Santa Clara University - Leavey School of Business

Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business has offered a well-respected physical MBA in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades, and according to students, their new online MBA program has come strongly out of the gate. There’s a quarterly online program that’s all about flexibility, on account of “being online without any set class schedules,” and while the work remains rigorous and demanding, particularly for those already working jobs or raising families, enrollees boast of the time-management skills they’ve picked up along the way, and stress that because you can “take as many classes as you’re willing to handle” and that “extensions [on assignments are] typically … granted by professors upon request, so it’s fairly doable to maintain a work-life balance.”

Some students note that a few bugs are still being worked out in the rollout of the online MBA program, and that not all professors are as equally adept at utilizing the environment’s message boards and video lectures. There is, however, a “clear roadmap to graduation and [professors] are very responsive to our inquiries about the program,” with faculty proving to be “helpful and available outside of normal class sessions” as they “engage with the students on the discussion boards.” Small hiccups aside, students themselves find SCU LSB’s technology and infrastructure to be “extremely intuitive and user-friendly.” As one student puts it, “I haven't had a problem accessing the portal or pages, submitting files, or with any interaction,” although the majority of respondents referred explicitly to using web-based options as opposed to the school’s app. There’s also a wide variety of software provided for free, such as Camino, Canvas, Zoom, and Handshake.

There’s an initial “well-structured and thoughtfully designed” orientation weekend that helps students get to know one another, and which not only provides “the foundation of building the relationships needed to succeed on group assignments” but also feels “similar to how the business world works today.” Additionally, students have opportunities to take advantage of on-campus resources if they’re local to or are visiting the area, and they can take study abroad courses in locations like Vietnam. All students at all times also have access to the school’s strong alumni connections, to “career fairs, websites, and networking events,” as well as to professors who are “knowledgeable in the subjects they are teaching and incredibly responsive to questions and suggestions.”

Many students note the importance of Santa Clara University’s location and “brand reputation in Silicon Valley,” even though they’re attending online. To them, it’s not just about getting a master’s degree, but about obtaining “a tech focus interwoven into the MBA program.” As one puts it, “for those who want to work in the SF Bay Area, [tech] is unofficially required.” Gaining that experience is doable thanks in part to the palpable “enthusiasm and accessibility [from] the leaders of the Leavey School of Business. Dean Caryn Beck-Dudley conveyed a clear vision for improving the offerings and prestige of the school.” The community is robust as well, with fellow classmates described as “impressive, engaging, great to work with,” and “critical and engaging in the online space.” And while collaborating with peers can occasionally be difficult due to time zone differences, most respondents find both “the networking and career building aspect of the program is a … strength.” Overall, the program’s exceedingly strong structure makes up for any distance barriers, with students praising, time and again, the flexibility that comes from not having set class schedules.