University of California San Diego’s Rady School of Management

The Rady School of Management MBA: What You Need To Know

The UC San Diego Rady School of Management’s MBA program is rooted in innovation, principled leadership, and data-driven decision-making. Established in 2003, the program is built on a culture where data isn’t just a tool — it’s the foundation of everything students do. From analyzing consumer behavior to forecasting trends, Rady MBAs develop a quantitative mindset that challenges conventional thinking.

Located in San Diego, Rady’s setting offers more than great weather. The city is a hub for innovation, home to more than 500 biomedical companies and 1,400 software and computer services firms. It’s also a vibrant, mission-driven community that fosters collaboration and meaningful impact. Rady students benefit from these local connections, growing their networks while staying grounded in a supportive academic culture.

“We’re not just teaching out of a 20- or 30-year-old textbook — we’re doing the research and creating the knowledge that our students will apply to today’s world and beyond,” Dean Lisa Ordóñez says.

Over the course of 21 months and 92 credit hours, Rady MBA students engage in a STEM-focused curriculum designed to address today’s complex business challenges. Class sizes are small — just 36 students in the most recent cohort — and the faculty includes experts from top institutions. Students can choose to specialize in areas such as Design and Innovation, Finance, Marketing Management, or Supply Excellence and Innovation.

Learning at Rady extends well beyond the classroom. Students can pursue optional internships and week-long international immersions, traveling to countries like Mexico, Vietnam, and China to explore business strategies, tackle real-world challenges, and engage with global leaders. On campus, entrepreneurship is a central theme, with opportunities like the StartR Accelerators and sustainability competitions designed to help students bring their ideas to life.

“I learned that the faculty were second to none — many have come from world-renowned business schools like Harvard Business School, Haas, Wharton, and Booth,” says Dylan Campbell, MBA Class of 2023. “I was also intrigued by the smaller class size, which I felt would give me a better opportunity to connect with my classmates and professors — and it did.”

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