Academics
Students looking for the biggest 鈥渂ang for the buck鈥 will appreciate California State University, Long Beach. Although 鈥渢uition and fees have gone up every semester, what we are getting in return is still a great deal,鈥 at least 鈥渃ompared to other universities.鈥 There are many reasons to choose Cal State in addition to its affordability. 鈥淭he campus is conveniently located, parking is good and the resources (database subscriptions, computer equipment) provided are excellent.鈥 Also popular with students are the small program and class sizes, which make it 鈥渆asy to get to know many of your classmates throughout your stay.鈥 At CSULB, 鈥渃lassmates are invested in the education experience.鈥 鈥淔ellow students are fun to work with and bring different experiences helping to enrich discussion.鈥 There are 鈥渕any foreign students鈥 in the graduate program who help to provide an 鈥渋nternational business focus鈥 during classroom discussions. International students appreciate the opportunity to 鈥渢ake advantage of their experiences鈥 at Long Beach.
Finding a program that meets individual needs at CSULB is easy to do. There are 鈥渕any options for working folk,鈥 including a 鈥淪aturday only program鈥 which is a twenty-threemonth long lock-step cohort. The three basic options include the Saturday MBA, the Self-Paced Evening MBA, and the eighteen-month Daytime Accelerated MBA. A good majority of students fit into the part-time category, and these commuters appreciate the school鈥檚 ample parking and location in the 鈥渃onvenient鈥 city of Long Beach. A current student describes it as 鈥渙ne of the most beautiful and diverse cities in the country.鈥
Generally, students attend CSULB for its 鈥渟maller classes, good choice of different programs, [and] great location.鈥 One student says the school and its programs are 鈥渄efinitely growing by leaps and bounds.鈥 Another student who is a military veteran says, 鈥淭he VA program here is the best of any school I have seen.鈥 Overall, students should come away from the school with 鈥渟trong academics鈥 as well as a 鈥済reat sense of a real life business experience.鈥
Many students also find the cohort system as one of the school鈥檚 鈥済reatest strengths.鈥 Although at times it may create some 鈥渋solation鈥 from the rest of the campus, it does a great job of unifying peers within one鈥檚 group, allowing students 鈥渢ime to develop relationships and strengthen our network,鈥 which is 鈥渁lmost impossible when your classmates change every session.鈥
Getting help on campus is a positive experience as well. 鈥淭he administration and faculty are very accessible and diverse.鈥 Students say that administrators 鈥渁re fantastic in keeping students informed and getting them involved.鈥 Students鈥 opinions about the faculty vary, yet many feel that 鈥減rofessors are very helpful and always have open lines of communication.鈥 Some say that although their academic and professional knowledge is well respected, their ability to teach effectively covers a 鈥渨ide range.鈥 Also, some students consider it a disadvantage that not all professors 鈥渉ave extensive real-world experience.鈥