Fresno State’s Craig School of Business

Fresno State’s MBA program provides a solid foundation in business fundamentals and prepares students to be agile, adaptable, and effective leaders in today’s dynamic business environment.

Their 388-acre main campus sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, at the northeast edge of Fresno, California. The Fresno area has many large agricultural companies including Sun-Maid, The Wonderful Company, Foster Farms, Fowler Packing, and Wawona, and other large corporations including PepsiCo, Amazon, and Deloitte.

This year, the B-School welcomed a small class of 19 students. The program spans a year and a half to two years (3-4 semesters) with a total of 36 units. The Fresno State MBA hosts courses that cover business broadly, including finance, marketing, management, accounting, and operations, with the idea being to give students a broad-based business education rather than focusing on a specific area of expertise.

Unlike many MBA programs, the Fresno State MBA doesn’t offer specializations since they cover business topics broadly, yet students are encouraged to personalize their experience with electives as well as through research projects with faculty.

Fresno State MBAs are exposed to a diverse set of business challenges across their many courses and learn to apply analytical and critical thinking skills to solve complex problems. The MBA does not require an internship, however students can certainly complete one though an internship elective. Additionally, Fresno State’s MBA program stays up to date on opportunities for their students to attend case competitions, research competitions, and conferences in other locations.

“As a director of our MBA program, I am proud to witness firsthand the transformative impact it has on our students. Our program offers unparalleled academic rigor, practical experience, and personalized mentorship, empowering our graduates to become exceptional leaders in their fields. It’s truly a privilege to be a part of such a remarkable program that consistently produces outstanding results,” says MBA program director Dr. Zhanna Sahatjian.