California State University, Chico - The College of Business

California State University, Chico offers a practical and personable MBA program, well suited to Northern California professionals. With a “great regional reputation,” Chico students feel confident they can leverage their education in the workplace. Above all else, professors have “a lot of relevant industry experience” and offer “good insight into the business world.” Across disciplines, Chico professors “keep up with current events,” and class content is constantly “changing according to the news today.” Chico distinguishes itself academically through a focus on project management, information technology and business information systems. Chico State’s innovative Center for Information Systems Research involves students in a variety of hands-on projects in the business technology sector, and the school has been “a member of the SAP alliance” since 1996.

While academics are strong, the environment is remarkably supportive, too. When a student needs extra assistance, professors are “easily accessible” and “always available outside of class.” A current student shares, “I have met many professors through independent projects, and they have been very helpful and guided me to the right resources.” Throughout the curriculum, there is an “emphasis on teamwork, interpersonal skills, and both qualitative and quantitative learning.” Students are encouraged to engage with the work, and “most professors try to create an environment that promotes active discussions.” The focus on group work, as well as real world applications, make for a “very practical learning experience,” which is immediately applicable to the real world. A small business owner tells us, “Classes are at night, and my real-life laboratory is my business during the day.”

Working students appreciate the balance at Chico, saying, “The atmosphere is focused, but there is not too much pressure on the students.” “Overall, the program is consistent and organized,” and the “staff is flexible and understanding” with students who work full-time. On the other hand, some feel the Chico experience “might be better if we had a more competitive environment,” noting that there is a noticeable “lack of rigor in some classes.” In addition to the value offered to professionals, Chico also offers a “3+2” program for business undergraduates from partner schools, which offers the “opportunity to get a masters degree one year after your bachelor degree.” Several international universities also participate in the school’s 3+2 program, which brings “a large number of international students” to campus. For many, the international community is an unexpected plus of a Chico education, helping them to develop “cultural skills in a business environment that is less cutthroat than the real business world.”

As a part of California State University, Chico, business students have access to the University’s Career Center, where they can sign up for individual consultations with a career counselor. Students can also attend the Career Center ’s workshops and career development events throughout the year. Located in Northern California, Chico State maintains a “strong relationship with the San Francisco business community,” and, every year, “CSU Chico brings in various companies at the career fair.” International students, however, feel the school could do a better job helping them score internships and jobs, while locals say it is “very difficult to find employment” in surrounding Chico, which was affected by the economic downturn.

Around forty percent of Chico’s MBA candidates are already employed when they begin the program, and most plan to stay at their current position after graduation. For those taking new positions, the mean base salary for graduates was $71,588 in 2010, with close to 80 percent of students remaining in the western United States. Chevron USA, KPMG, and Deloitte are among the school’s top employers.

Chico State is a vibrant and bustling university, located in a pretty town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The “beautiful campus” makes a wonderful backdrop to the business school, and “there are always people hanging out on campus” before and after class. There are “lots of things happening around campus” for those who want to partake, including “great cultural activities” and plenty of “volunteer opportunities” in the local community. While “most MBAs don’t have time to participate in the many activities offered by the school,” others say they make a concerted effort to get involved.

At this medium-sized public school, graduate students are “close-knit,” yet diverse cul- turally, socially, and academically. Some students are “fresh out of undergraduate school with no experience” in the workplace, while others are seasoned professionals, who continue to work full-time throughout the duration of the program. Many students are “very passionate about learning,” while “others are not very serious about the program.” Because the school operates a partner program with several international universities, there are numerous students from overseas. With regards to the international communi- ty, a current student tells us, “Getting to know them on a collegial, friendly level during my MBA has been one of the most important experiences so far.”