Our MBA for Executives program has been a leading program for quality business education in the Bay Area for over 20 years. The Lam Family College of Business is ranked among the Best Business Schools in the country by Princeton Review.
This 13-month, weekend, hybrid program is designed exclusively for working professionals with at least seven years of professional work experience who seek to accelerate their career advancement as responsible business leaders, without putting their careers on hold.
As a public institution, we are proud to offer this program at a competitive cost of $68,000* (tuition and fees), making our MBA for Executives program the most affordable program of its kind in San Francisco.
* Tuition rate and fees are subject to change.
Is the MBA for Executives Right for Me?
- I have seven or more years of significant full-time professional work experience
- I have earned a four-year bachelor's degree
- I am ready to apply my experience on a global level
"The MBA program was a great cohort and a strong program. I learned a lot because I was directly and immediately applying the things I learned to real-world issues at work."
– Stephen Gillett (MBA, '06), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Verily (an Alphabet Inc. company)
Program Features
Unmatched Value
in San Francisco
13-Month Program
Shortest MBA for Executives in San Francisco Bay Area
21st Century Curriculum
Generative AI, Financial Technology, Digital Marketing, and more
Leadership Speaker Series
Leaders from top organizations, such as Alphabet, Microsoft, etc., and government.
Other worthwhile program features include:
- 13-month, part-time program with weekend classes twice a month
- Classes are held on Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., twice a month in a hybrid format – a combination of in-person and online.
- Downtown San Francisco location in the heart of the tech and financial districts, with convenient public transportation options
- Teaching excellence from distinguished faculty renowned in their field
- Contemporary, rigorous curriculum tackling modern-day business challenges and incorporating cutting-edge technologies, such as Generative AI
- Small classes exclusively comprised of experienced professionals
- Gain valuable career insights and hear real-life stories of how leaders tackled business challenges through our Corporate Leadership Speaker Series
- Fall 2025 Speakers: Mayor of South San Francisco Eddie Flores (MBA, '19), who is an alum of our MBA for Executives program. Others are currently being finalized!
- Frequent networking opportunities
- Career Services and Professional Development workshops and support
- GMAT/GRE waived for admission
Close-knit Cohort Structure
Our cohort structure enables the development of strong student relationships that blossom into long-lasting professional networks, supporting each other as they progress in their careers. With the same set of colleagues throughout the program, students develop a tight, supportive network from a broad cross section of Bay Area organizations. Cohort diversity provides an exciting mix of students that creates the opportunity to develop an enriching learning community. Students explore and develop individual potential and learn to operate together throughout their courses.
Convenient Class Hours and Location
Classes meet every other weekend on Friday and Saturday in a hybrid format (a mix of in-person and online). The in-person classes are held at the San Francisco State University Downtown Campus at 160 Spear Street, conveniently located in the heart of San Francisco's vibrant business community.
Comprehensive, Challenging Curriculum
The curriculum balances the art and sciences of management, providing both a theoretical backdrop for business and practical skills that can be put into action in diverse management situations. Courses are designed to give a comprehensive and relevant understanding of the modern management environment. Real-world case studies and guest speakers with specialized expertise are an essential part of the program’s learning structure. Some coursework can be tailored to the unique interests of the student cohort. See more details about the curriculum under the Curriculum Summary section farther below on this page.
Diverse Participant Profile
With an average of 12 years of work experience, participants hail from a wide spectrum of professional and academic backgrounds. Some will have already obtained a master’s or doctorate degree. A snapshot of a recent graduating class includes executives from 3M, Marriott, Microsoft, as well as non-profit organizations. By bringing their unique insights and real-world experience, our participants create an enlightening and rich environment where they also learn from each other.
Accomplished, Supportive Faculty
The Lam Family College of Business is honored to work with over 100 tenured and tenure-track highly trained faculty who are committed to excellence in teaching and innovation. As scholars and active researchers of their specific disciplines, our outstanding faculty provides participants with a relevant and challenging curriculum. Visit our faculty website to learn more about our distinguished faculty.
Curriculum Summary
The program includes 16 courses. The following eight basic business courses make up the first half of the curriculum: Data Analysis, Economics, Financial Accounting, Financial Management, Information Systems, Marketing Management, Management Principles and Organization Behavior, and Operations Analysis.
In addition, students complete four advanced courses — one course from each of the following four categories:
- Quantitative Methods: Financial Statement Analysis or Financial Analysis and Management
- Ethics/Management: Business, Ethics, Society and Sustainability or Organization Design and Change
- Decision-Making: Managerial Decision Making or Information Systems for Strategic Advantage
- Marketing/Globalization: Strategic Marketing or International Business
Students also complete three advanced courses in areas such as leadership, entrepreneurship, negotiations and others.
In the final semester, students will complete a culminating experience course in Strategic Management.
For detailed course descriptions, please visit the San Francisco State University Academic Bulletin website.
Program Admission
Learn more about our program and speak with an admissions representative by signing up and attending one of our upcoming Information Webinars:
This program only accepts students for the Fall semester. If you're ready to apply, please send an email to mba@sfsu.edu but first be sure to review our Graduate Programs Application Checklist:
Students and alumni of our MBA for Executives program work for some of the top employers in the Bay Area, including:
View the MBA for Executives flyer, which is a downloadable pdf file.
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