What You Need to Know About Getting an EMBA on the West Coast

The West Coast is home to global technology giants, including Google, Apple, Amazon, Walt Disney Company, Oracle, Intel, and Kaiser Permanente. These companies frequently recruit from the classroom and partner with universities to offer experiential learning—making it a premier location to master your craft and get real-world experience. The western United States offer unparalleled career opportunities within the tech industry and beyond, and an EMBA will help you rise to the challenge.

If you’re interested in accelerating your career, here are the top innovating business schools on the West Coast.

Groundbreaking EMBA Programs in the West

Saint Mary’s Executive MBA Program

The Saint Mary’s Executive MBA program is designed for mid-career professionals looking to fine-tune their leadership and critical thinking skills. Students can customize their experience by choosing either an entrepreneurship or business analytics concentration to focus on the areas that are most important to them. The program provides an intimate experience with small cohorts of just 30 students, facilitating clear communication within the classroom and one-on-one instruction. In the graduating class, about 20% work in technology, 18% specialize in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and 16% have a background in non-profits.

Just 18 months in length, the program includes a mix of classroom learning (42%), online learning (42%), and experiential learning (16%). An international study seminar is available that invites students to learn about global business culture at the Fukuoka Institute of Technology in Japan. Beyond that, Saint Mary’s EMBA program stands out for its ROI—on average, graduates earn a 110% salary increase post-degree. The program also ranks #8 for work/life balance, #10 for the strength of their curriculum, and #13 for providing a global experience.

Principal features of the Saint Mary’s EMBA program:

• Two distinctive EMBA programs: a traditional EMBA and a Global Executive MBA (GEMBA).
• Courses offered on alternating Saturdays and two times per week via live web conferencing.
• 70% of the faculty holds a doctorate degree, and experts include groundbreaking researchers and award-winning authors.

Executive Master of Global Management – Arizona Cohort (Thunderbird School of Global Management)

As implied by the name, the Executive Master of Global Management program at the Thunderbird campus centers around providing a global perspective for business leaders. Ranked #1 for providing a global experience, the EMBA program hosts seminars in cities around the world, including Sao Paulo, Dubai, Beijing, Singapore, Prague, Lisbon, Moscow, and more. The school also partners with businesses, cultural leaders, and government policymakers internationally to provide a multi-layered perspective on globalization and its impact on the market.

Distinguishing features of the Executive Master of Global Management program:

• Between 2016 and 2019, the U.S. News & World Report voted Thunderbird the #1 most innovative school in the U.S.
• The average incoming class includes 34 enrollees—with a relatively small class size, teachers encourage active participation and provide individualized attention.
• Can be completed in 12, 15, or 21 months, depending on your schedule.

Chapman University EMBA

The Chapman University EMBA program is designed for busy professionals looking to accelerate their careers. An intimate and collaborative program, the 25 students who make up each class learn from top educators, executives, and influential leaders in their field. It should be no surprise that the program attracts students from a wide range of industries and backgrounds, including healthcare and insurance (25%), hospitality and entertainment (18%), and non-profit (18%).

Twenty-one months in length, the Chapman University EMBA program is highly ranked for their work/life balance (#4), career advancement opportunities (#15), curriculum (#15), and global experience (#16). As part of their residency requirements, participants enroll in a week-long international seminar; recent locations include China, Vietnam, Japan, and India. It’s an insightful learning opportunity for students interested in business, public policy, and multi-national corporations.

Standout features of the Chapman EMBA program:

• 85% of faculty holds a doctorate and are made up of Nobel Laureates, former CEOs, and entrepreneurs.
• Tutors are offered for quantitative courses.
• Cultivates skills for ambitious professionals with 10+ years of work experience.

Executive MBA at Loyola Marymount University

Strategically located in Silicon Beach—home to over 500 startup companies and groundbreaking tech firms—the Executive MBA at Loyola Marymount University attracts most of their students from STEM fields. At the forefront of modernization, the program also boasts one of the highest rates for gender parity; women make up about 48% of each incoming class.

Ranked #9 in the region for career advancement, Loyola Marymount University guides highly motivated mid-career professionals through a dynamic and challenging academic program. Focused on broadening perspectives and forging professional networks, class sizes max around 23 individuals with about 39% of the student body originating outside of the U.S.

Pivotal features of the Loyola Marymount University EMBA program:

• Ranked #9 for providing a global experience and compelling curriculum.
• 30% of their student body comes from the information technology sector.
• Over 68,000 graduates worldwide and an active alumni association.

Berkeley MBA for Executives

In Ivy Exec’s 2019 regional ranking, the Berkeley MBA for Executives program lands the top spot. It’s ranked sixth globally and comes in second place for prestige, career advancement, and curriculum. With an emphasis on long-term professional growth, the EMBA program has 39,000 alumni and active regional chapters across the globe. Post-graduation, participants are also invited to audit classes so they can continue to hone their skills and stay ahead of the curve. The 19-month program spans 75% classroom work and 25% experiential work and concentrates on technology and healthcare innovations. Berkeley draws accolades worldwide for their groundbreaking research; faculty have earned two Nobel Prizes in Economics since 1994.

UCLA Anderson Executive MBA

The career resources at UCLA Anderson are hallmarks for the program; through one-on-one career coaching, workshops, virtual tools, and an expansive alumni network, the business school supports students far beyond graduation. They also accommodate participants with flexible bi-weekly or monthly scheduling and weekend lectures. Earning a #7 ranking for their work/life balance, the UCLA Anderson Executive MBA program takes a comprehensive approach to education through international study, lectures, and exercise-based leadership development.

Wharton MBA for Executives

Second on the regional ranking, Wharton MBA for Executives appears #1 based on their prestige, opportunities for career advancement, and the strength of their curriculum. The intensive program lasts 24 months and includes over 700 hours in the classroom—but the experience is well worth the time investment. Post-graduation, participants join an alumni network with over 98,000 industry leaders, a powerful community that will help you pursue new career heights. Located in San Francisco, the Wharton MBA for Executives program is one of the most academically rigorous tracks in the country with a knowledgeable and widely published faculty.

California beaches, endless days of sun, and an easy-going attitude aren’t the only things the West Coast are known for­—it’s also home to world-class EMBA programs. Revered for their prestige and incredible advancement opportunities, these programs provide rigorous instruction, cutting-edge technology, and lucrative networking channels to students from around the globe.