Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Prepare for leadership or entrepreneurship with our MBA degree program.
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Gain Leadership Expertise for Today’s Market
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Concordia University Irvine is designed to equip you to become a successful business leader or entrepreneur. This is a program that will help you explore and refine your talents. Whether you want to advance in an established firm or leap into your own startup, you’ll learn ways to make it happen. Our flexible and face-to-face program allows you to immediately start applying your education by concentrating on the practical side of business, without ignoring management theory.
Most importantly, you will discover a cooperative and collaborative environment in our classrooms. Students develop bonds that help advance and last throughout your career. And Concordia MBA professors teach from experience. In fact, when they’re not in the classroom, many are running successful businesses of their own throughout Orange County and Greater Los Angeles. They’re here to help prepare and equip you for your career path, wherever it leads.
Six Start Dates Per Academic Year
The MBA at Concordia has six start dates per academic year so as a working professional, you can make it work with your schedule. Courses are offered Monday-Thursday evenings, with some Elective courses also available on Saturdays.
On Campus
Pursue your degree on our campus in Irvine.
40 Units
Complete your program in 2 years or less.
$1,020/Unit
Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
“(The MBA) gave me a business perspective on everything I do. … It was a unique education in that you didn’t just study theory but had opportunities to apply it to your job.”
Johanna Sceresini ’15
Getting Started
An MBA degree program can help you develop both the hard and soft skills you will need to excel in today’s business environment.
For example, hard skills you’d pick up throughout your coursework include accounting and budgeting, business analytics and data-driven decision-making, operations management, and marketing strategy and planning.
Soft skills you will gain include effective communication and presentation skills, ethical business practices, critical thinking, and having a global mindset.
Next Start
August 31, 2026
Upcoming Starts
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Spring 1 2027 January 11, 2027
Curriculum
Core Curriculum (Sample Courses):
- MBA603 – Science of Management
- MBA604 – Account Reporting and Analysis
- MBA605 – Contemporary Marketing Strategies
- MBA606 – Data-Informed Finance
- MBA607 – Business Leadership Strategies
- MBA695 – MBA Capstone: Project
- OR MBA696 – MBA Capstone: Business Plan
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses.
Upon graduating from Concordia’s MBA program, you’ll be able to:
- Recognize problems.
- Integrate theory and practice for the purpose of strategic analysis.
- Employ and apply quantitative techniques and methods in the analysis of real-world business situations.
- Communicate to relevant audiences by composing clear, consistent, and effective written forms of communication and by composing and presenting effective oral business presentations.
- Work effectively with a team of colleagues on diverse projects.
- Identify and analyze the ethical obligations and responsibilities of business.
Your MBA degree program will end with a capstone that gives you the choice of completing a project or a business plan. Either can prepare you for your post-MBA career. If you opt for the project, you will take on a client, identify a problem, and then research, analyze, and propose solutions. If you choose the business plan route, you will develop a proposal of an original idea, a funding proposal for an entrepreneurial venture, or a new product line or business venture within an existing organization.
Illuminating Mentorship Program
The Illuminating Mentorship Program is a unique opportunity offered to Concordia MBA students that allows you to work one-on-one with a mentor for two semesters throughout the course of your time in the program. A sounding board, business coach, advocate, advisor, connector, voice of reason, role model – your mentor sheds light on the path ahead. By being matched to mentors in your field of interest, you gain invaluable guidance that equips you for the pathway ahead.
What can you expect from a mentorship?
- Insight into current job trends in your target professional fields.
- Possible paths to reach your professional goals.
- Advice on how to be a better professional, employee, or entrepreneur.
- Strategies to build and grow your professional network.
- Encouragement to shine in your professional field.
- Examples of how to maintain a good work-life balance.
- 10+ meetings in-person or online over two consecutive 15-week semesters, excluding summer.
Students enrolled in the MBA program will work with our coordinator to be paired with a mentor. When a match is made, the mentor and the mentee will be contacted via email. After an application and interview process, the applicant engages in an orientation with the coordinator. MBA students gain immediate access to the Illuminating Mentorship Program, and there is no additional fee to participate.
Tuition and Fees
At Concordia, we understand that investing in your education is a significant decision. That’s why we offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make your academic journey more affordable. View tuition costs and fees.
Admission Requirements
View the Graduate Application Page for full details on application and admission requirements.
MBA Events
Join us at an upcoming event or information session online to learn more about our program, the application process, financial aid, payment plans, and more.
Career Outcomes
The MBA is one of the most sought-after degrees by employers. In 2024, a survey showed that employers across sectors said they were most likely to hire MBAs throughout the year.1 The knowledge you will learn in the MBA degree program from Concordia can position you for success. Half of your program consists of required coursework, while the other half are electives, giving you the ability to tailor your program to your career goals.
Because an MBA is so versatile, you can take your career in so many directions. It can help you become eligible for director roles up to the C-suite. You may find an MBA requirement in job listings for positions like:
- Chief executive officer (CEO), financial officer (CFO), marketing officer (CMO), or operating officer (COO)
- Entrepreneur
- Financial analyst
- Human resources director
- Information technology manager
- Management consultant
- Marketing manager
- Nonprofit executive director
- Operations manager
- Supply chain manager
- Venture capitalist
- And more
Networking Opportunities
Join us at one of our upcoming Information Nights to learn more about the MBA program at Concordia University Irvine, or attend an MBA Mixer to network with faculty, staff, alumni, current and prospective students, as well as professionals from Orange County’s business community.
As a graduate student at Concordia, you’ll become part of a vibrant community of over 25,000 alumni and over 3,500 peers, fostering meaningful connections that support both personal and professional growth. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to helping you discover and develop your callings through mentorship and collaboration.
Located in Irvine — home to more than 900 tech companies and a hub for innovation — students benefit from proximity to leading industries in life sciences and information technology. One-third of all Fortune 500 companies have a presence in Irvine, offering abundant opportunities for internships, mentorships, and career advancement.
Irvine’s strategic position in Southern California provides access to a dynamic business ecosystem, making it an ideal place to build your professional network. Whether you’re attending on-campus events or engaging with our online community, Concordia offers the resources and support to help you thrive in your various vocations.
Explore Financial Aid
Reduce your tuition costs with financial aid — with help from a team that wants to make your time at Concordia as affordable as possible.
Meet Our Faculty
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Catherine Sinardi
Program Director and Professor of Healthcare Management and Public Health
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Laszlo Zoltany
Adjunct Professor, School of Business Contact Email: Email Laszlo Zoltany…
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Kellie Playter
Assistant Professor & Internship Director, School of Business & Economics
FAQs
What is an MBA degree?
An MBA is a graduate degree that covers several business areas. At Concordia, the MBA degree program requires six classes in topics like management, marketing strategies, and finance. Your other eight courses are electives, meaning you can tailor your degree to your interests.
How much does an MBA cost in California?
California has many schools that offer MBA degree programs, so the costs per credit will be different. The total number of credits in a California MBA degree will also affect how much you will need to invest in your education.
Concordia is just one of the MBA schools in southern California. Each unit is $995. And at 40 total units, the full tuition cost comes in at $39,800. To compare, in the 2019-20 calendar year — some of the most recent data available — the average cost of an MBA degree was $56,850.2 That’s 45% more than our MBA tuition.
Does an MBA increase salary?
An MBA often increases your salary potential – and it’s why so many professionals return to college for it.
In 2024, the average starting salary of MBA graduates was about $120,000, around the same as the previous year.1 It’s roughly 1.75 times that of bachelor’s degree holders.1 Meanwhile, in 2023, the median annual wages for all full-time workers was $48,060.3
Is an MBA better than a master’s?
An MBA is a Master of Business Administration. Whether an MBA is better than a master’s degree in another subject is completely up to you.
If the role you want is in a business capacity, an employer might value an MBA over a master’s in literature or anthropology, for example. But if you need specific knowledge for your career path, a master’s in accounting or marketing could be where you need to focus your energy.
An MBA is one of the most respected and popular graduate degrees. And no matter what, it will be one of the highlights on your resume that employers notice.
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Sources
1Graduate Management Admission Council, Corporate Recruiters Survey: 2024 Report, on the internet, at:
- 2024-gmac-crs-report.pdf (viewed Nov. 9, 2024).
- https://www.gmac.com/-/media/files/gmac/research/employment-outlook/2024-corporate-recruiters-survey/2024_gmac_crs_report.pdf (viewed Nov. 9, 2024).
2Education Data Initiative, Average Cost of a Master’s Degree, on the internet, at:
- https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-a-masters-degree (viewed Nov. 9, 2024).
3U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, on the internet, at
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm (viewed Nov. 9, 2024).
Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.