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.
| Class Size | 360 |
| Acceptance Rate | Does not disclose |
| GMAT Average | 714 |
| GMAT Minimum | 670 |
| GMAT Maximum | 750 |
| GPA Average | Does not disclose |
| GPA Minimum | 3.10 |
| GPA Maximum | 3.80 |
| Average Age | Does not disclose |
| Avg. Years Work Experience | 5.0 years |
| Diversity Women | 42% |
| Diversity Intl. | 36% |
| Pre-MBA Industries | High Tech: 22% Finance: 21% Consulting: 21% Consumer Goods: 10% Public/Nonprofit: 9% Health Care/Biotech.: 8% Entertainment/Media: 5% Real Estate: 4% |
| Undergraduate Majors | Business/Economics: 46% Engineering/Math/Science: 30% Humanities: 17% Other: 7% |
The data above is from 2021 and represents the UCLA Anderson class of 2023.*
See the full report: UCLA Anderson MBA Class Profile
| Salary Average | $165,150.00 |
| Offers Upon Graduation | 82% |
| Offers At 3 Mos. | 93% |
| Post-MBA Industries | Technology: 33.2% Equipment/Hardware/Networking: 4.6% General: 12.9% Internet Services/E-Commerce: 6.8% Multimedia Products and Services: 0.7% Software: 8.2% Consulting: 16.4% Financial Services: 18.9% Investment Banking/Brokerage: 10.7% Investment Management: 3.3% Private Equity/Venture Capital: 2.5% Other Financial Services: 2.5% Healthcare: 7.9% Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical: 1.8% Medical Devices: 1.4% Providers and Services: 2.1% Other (including Digital Health): 2.5% Consumer Products: 7.5% Apparel/Textiles: 1.8% Beverages/Food/Household Goods: 4.3% Other (including Luxury Goods and Toys): 1.4% Entertainment/Media: 6.1% Gaming: 1.4% General (Broadcast, Film, Music, Publishing): 2.5% Sports Management: 0.7% Other (including Advertising, Digital Media): 1.4% Real Estate: 3.6% Commercial: 2.1% General: 1.4% Energy/Utilities: 2.5% Alternative Energy: 1.1% Utility Services: 0.4% Other (including EV Infrastructure): 1.1% Transportation/Logistics Services: 1.4% Other (including Agribusiness, Construction Services): 1.4% Retail: 0.7% Non-Profits/Social Enterprises: 0.4% |
| Post-MBA Locations | Mid-Atlantic: 0.7% Midwest: 4.3% Northeast: 10.7% South: 1.8% Southwest: 2.5% West (excluding California): 11.4% Southern California: 40.4% Northern California: 21.8% |
| Post-MBA Companies | |
| Career Development Resources |
The data above is from 2021 and represents the career statistics of the UCLA Anderson class of 2021.*
See the full report: UCLA Anderson MBA Employment Report
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
As a software engineer, Gus knew he was coming into the MBA process as a non-traditional applicant. He also knew that with his goal to transition into product management, he needed an MBA. Unsure as to what he was looking for in business school, Gus needed someone who knew the ins-and-outs of both the application process and the schools themselves.
Hear how he navigated the MBA application process and ultimately won a spot in the Anderson MBA Class of 2022.
The latest application requirements set by the UCLA Anderson admissions office are described below.
Here are the prompts for Anderson’s 2021-2022 application:
How have recent events influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both? (text box, 250 words maximum)
(Optional) How have recent events influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both? (text box, 250 words maximum)
Describe your short-term and long-term post-MBA career goals. (text box, 600 characters)
How can UCLA Anderson help you achieve your career and/or personal goals? (text box, 1000 characters)
Read more: UCLA Anderson MBA Essays: Tips for 2022-2023
The 2021-2022 Anderson recommender questions are as follows:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTKr8MbRIhCHFMvxWGADdspud55eh4fZi
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 School | Visit Campus Admissions Events – Upcoming Connect with a Student |
| Do Your Research | The UCLA Anderson Blog MBA Insider’s Blog UCLA Anderson News Faculty Directory |
*All data retrieved from the UCLA Anderson MBA Program webpages, unless otherwise stated.
