California State University - Northridge - David Nazarian College of Business and Economics

If you’re a California resident looking for a great MBA program in the San Fernando Valley, it would behoove you to consider California State University, Northridge. For starters, the university’s “strong local reputation” can’t be beat. It also comes with a “reasonable” price tag which connotes a “great value” and ensures that graduate school is actually “financially feasible.”

The program itself is “designed for fully-employed professionals” and classes are “offered [in the] evenings and/or [on] weekends.” And the curriculum is geared towards enhancing “leadership” skills, aiming to leverage “real work scenarios” for teaching purposes. Cal State Northridge also places a premium on “experiential learning,” the cornerstone of which is the “MBA Consulting Project.” This project grants students the opportunity to apply the theories they’ve learned in a practical setting.

Many Cal State Northridge MBAs would describe their “very qualified” professors as a highlight of the program. Generally, these instructors marry “academic[s] with real life application.” More specifically, professors frequently “share their consulting experience and [information about] projects they are working on.” And many Cal State Northridge professors are exceedingly supportive. As one grateful student shares, “My first year I needed academic support and my professors helped me find resources that aided in my success. I had to work very hard, but my professors were sensitive to making sure I got the help I needed.” Lastly, students tend to find the administration “helpful” as well. And they appreciate that administrators strive to make themselves readily “available for advice and planning.”

In the past, Cal State Northridge’s career services were seen as lacking. Thankfully, the tide is beginning to turn. A relieved second-year informs us, “The school is making tremendous progress toward building career services on campus of the business school and now provides a career support exclusively to MBA students.” The Career Center helps students navigate the complex corporate environment and today’s competitive job market. Cal State Northridge MBAs can now tap into amazing resources that sharpen their networking and social media skills. And they can easily tweak their résumés and receive tips on how to launch a creative and effective job search.

Cal State Northridge MBAs happily report that their “fellow students are very diverse and very friendly.” The vast majority are also “very team oriented and possess strong leadership skills and a strong acumen for business overall.” Of course, this business savvy likely stems from the fact that most students are “working professionals,” a detail which definitely serves to “elevate class discussions.” As a satisfied second-year shares, “I’ve greatly appreciated almost every single one of my classmates’ contributions and feel like I benefit from their experience and perspective.”

While the academics at CSNU are “fast paced,” we’re told that the school still manages to foster a “friendly environment.” However, be warned that “class hours are intense with debates and preparation is the key to success.” Moreover, the social life is limited since “it is an evening program and the classes run till 10:00 P .m . at night.” Many students also “have families with children and prefer to leave after class.” Though, when time permits, students enjoy taking advantage of the university’s “state of the art sports facility. . . [which has] a fabulous pool for swimming.” It’s a great way to work out some of those tough business decisions!