Enrollment: 119
Average GMAT: 615.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 580-750
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.28
Regular Application Deadline: 07/01
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Public
Average Age: 26.00
Average Work Experience (months): 36
Student Faculty Ratio: 25:1

Part Time Program: Yes
Evening Program: No
Executive MBA Program Offered: No
Total Faculty: 55

Average Starting Salary: $85,000.00

Out-of-State Tuition: $16,179.00
In-State Tuition: $3,756.00
Financial Aid Deadline: 03/01
Students Receiving Some Aid: 45%
Average Annual Total Financial Aid: $11,634.00

School Says - General Information
The Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) offers one-year MBA programs that follow the educational philosophy of "learn by doing". The programs' in-class experience includes simulations of management decision-making scenarios, case studies, team exercises, extensive interaction with faculty and other students, and personal communication and presentation skills enhancement. The Orfalea College of Business' (OCOB) MBA programs are accredited by the AACSB and admit a limited number of students each year. This select group of graduate students fosters an eclectic student body with a strong sense of community and a culture that emphasizes high quality performance. Students accepted into and enrolled in Cal Poly's OCOB MBA programs may: - Enter the program without an undergraduate business degree and without completing prerequisite business course requirements. - Choose an accelerated option (Track One) that allows full-time students to follow a prescribed course of study and complete the program in less than a year or a traditional, non-accelerated option.(Track Two.) - Study relevant, current, challenging, and intellectually stimulating courses. - Enroll in short intensive summer sessions to complete the MBA program and/or follow the accelerated option requirements. - Enroll in a 2-1/2 week international business study tour to mainland China or India• Work with renowned faculty in a friendly and professional academic atmosphere. - Live and study on California's beautiful Central Coast In addition to a general management MBA, Cal Poly offers an MBA with a Specialization in Agribusiness, and an MBA with a specialization in Graphic Communication Document Systems Management, an MS in Accounting - Taxation. Two-year dual-degree options are also available for students wishing to pursue two graduate degrees simultaneously. For example, a formal joint MBA/MS program in Engineering Management (EMP) and various other informal MBA/MS or MBA/MA dual-degree options are available.

School Says - Student Body
With 300 clubs on campus, MBA students have many opportunities for activities outside the classroom. Offering the ability to demonstrate leadership and collaboration, the GSB Association is a popular choice. This club hosts a variety of fundraising, professional and social events. It organizes a Professional Speaker Series giving students the opportunity to network with industry professionals. Firms also find the Speaker Series to be a valuable recruitment tool.

Cal Poly MBA students have a proud tradition of competition. They participate annually in the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition; and the MBA Business Ethics Competition. In 2006, they won that competition defeating teams from USC, Loyola Marymount, University of Washington and College of William and Mary and in 2008 they earn 2nd place. There is the Bank of America Low Income Housing Challenge competition, comprised of a multidisciplinary team of City Planners, Architects, Construction and Business Managers. This competition involves developing an affordable housing development proposal. In 2005, Cal Poly's team won that competition, defeating teams from Stanford and UC Berkeley.

School Says - Academics
The Cal Poly MBA program is a 60-64 unit program that provides students who are willing to commit to a rigorous schedule of prescribed courses the option to complete the program in less than 11 months (Track I). A traditional MBA model (Track II) for those not pursing this accelerated option and/or simultaneously pursuing joint/dual degrees is also offered.

School Says - Admissions
The Cal Poly MBA program seeks candidates that are bright, motivated, and demonstrate the ability to successfully complete a rigorous academic program. While admission is primarily based on GPA and GMAT achievement, we do consider additional factors such as work experience, leadership qualities, and letters of recommendation in order to develop an overall assessment of the applicant. Interviews are optional.

School Says - Campus Life
The Orfalea College of Business, named after Paul Orfalea, the founder of Kinko's, is a modern building offering over 13,000 square feet of computer lab space and teaching facilities. Cal Poly offers on-campus housing for 2,783 students in 13 residence halls; has library holdings of 2,576,3000; computer access of 1,800 student work stations in labs, classrooms and residence halls; and a modern 91,559 sq. ft. recreation center.

Students Say - Academics
Students praise "the focus on career preparation" in the MBA program at California Polytechnic State University's Orfalea College of Business, telling us that "Orfalea has a hands-on approach. It's not as theoretical as some programs; here, you take on real-world challenges. Companies that recruit here frequently comment that they prefer Cal Poly grads because they 'hit the ground running' after being hired." Students also greatly appreciate the reasonable tuition; one writes, "This place is a great deal in terms of bang for your buck. If I had gone someplace else, I'd be in debt for decades." The school is an exceptionally good deal for students in the accelerated Track 1 full-time MBA; they complete the program in 1 year, saving the additional tuition, expenses, and fees that some in the Track 2 program (one year full-time plus additional part-time study) incur.
In either program, students pursue "a learn-by-doing policy adhered to throughout the college." One student reports, "In the upcoming quarter, I will be involved in a team competing against teams from other schools in making important business decisions for a simulated company in a simulated market. Not only will this help me learn what types of decisions and information I will encounter in the real world, it also gives me a great add-on for my resume and subject to talk about during interviews." A mentoring program provides another great add-on; it "allows students to 'hook up' with a mentor prominent in the business world (mine is the vice president of a large chain of banks) starting from the second week of classes." Yet another perk of the program is a two-and-a-half week trip to China (mandatory for Track 1, encouraged for Track 2), which some here feel is the "most informative" part of the program.
Orfalea's faculty is "well prepared and knowledgeable" with professors who "emphasize the importance of teamwork." Small class sizes "really allow students to get to know one another and create a friendly atmosphere conducive to creating strong bonds." On the downside, students complain that "the short time period of the program leaves out room for some electives that would be beneficial or exciting to take" and that "most of the teachers focus too heavily on grades. The school will improve when more focus is on learning and less on grades. The design does not encourage risk taking so students select easier classes." Nearly 20 percent of Orfalea MBAs pursue dual-degree programs, taking second degrees in such areas as engineering, architecture, and public policy.

Students Say - Admissions
The Admissions Office at the Orfalea College of Business consider all of the following components of a student's application: GMAT score (middle 80 percent of student body scores between 540 and 680); TOEFL score (where applicable); two official copies of undergraduate transcript (the middle 80 percent of student body earns between 2.9 and 3.7); two letters of recommendation; a personal statement; and a resume. Prior work experience, while preferred, is not required. Prospective dual-degree candidates must apply to, and be accepted to, each program separately. All international applicants must provide statements of purpose and financial responsibility, a spouse/dependent declaration, and a signed health insurance contract; they must also submit to an educational background check.

Students Say - Campus Life
San Luis Obispo is "primarily an undergrad campus," but grad students find ways to get in on the action. They're "very social; everyone wants to be involved with each other and with the events taking place. There are speakers every week, and the attendance is fairly good." The fact that "the program is relatively small" means "Everyone gets to know each other well. This is not like a commuter school."
The town of San Luis Obispo "is a great place loaded with clubs and situated in a great location for all manner of activities. Public transit is free for students. Because the town is so attractive, there is often less activity on campus than you would see at other schools, but the student population is 50 percent of the city, so almost any place becomes a gathering place for students." Students arriving from big cities may find that the leisurely pace of life here requires some adjustment.
Orfalea students "come from a variety of different backgrounds but are all very motivated to further their careers. The attitude at the school is more of camaraderie and cooperation than competition." The population "is very young compared to other grad schools, but most students have at least a few . . . years of experience."

Students Say - Careers
Orfalea's Career Placement Services "do a great job of preparing students for the recruiting process and following through with companies to ensure that they continue to recruit Cal Poly grads." The school has strong "connections to Bay Area companies." The small size of the program, however, may affect recruitment activities somewhat; one student says, "Since this is a technical school, the majority of employers are seeking engineers or related fields. It's difficult for someone with a non-technical background (like a degree in management) to find a range of employers at the job fair."
Orfalea MBAs most often work for: Northrup Grumman, Raytheon, Rantec, General Dynamics, Sun MicroSystems, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Qualcomm, IBM, Agilent Technology, Amgen, Lawrence Livermore Labs, Pacific Gas & Electric, USDA, Department of Veterans Affairs, KPMG International, Pratt & Whitney, Morgan Stanley, Boston Scientific Corporation, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sandia National Lab, Lam Research, Columbia Sportswear, and Adelaida Cellars.

Arizona State University
California State University, Sacramento

More at PrincetonReview.com