California State University, Fresno, The Craig School of Business/ MBA Admission
California State University, Fresno, The Craig School of Business/ MBA Undergraduate Program
California State University, Fresno, The Craig School of Business/ MBA Application

The Facts

California State University's Craig School of Business is a rather small, public program located in the town of Fresno, California. The university itself has a combined graduate and undergraduate student population of about 21,400, however, there are only about 210 graduate business students at the Craig School. Approximately 85% of the graduate business students have had an average of 7 years of professional full-time experience, and as a result of this fact, the average age of enrollment is about 31, however, the enrollment ages range from 21 all the way up to 46. Approximately 22% of the graduate business students enroll directly from undergraduate school, and about 4% of the students already have a graduate degree of some sort. The school is known for its intimate seminar format where lecture, case study, and group projects combined to help students apply theory and new skills to real-world situations. The school offers degrees in the Master of Business Administration (MBA), as well as interdisciplinary programs in agribusiness, internships, and foreign exchange programs with partners in Germany and Sweden. Some of the most popular programs with students include courses in the areas of entrepreneurship, finance, organizational behavior, investment portfolio, as well as information systems.

Admission to California State University's Craig School of Business is quite competitive among the relatively few students who apply. Last year, over 160 students applied for admission to the school, and approximately 85 of those students were accepted. Eventually however, only about 76 of the admitted students actually enrolled for the coming semester. The admitted students had an average undergraduate GPA of about a 3.4, and an average GMAT score of 598. The admissions committee requires all applicants to have a minimum undergraduate GPA of at least a 2.5 and a minimum GMAT score of at least a 500. Students are able to begin the MBA program in either the fall or the spring, and admission is done on a rolling basis.

The Craig School of Business has 23 full-time faculty members, all of whom hold a doctorate degree. The school also has 5 part-time faculty members, of whom 20% hold a doctorate degree. The average graduate business class is about 20 students, and students rave about the individual attention they receive from their professors both in and out of class.

Placement Services

The Craig School of Business has rather limited placement services, however, most students are already employed full-time, and are attending the graduate program with the blessing of their employers. Placement services are available to alumni for an unlimited number of years after they obtain their degree through the university placement office as well as online postings. Last spring, over 20 companies were actively recruiting on campus, 70% of which were national corporations. The majors most in demand were entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, as well as marketing. The average starting salary of last year's graduating class was $56,000, however, it ranged from $42,000 to $120,000. Impressively, last year's entire graduating class found jobs within three months of receiving their degrees.

What's Good

"Companies seem to be very impressed with the Craig School of Business. The name opens a lot of doors for you in the business world."

"The professors here are wonderful, and they obviously really care about you, which is a nice feeling."

"There is a remarkable lack of competition among students here. It takes off a lot of the pressure."

What's Bad

"I wish the placement services were a bit more comprehensive. A lot of it is left up to you."

"I wish the general business requirements were a little more all-encompassing."

"People aren't extremely social here, which can be a bit annoying if you want to make new friends."

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