What You Need to Know about UCLA Anderson’s MBA Program

Photo by Simon Cobb, link, under CC license

UCLA Anderson is the leading business school in Los Angeles, and it has excellent placement in the LA offices of McKinsey, BCG, and Bain, as well as top investment banks. The LA location also has an advantage if you’re considering a career in tech post-MBA. LA ranks #3 in the tech job market in the country, after the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City, and this advantage is visible from the 30% placement of graduates into the tech industry.

We’ve also heard excellent things about the career development opportunities at Anderson. The Parker Career Center has received stunningly positive reviews from former Menlo Coaching clients. The center is also consistently ranked highly by The Economist and Bloomberg Businessweek.

You would be a good fit at Anderson if the business school’s personal values of “share success”, “think fearlessly”, and “drive change” resonate with you. Anderson believes in a value-based approach to leadership and a collective approach to success. Moreover, Anderson is committed to fostering diversity in their program, which is bolstered by the variety of cultures present in Los Angeles, and UCLA’s support for the Riordan Programs Alumni Association’s Saturday Business Academy, which brings business education to inner city youth.

UCLA Anderson MBA Class Profile

Class Size300
Acceptance Rate38%
GMAT Average710
GPA Minimum3.1
GPA Maximum3.8
Average AgeDoes not disclose
Avg. Years Work Experience5.7
Diversity Women37%
Diversity Intl.48%
Pre-MBA IndustriesHigh Tech: 24%
Finance: 22%
Consulting: 14%
Health / Biotech: 10%
Marketing: 9%
Public / Nonprofit: 9%
Entertainment / Media: 7%
Real Estate: 5%
Undergraduate MajorsBusiness: 26%
Engineering: 19%
Economics: 15%
Humanities / Social Sciences: 15%
Math / Computer Science: 9%
Physics / Biology Sciences: 5%
Other: 11%

The data above is from 2023 and represents the UCLA Anderson class of 2025.
See the full report: UCLA Anderson MBA Class Profile

Student Experiences

UCLA Anderson MBA Employment Report & Careers

Salary Average$181,000.00
Offers Upon GraduationDoes not disclose
Offers At 3 Mos.Does not disclose
Post-MBA IndustriesConsulting: 27.7%
Technology: 25.4%
Financial Services: 13.3%
Consumer Products: 9%
Entertainment/Media: 7.8%
Healthcare: 6.6%
Real Estate: 3.9%
Energy / Utilities: 1.6%
Retail: 1.6%
Other: 3.1%
Post-MBA LocationsDoes not disclose
Post-MBA Companies

UCLA Anderson Top Hiring Companies

Career Development Resources

UCLA Anderson Career Impact

The data above is from 2023 and represents the career statistics of the UCLA Anderson class of 2023.
See the full report: UCLA Anderson MBA Employment Report

Do You Have Enough Time to Apply in Round 2?

Take our quiz and find out whether you should submit in Round 2—
or whether you should wait to apply next year.

UCLA Anderson MBA Academic Programs

MBA Curriculum

UCLA Anderson’s MBA curriculum is spread out across seven quarters over two years. Students take classes for four quarters in the first year and for the fall, winter, and spring quarters of the second year. The core curriculum at Anderson comprises nine foundation courses. Some of these courses include Data and Decisions, Business Strategy, Financial Accounting, and Operations Technology Management. Students begin taking elective courses starting the winter quarter of their first year. Some of the program’s more popular classes are Technology Analytics, FinTech, and Digital Marketing Strategy.

See the full offering of courses: UCLA Anderson MBA Course Catalog

Majors

Students are not required to select a major as part of their MBA at UCLA Anderson. Instead, the program offers the option of specializing in one of the 15 available business areas. These areas cover aspects of business such as accounting, consulting, social impact, and real estate.

Experiential Learning Programs

As part of their degree requirement, students must complete a capstone project, which focuses on real world business challenges. Students can fulfil this requirement through Applied Management Research, the Business Creation Option, the Student Investment Fund, the Anderson Strategy Group, or the NAIOP Real Estate Case Competition.

Research Centers

Anderson is home to eight academic centers. These centers provide students with a community around their research interests in areas ranging from Finance and Investments to Marketing Studies and Data Analytics.

MBA International Study Programs

Students enrolled in UCLA Anderson all participate in international study programs in order to complete a global degree requirement. This requirement can be met in one of three ways. Students can complete a global immersion course, an international Applied Management Research Field Study Project, or an on-campus global management elective course.

Video Resources on UCLA Anderson Academics

UCLA Anderson MBA Application

The latest application requirements set by the UCLA Anderson admissions office are described below.

Essays

Here are the prompts for Anderson’s most recent application:

Impact Essay

  • At Anderson, our mission is to prepare transformative leaders by developing students to think innovatively, problem-solve, and adapt to others – all with a driven and purposeful mindset. How do you plan to achieve your goals and develop into a transformative leader during your time at UCLA Anderson? (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Career Goals Essay

  • Describe your short-term and long-term post-MBA career goals. (Text box, 150 words maximum)
  • Why are you pursuing an MBA? (Text box, 150 words maximum)

Optional Essays

  • Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions committee should be aware? (Text box, 250 words maximum)
  • If you wish to provide additional information about academic or personal circumstances not included in your Optional Essay or elsewhere in this application, please do so here. (Text box, 1000 characters maximum)

Read more: UCLA Anderson MBA Essays: Tips and Prompts

Video Resources on UCLA Anderson Admissions

UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions Interviews

UCLA Anderson’s interviews are typically 30 mins long, and take place either in person or via Skype. All interviews are conducted by second year MBA students, who receive your resume before the interview, but not your application. 

For more on this, see our UCLA Anderson MBA Interview Guide.

Admissions Info MBA Program Home Page
Admissions Home Page
Application Requirements
How to Apply Request Information
Start an Application
Meet Anderson Business SchoolVisit Campus
Admissions Events – Upcoming
Connect with a Student
Do Your Research The UCLA Anderson Blog
MBA Insider’s Blog
UCLA Anderson News
Faculty Directory

What Makes UCLA Anderson Unique?

  • Parker Career Management Center: The career center is consistently top-ranked for student satisfaction. There is a 100% placement rate among students seeking an internship.
  • Fully Employed MBA: This three-year program boasts a strong ROI, with a reported 137% increase is salary 6-8 years post-MBA and a 23% — 34% salary increase during the MBA. The program also has three flexible schedule options, with classes all day on Saturdays, Tuesday and Thursday evening classes, and a hybrid schedule between the two.

Gain insights into the fast-paced world of MBA admissions with the help of knowledgeable MBA coaches who can provide tailored support for your application journey. Explore our coaching services to take the next step towards your MBA aspirations.

*All data retrieved from the UCLA Anderson MBA Program webpages, unless otherwise stated.

The Ultimate
MBA Admissions Checklist

Our free, comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to shop for an MBA admissions consultant.

Our free, comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to shop for an MBA admissions consultant.

Compare pricing across 35+ MBA admissions consulting firms

Learn why “success rates” are not to be trusted

Find the right service model for your needs

Prep for your consultation calls

Compare pricing across 35+ MBA admissions consulting firms

Learn why “success rates”
are not to be trusted

Find the right service model
for your needs

Prep for your consultation calls