisco?
Tuition among the ranked San Francisco schools runs from $6,084 to $60,639 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 Francisco living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many MBA programs in San Francisco does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 13 accredited MBA programs across San Francisco and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 13 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the wider Bay Area, so some schools sit well outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth doing an MBA in San Francisco instead of online?
Only 1 of the 13 ranked schools is confirmed online, so in San Francisco 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 $6,084 in-state, San Jose 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 Francisco figure or a promise from any school on this page. Its use is scale: the same median sits behind San Jose State University at $6,084 a year and Santa Clara University at $60,639, and that is the comparison worth making before committing to the second.
How the MBA Programs in San Francisco 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.