Meet USC Marshall’s MBA Class Of 2026

“Why go anywhere else?”

Sounds like a Chamber of Commerce slogan, right? For Bennett Royce, a first-year MBA at USC’s Marshall School, the tag line captures Los Angeles – “a hub of creativity”, not to mention “sports, surfing, and perfect weather.” Sure, the region can be expensive and congested. For most, it is paradise – always cool things to do and new people to meet.

For the MBA Class of 2026, Los Angeles boasts an assortment of appeals. Take business. Only Tokyo and New York City account for a larger GDP among metro areas. It ranks among the global leaders in technology, entertainment, shipping, aerospace, life sciences, and tourism. Everyone knows Silicon Valley, but Los Angeles is also home to Silicon Beach. Stretching from Malibu to Playa Vista, the region jumpstarted firms as different as ZipRecruiter, Snap, Hulu, and the Honest Company – and houses large operations for Google, Nike, Amazon, and Facebook. For first-years like Jay Chung, who worked as a venture investment manager before joining the Marshall School, that translates to access to internships, capital, and expertise for students.

“For students of business, Los Angeles is a fascinating place to pursue an MBA due to its close proximity and access to various industries. From entertainment powerhouses (Disney, Warner Bros.) and financial services (Capital Group, TCW Group) to the Silicon Beach tech scene (Riot Games, Snap), LA is home to a wide number of companies that play an influential role in the world.”

“EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER WANT”

That’s just the start, Chung adds. He cites the “culinary hotspots” such as Koreatown, Little Tokyo, and Chinatown (along with the taco joints and N-Out Burgers). At the same time Chung notes, LA boasts 12 professional sports teams (plus storied sports programs at UCLA and USC). That doesn’t count the city hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2026 NBA All-Star Game, 2027 NFL Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics. Beyond sports, there is the Brentwood Farmer’s Market and Museum Row along the Miracle Mile, says Monica Moorjani, a client services manager before joining the Class of 2026.  Of course, there is iconic Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, and the Griffith Observatory. In other words, notes Manideep Kanagala, LA is a “cultural buffet.”

“You get a little bit of everything, writes the senior consultant from India. “You will find people from all over the world. You are constantly surrounded by different perspectives, making every day a learning experience. For someone who is a fan of the outdoors like me, LA is paradise. Where else can you hit the beach, snowboard in the mountains, and hike in the forest all in a single day? I haven’t tried doing all three in a single day yet, but it is definitely on my list—I can already imagine the struggle of fitting a surfboard, snowboard, and hiking stick into a car. Plus, the year-round sunny weather is a major perk. The city is always in a good mood, which makes everything from studying to networking feel a little brighter.”

By “year-round sunny”, Kanagala means a Mediterranean climate with “329 days of sunshine” in the words of classmate Zheng Wang, a sales manager from China. That’s something that never gets old to Marshall students. “Los Angeles has everything you could ever want,” adds Eizabeth Grady. “Earning your MBA in Los Angeles means that you don’t have to choose between a top school and an amazing city for launching your postgrad dreams. The same place where you are building your network is full of opportunities long after you earn your degree.”

UNEXPECTED COMBINATIONS

Indeed, you could describe Los Angeles as a city of deep contrasts and wide diversity – and the Marshall MBA Class of 2026 personifies this spirit. Take Elizabeth Grady, a former senior class president at the University of North Carolina. She started out as a tech consultant, where she re-designed a Fortune 100 company’s training process. Soon enough, she tapped into her roots – which led her to give up consulting to take a leadership role in football operations and player recruiting for USC football coach Lincoln Riley.

“I was in awe of USC as my football-loving family watched the Trojans during the Pete Carroll era. I developed an affinity for USC when I moved to LA and many of my colleagues were alumni of the University. I began to feel like part of USC when I left my career in tech consulting to join the football staff, and when given the opportunity, knew that I couldn’t miss my chance to officially join the Trojan family.”

Speaking of divergent paths, Jay Chung entered Marshall as a startup investor for SparkLabs. Scan down his resume further and you’ll find a veteran who operated at the highest levels of the Korean military. “I served in the Republic of Korea Air Force for 3 years as a foreign liaison aide and interpreter. During my service, I had the privilege to be a part of the executive branch, a group of hand-picked staff officers who assist the Chief of Staff, the highest-ranking general of the Air Force. I was tasked with assisting the general’s interactions with foreign counterparts, while drafting briefs on international affairs.”

Another example of the class’s duality is Shannon Jordan. At Harvard University, she earned an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering. Now, she is earning a dual degree: an MBA from Marshall and an MD from USC’s Keck School of Medicine. “Balancing the rigorous demands of medical school while simultaneously beginning my pursuit of an MBA has challenged me to develop strong time management and multitasking skills,” Jordan tells P&Q. “This accomplishment has not only expanded my knowledge in both healthcare and business, but has also positioned me to be able to make a unique impact in the healthcare industry.”

MEETING A HEADHUNTER GETS A WHOLE NEW MEANING

Bennett Royce also represents Marshall’s propensity for drawing students who can operate in completely different spheres. In college, Royce sang opera and captained the water polo team. Before he joined the Class of 2026, you would’ve found him in the U.S. Navy working as an explosive ordinance disposal senior technician. In other words, he found, disarmed, and removed bombs – a job that paved his path to business school.

“As a Navy Bomb Tech, I had the opportunity to take my “senior board,” a grueling three-hour verbal test with 1,500 questions,” he shares. “Although I never considered myself academically-inclined, I passed on my first attempt. This experience revealed my true capabilities and gave me the confidence to apply to Marshall.”

More conventionally, Monica Moorjani headed up the international division of a tech consulting and staffing firm – and expanded its operations to 14 countries. Zheng Wang spearheaded an online campaign for a medical center that generated 70 million video views. Marie O’Grady has held leadership roles in two non-profits geared to support the “climate and clean energy ecosystem” in Hawai’i.  In India, Manideep Kanagala orchestrated the “Stop the Bleed – Active Bleeding Control (ABC) campaign to support driving accident victims.

In India, road accidents claim a life every three minutes,” he tells P&Q “Of these, 40% are due to uncontrolled bleeding. To address this, in 2017, a collaboration was formed with the University of Pennsylvania and multiple national organizations, such as the 108 National Ambulance Training Centre. We created a low-cost kit that costs one-tenth of the price of imported kits. I am grateful that ABC has trained over 7,500 volunteers and saved 200 lives so far.”

That said, Kanagala also boasts the best story in the Class of 2026. “I love extreme adventures. On one of my solo journeys across India, I found myself deep in the jungles of Nagaland, trekking toward a village called Mon. It was not an easy path—thick forests, remote trails—but the destination made it all worth it. When I finally arrived, I was greeted by the Konyak warrior tribe, the last generation of headhunters. Their bodies were adorned with intricate tattoos, each marking a piece of their rich history. Sitting with them, hearing their stories, I realized I had stumbled upon a living piece of ancient tradition—a moment I’ll never forget.”

More great stories? In high school, Monica Moorjan performed cheer and dance routines at Golden State Warriors games. At the junior Olympics, Shannon Jordan collected a medial in the 100-meter freestyle in swimming. During one episode of The Prince is Right, Marie O’Grady didn’t just ‘come on down.’ She won a trip to Hawai’i!

A CLASS PROFILE

Overall, the Class of 2026 represents an increase in students, with class size rising from 199 to 211 from the previous year. Women and unrepresented minorities constitute 36% and 21% of the class respectively, each up a point over the Class of 2025. International students make up 35% of the class, which hails from 22 countries.

As a whole, USC Marshall accepted 23% of applicants during the 2023-2024 cycle. GMAT scores hit a 722 average, the same as the previous year, as scores ranged from 660-780 in the 85% range. 32% of the class also posted GRE scores, averaging 324 (and scores running from 311-to-338). In addition, the Class of 2026 come to LA with a 3.48 average undergraduate GPA.

As undergraduates, nearly a third – 31% — of the class earned degrees related to Business. Engineering and Computer Sciences majors hold another 20% of the class seats, followed by Economics (14%), Social Sciences (12%), and Humanities (6%). Professionally, 22% of the class last worked in Computer Sciences, with Technology (17%) and Media and Entertainment (11%) also breaking double digits. Consulting (9%), Healthcare (8%), and Government (6%) also account for sizable shares of the class.

FRIENDS IN NEED ARE FRIENDS INDEED

Between first- and second-year students, USC Marshall is currently housing 398 full-time MBA students. While that number is small, the school is far larger and represents one of the most well-rounded business school communities. In Poets & Quants’ Undergraduate Business School ranking, USC Marshall finished 2nd in the world, buoyed by one of the highest scores in Academic Experience. By the same token, Marshall ranked among the world’s ten-best for its Online MBA program. This collective expertise is one reason why the school placed 6th in the world for scholarly impact in the 2024 Business School Research ranking produced by the University of Texas at Dallas.

In The Financial Times’ annual survey of students and alumni, USC Marshall also ranked 10th for its Alumni Network. The result is reflective of a key differentiator at the school: The Trojan Family. Think of it as a safety net, a tradition, and a commitment where high-placed alumni look out for students and fellow graduates. After all, a Marshall alum did the same for them. Thus far, the network has lived up to its billing says Manideep Kanagala. When she inquired about Marshall to current students and alumni, “every single got back to me,” she says.

“It is not just a network; It is a community of people who genuinely want to help each other succeed,” Kanagala adds. “Being part of such a network is inspiring and something I knew I wanted to be a part of.”

Kate van Keulen, a 2024 grad, views the Trojan Family as a force that would boost her ROI from an MBA, along with being a “lifelong privilege.” At the same time, Hannah Rhodes, a healthcare recruiter, has witnessed this same passion from faculty and staff since arriving on campus. Make no mistake: Manideep Kanagala believes the Class of 2026 will join the 100,000 Marshall alumni in carrying this same spirit forward.

“One of the main reasons I chose USC Marshall is because of the smaller cohort size and the incredible Trojan Network. The smaller cohort means that we really get to know each other and build strong, supportive relationships. It creates a close-knit community where everyone is invested in each other’s success.”

Next Page: An interview with USC Marshall leaders.

Page 3: Profiles of 11 members of the Class of 2026