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UCLA Anderson School of Management

Image for UCLA Anderson School of Management
Class Size 300
Female 37%
MEAN GMAT 710
International 48%

The Anderson School of Management is situated amid the greater University of California, Los Angeles campus in the Westwood section of the city of Los Angeles. Students at UCLA Anderson enjoy a small student body and the school’s notable strengths in entrepreneurship and entertainment and media management, as well as the community-oriented atmosphere Anderson maintains even in such a large city. The school offers prospective management students four paths to an MBA, two of which are designed for executives.

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FAQ

What is the tuition for Anderson’s MBA program?

The tuition for Anderson’s MBA program is $74,618 per year. The total cost of the Anderson MBA program is $121,591 per year; this includes budgeted living expenses.

How hard is it to get into Anderson’s MBA program?

The acceptance rate for Anderson is around 12 percent. It is important to consider the acceptance rate in the context of the student profile of those who are admitted. For example the average GMAT score is 710.

What is the average GMAT score for admission to Anderson’s MBA program?

The average GMAT score for the incoming class at Anderson is 710. The GMAT middle 80% range is 650 to 760.

Does the Anderson MBA program accept the GRE?

Yes. The Anderson MBA program has accepted the GRE for a few years now.

What is the average GRE score for admission to Anderson’s MBA program?

Anderson does not publish an average GRE score for its incoming class, but does accept the GRE for admissions.

What is the minimum number of years of work experience required for admission to Anderson’s MBA program?

Anderson does not state a minimum requirement for years of work experience. However, it is important for candidates to be aware that they are being considered against other candidates with an average of 6 years of experience.

What is the average number of years of work experience for admission to Anderson’s MBA program? (or, What is the average age of a Anderson student?)

The average number of years of work experience among students in Anderson’s MBA program is 5.7.

What is the average starting salary for graduates of the Anderson MBA program?

The average starting salary for Anderson MBA graduates is $146,727. The salary will vary by industry, with consulting and finance jobs generally commanding the higher salaries.

How long is Anderson’s full-time MBA program?

Anderson offers a traditional 2 year MBA program.

What are the application deadlines for Anderson’s MBA program?

The Round 1 MBA application deadline is October 5, 2023. The Round 2 application deadline is January 4, 2024. The Round 3 deadline is April 12, 2024.

What percent of Anderson MBA students are women?

The percentage of the class at Anderson that are women is 37%.

What type of interview does Anderson use for MBA admissions?

Anderson offers interviews by invitation. The interviews are resume-based. This means the interviewer has not had access to the application materials.

Admissions

The Class Profile

Anderson received 2,180 applications the Class of 2025 and 300 students matriculated. The middle 80% undergraduate GPA of students choosing to matriculate at Anderson ranged between 3.1 and 3.8, and their GMAT results averaged 710 with a middle 80% range of 650 to 760. Students entered Anderson with an average of 5.7 years of professional experience. Forty-eight percent of the class is made up of international students. Women constitute 37% of students, while individuals identifying as members of U.S. minority groups represent 28% of the class.

As undergraduates, 25% of members of the Class of 2025 elected to major in business. Nineteen percent had majored in engineering, followed by 15% each in economics or humanities. Math/science was pursued by 14% of the class. By industry, Anderson drew the highest percentage of its students from high tech, 24%. The finance industry closely followed with 22%. Fourteen percent had worked in consulting and 10 percent came from healthcare/biotech. 

Application Procedures

Prospective MBA students wishing to apply to Anderson may submit their materials in one of three rounds that span from early October to mid-April. The school accepts applications via its online system only; the form includes questions regarding the applicant’s personal and professional background. Applicants should also be prepared to submit an application fee, GMAT results and TOEFL or IELTS scores if applicable, two letters of recommendation, an essay, a short answer question, and copies of academic records. 

Interviews are required for admittance and are conducted by invitation only. Those applicants invited to interview may do so on campus with a current Anderson student. Applicants may also opt for an off-campus interview, and these are conducted via Skype.

Application Checklist

  • Online Application
  • 4-Year Bachelor Degree/Equivalent
  • GMAT or GRE
  • Work Experience
  • Two Recommendations
  • Essays
  • Interviews by Invitation Only
  • TOEFL/IELTS if applicable
  • Application Fee

Essay Topic Analysis

Need help with your essays? Get our experts' advice.

Interview Reports

Ucla-anderson Q&As

UCLA Anderson LiveWire and DecisionWire

MBA LiveWire

March 26, 2024 10:21am ET
Accepted to UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via phone on March 21, 2024
GPA: 3.5
GMAT: 760
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Finance
Application Location: Texas
March 25, 2024 7:53pm ET
Rejected at UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via email on March 22, 2024
GPA: 3.4
GRE: 315
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

Bummer! Military. Rejected w/o interview.

March 25, 2024 6:09pm ET
Waitlisted at UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via email on March 22, 2024
GMAT: 690
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Consulting
Application Location: Peru
Note:

Waitlisted without Interview

March 25, 2024 5:22pm ET
Accepted to UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via phone
GPA: 3.85
GRE: 336
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Finance
March 25, 2024 2:02pm ET
Rejected at UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via portal March 25, 2024
GPA: 3.9
GRE: 314
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

Rejected without interview. Not surprised. All good though because I got into one of my preferred schools. :)

March 25, 2024 12:22pm ET
Accepted to UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via phone on March 21, 2024
GRE: 324
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Note:

Accepted with full scholarship!

March 25, 2024 9:55am ET
Waitlisted at UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via portal on March 22, 2024
GPA: 3.6
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: General Management
Application Location: Los Angeles
Note:

Submitted application on 1/3/24. Waitlisted w/o interview.

Background: M, 30, 7 years experience, EA of 155. Based in Los Angeles. Work in finance and looking to break into corporate strategy for an entertainment company.

March 24, 2024 1:51am ET
Waitlisted at UCLA Anderson
Round: Round 2
Received via portal on March 22, 2024
GPA: 3.6
Program Type: Traditional Two-Year
Post MBA Career Name: Entrepreneurship
Application Location: California

MBA DecisionWire

?
March 27, 2024 11:50am ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Berkeley / Haas , NYU Stern $
$100%
,
USC / Marshall $
$70000
,
UVA / Darden $
$100%
,
U. Washington / Foster $
$100%
Applied: Berkeley / Haas, Harvard Business School, Northwestern / Kellogg, NYU Stern, USC / Marshall, UVA / Darden, U. Washington / Foster
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Media Companies: Bain, BCG, McKinsey, 21st Century Fox, Walt Disney, Other
GPA: 3.4
Notes:

With my desire to pivot into Sports, Media, and Entertainment I feel like NYU is the clear choice, am I missing anything here?

?
March 27, 2024 11:36am ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: Michigan / Ross $
$100%
,
Washington U. / Olin $
$100%
,
UVA / Darden $
$100%
,
UT Austin / McCombs $
$50,000
,
Northwestern / Kellogg $
$30,000
,
Georgetown / McDonough $
$100%
Applied: UVA / Darden, Washington U. / Olin, UT Austin / McCombs, Stanford GSB, Northwestern / Kellogg, Michigan / Ross, Georgetown / McDonough
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Technology, Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship, Undecided
GRE: 316
GPA: 3.93
Location: DC
Notes:

Immensely grateful. Pivoting into Social Equity/Impact Real Estate but am also curious about VC because it powers our environment and tech companies like AirBnB working on the strategy side of the company to influence future projects.

I don't think I can really go wrong with Ross/Darden/Kellogg/UT but interested to hear other opinions!

CBS
March 27, 2024 11:34am ET
Enrolled: Columbia
Admitted: U. Chicago Booth $
$30000
,
Columbia $
$150000+
,
Duke / Fuqua $
$120000
,
MIT Sloan , Northwestern / Kellogg $
$40000
,
UPenn / Wharton
Applied: UPenn / Wharton, Stanford GSB, Northwestern / Kellogg, MIT Sloan, Duke / Fuqua, Columbia, U. Chicago Booth, Harvard Business School
Entering Year: 2024
GRE: 323
GPA: 3.97
?
March 27, 2024 11:25am ET
Enrolled: Undecided
Admitted: UCLA Anderson $
$80000
,
UNC Kenan-Flagler $
$140000
,
Michigan / Ross $
$40000
Applied: Emory / Goizueta, Michigan / Ross, UCLA Anderson, UNC Kenan-Flagler, UT Austin / McCombs, UVA / Darden, Cornell / Johnson
Entering Year: 2024
Post MBA Career: Consulting, Technology, Private Equity Companies: BCG, Deloitte, McKinsey, PWC
GMAT: 700
Notes:

International applicant (Asia). Open to taking loan for good program. Torn between whether I want to seek employment in West Coast or East Coast. Anderson seems to be more skew to Asia and emerging markets, while Ross has impressive employment outcome in consulting as a top-ranked program (a tier higher than Anderson).

Academics

Faculty

Over 160 professors and lecturers teach courses across Anderson’s eight academic areas and an interdisciplinary research group. They also contribute to Anderson’s seven research centers, which focus on topics ranging from entrepreneurial studies to global management.

Curriculum

The entering class of the full-time MBA program typically numbers about 330 students, and each class is divided into five sections designated A through E; first-year students take three of their five fall courses with their section mates. Each quarter, MBA students are further separated into learning teams of five individuals who work on homework and projects together. Anderson divides its calendar into seasonal quarters, and students attend classes during the fall, winter and spring quarters; and first year students also attend a five-week summer quarter prior to their first year. The curriculum is delivered through a combination of lectures, case- and project-based approaches.

First-year MBA students are required to attend approximately one week of orientation prior to starting classes. This orientation consists of a week-long course called “Leadership Foundations” before the condensed, five-week summer quarter in which students take their first two core courses, “Financial Accounting” and “Organizational Behavior.” The fall quarter begins in mid-September and concludes in early December. During the first quarter, first-year students also partake in the Parker Career Series course, during which they take part in workshops and training sessions to prepare for job searches and interviews. The winter quarter commences in early January, and courses conclude in the middle of March. Spring quarter courses start at the beginning of April and end in early June, with Commencement occurring the day after the weeklong exam period.

In total, students take 11 core courses and three electives in their first year; students may complete between 24 and 28 courses in total throughout the two years of the MBA program. The first-year schedule comprises a very structured curriculum, and students may determine the order in which they take two of the required 11 courses. First-years can first take an elective or two in the spring quarter.  In the second year, students may choose to pursue one of 15 specializations. The only academic requirement for second-years is the Capstone Project, which offers students two different choices. The Applied Management Research Program (AMR) is a hallmark of the UCLA program that provides students with 20 weeks of team-based, experiential learning as they complete strategic studies for real business clients. The second choice is the Business Creation Option (BCO), in which students spend two academic quarters researching and ultimately launching a company while still in school. Second-year students may also spend a term studying abroad.

Other MBA Degree Options

While UCLA Anderson’s full-time MBA program spans two years, the school also offers three other degrees of varying duration. These include the Executive MBA and the Fully Employed MBA, which allows its students to remain in the workforce while taking classes on weekends and in the evenings. UCLA Anderson also offers a dual-degree executive MBA program in conjunction with NUS Business School in Singapore. Eight concurrent degree options are available for those in the full-time MBA program.

Specializations at Anderson

  • Accounting
  • Brand Management
  • Consulting
  • Corporate Finance
  • Easton Technology Leadership
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership Development
  • Global Management
  • Healthcare Management
  • Kayne Investment Management
  • Leaders in Sustainability
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Real Estate
  • Social Impact

Degree Offerings at Anderson

MBA
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/full-time-mba

Fully Employed MBA
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/fully-employed-mba

Executive MBA
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/executive-mba

Global EMBA for Asia Pacific
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/ucla-nus-executive-mba

Campus Life

Clubs, Conferences & Competitions

Students at Anderson find many opportunities to enrich their MBA experience through extracurricular activities. The school has nearly 50 student-run clubs that represent a broad range of professions, cultures, social interests and sports. For example, students looking to enter real estate can enjoy offerings from the Anderson Real Estate Association such as workshops, job site visits, a mentorship program and networking mixers. Meanwhile, the group Anderson Eats helps students and their family and friends get to know each other while exploring the various cuisines available in Los Angeles. On the athletic side, students can join clubs focused on soccer, tennis, surfing, and skiing and snowboarding, among others. 

In addition to their regular meetings and smaller-scale events, Anderson’s clubs organize a variety of conferences each year.  These include the PULSE Entertainment, Sports & Technology Conference hosted by the UCLA Anderson Sports Business Association, and the Greater China Business Association’s annual Greater China Business Conference.  Students can also put their business skills to the test through competitions such as the UCLA Anderson High Tech Case Competition and the Knapp Venture Competition.

Campus Spaces 

The Anderson School of Management is located in the center of the northern end of UCLA’s campus in Los Angeles, California. Anderson’s campus is comprised of six buildings that are connected to each other. At the center of the complex lies the Marion Anderson Courtyard, which serves as a common meeting place for members of the school community. In addition to plentiful classrooms and meeting rooms, the school also boasts a café, a large library, an auditorium and an executive dining room. 

Although on-campus housing is available through seven UCLA-owned apartment buildings, the school reports that two-thirds of students live within five miles of campus in nearby neighborhoods such as Westwood, Brentwood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, and the South Bay Area. Students hoping to receive on-campus housing are advised to apply early, as space is limited.

MBA Careers

Career Services

All MBA students may work with the Parker Career Management Center for help in securing employment after graduating from Anderson. The Center offers students one-on-one career advising, myriad recruiting events organized by a dedicated recruiting staff, and a spring Recruiters’ Day and MBA Career Fair hosted by UCLA Anderson.  Students may also avail themselves of resources such as job postings via the online Parker CMC Classifieds. Interviews for second-year students seeking full-time positions with potential employers begin in October and continue throughout the duration of the year; interviews for summer internships begin in January and may last throughout the winter quarter.

Career Statistics

Ninety-four percent of the Class of 2022 seeking employment reported receiving job offers within three months after graduation; another 5% were starting their own companies. Of those reporting salary data, students earned an average base salary of $146,727 and signing bonus of $33,897 in their post-MBA roles. The top industry pursued by 2022 graduates was technology, which drew 34 percent of the class. Consulting employed nearly 24 percent and financial services took 12 percent of new graduates. Entertainment/media saw nearly 10 percent of the UCLA MBA class.

Just over two percent of 2022 Anderson graduates took on post-MBA roles outside the U.S. Of  students remaining in the U.S., approximately 74% entered positions in the state of California and nearly 58 percent of the total graduating class remained in southern California; western states excluding California attracted just nearly 10 percent of students. The next most popular region was the Northeast, which hired almost 6 percent of graduates.

Financing

Anderson estimates a student budget for the 2023-2024 year to be $121,591. Of the budget total, tuition makes up $74,618 of the total cost. In June 2013, UCLA Anderson converted its full-time, state-supported MBA program to self-supporting status. This means that the school now retains all tuition for the full-time MBA program rather than receiving a combination of state funds and a portion of the student tuition and fees. Students may receive financial assistance in the forms of fellowships, grants and loans, and last year approximately 40% of Anderson students received fellowships. Applicants are automatically considered for fellowships upon admission to the MBA program, and students selected for fellowships, grants, and loans receive their awards in three disbursements marked by the fall, winter and spring quarters. Domestic students may also receive federal loans and must file the FAFSA to do so, while international students may pursue private loans with or without a U.S. co-signer.

Estimated Student Budget 2023-2024, Class of 2025

  • Tuition/Fees $74,618
  • Health Insurance $6,308
  • Food Housing $28,992
  • Books Supplies $2,307
  • Transportation $3,850
  • Personal $3,243
  • Loan Fess $2,274
  • Total $121,591

Contact

Mailing Address:
MBA Admissions & Financial Aid
110 Westwood Plaza
Gold Hall – Suite B201
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481
Phone: 310-825-6944
Fax: 310-825-8582
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.anderson.ucla.edu
Blog: http://mbablogs.anderson.ucla.edu/
Twitter: @UCLAMBA