Numbers are up in the Business Journal’s annual survey of MBA programs in Orange County. The Business Journal publishes an unranked list of 41 MBA programs throughout Southern California (see related graphic, page 25).
Local schools showed an approximately 25% year-to-year increase in the number of MBA students enrolled as of Sept. 30, from 3,340 last fall to 4,164 this fall. The number of OC graduates, meanwhile, dropped 5%.
The biggest enrollment increases came at online universities that serve national student bodies.
“Over the last five years, there has been an incredible improvement in online technology and resources available—24/7 support services, online tutoring, game-based curriculum, just to name a few—that makes online education a viable option for most students,” said Simcha Pollard of Trident University in Cypress. She’s dean of the Glenn R. Jones College of Business and vice provost of academic analytics and student engagement there. “So viable, that even the majority of ground-based schools are offering online classes.”
• Trident’s MBA student enrollment jumped the most—77%—from 1,069 last September to 1,893 this fall. The school is the first fully online institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Pollard said.
“MBA students, in particular, are quite savvy when selecting a university, whether online or on-ground,” she said. “They demand academic rigor, a comprehensive array of support services, and flexibility, and Trident University delivers.”
• California Southern University, also fully online, grew its MBA student body from 87 students last year to 117, a 34% increase.
It attributes the increased demand in part to recently obtaining WASC accreditation for the whole university, something it’s been working on for almost three years, said Gregory Herbert, dean of California Southern’s business and criminal justice schools.
“We also applied for ACBSP accreditation—Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs—an accreditor of specialty programs, one of the top ones for business. We’re a candidate for that right now. It’s one of the top accrediting agencies for business schools and programs, which means we meet their standards.”
Herbert said the school’s tuition rates also make it attractive.
“Our tuition is reasonable so learners can pursue their education anywhere, anytime, at their own pace. Tuition is $425 per credit hour; tuition at other online institutions is averaging $750 per credit hour.”
The university is about to move from Irvine to Costa Mesa after purchasing a 54,000-square-foot building at 3330 Harbor Blvd. for $13.5 million.
The move is intended to accommodate growth in the administrative staff to handle the recent opening of its nursing school and the future opening of its education school. Those add to its existing offerings in business, psychology and law.
The administrative staff is scheduled move to the new building late next month.
Traditional schools also are up.
• Concordia University Irvine’s enrollment increased 20% from 115 last fall to 138 this fall.
“Our growth reflects the appeal of an MBA faculty that’s comprised of business practitioners, all having owned or operated businesses, bringing their real-world experiences into the curriculum,” School of Business Dean Stephen Christensen said.
• University of California-Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business’ MBA enrollment dropped 8% from 676 students last fall to 623 this fall.
Gerardo Okhuysen, associate dean for master’s programs, attributes that to increasing admissions standards for its full-time program. The school also offers three part-time programs for students who work, including an executive MBA degree and a healthcare executive MBA degree.
In terms of revamping the admission standards for the full-time program, last year the school started to look for “higher-quality” candidates who are more collaborative and supportive of each other, Okhuysen said.
“Hopefully, we will make up those numbers in the coming year,” he said of enrollment.
The school also is in the process of revamping its full-time program curriculum because people interested in getting an MBA soon after earning their undergraduate degree tend to have a lot more debt and don’t want to spend a full two years getting their degree, he said.
“We don’t want to reduce rigor or content, so what does that look like?” he said, adding that the school is considering several options, including shortening the program from 24 months to 18 months.
