UCLA Anderson School of Management
UCLA Anderson School of Management
UCLA Anderson is the graduate business school of the University of California, Los Angeles. Located on UCLA’s north campus in Los Angeles, it offers a range of MBA programs (full-time, part-time, and executive), as well as other graduate and professional programs. The school is named after John E. Anderson, who donated $15 million in 1987 (later followed by another $25 million), and it remains closely tied to UCLA through ongoing fundraising and collaboration.
History in brief
- Founded in 1935 as part of UCLA, initially offering undergraduate business programs; the last undergraduate degree was awarded in 1969.
- The school went through several name changes, reflecting its evolving focus on graduate business education.
- In 1987, John E. Anderson donated a transformative amount, leading to a major campus expansion completed in 1995.
- In 2010-11, the school relied mostly on private funding and proposed a shift toward financial self-sufficiency, which was approved in 2013.
- UCLA Anderson joined the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management in 2010, with a dedicated Consortium class starting in 2011.
- Leadership changes included Judy D. Olian stepping down as dean in 2018 to become president of Quinnipiac University; Alfred Osborne served as interim dean, and Antonio Bernardo became the ninth dean in 2019.
Campus
- The campus sits on the north part of UCLA, with four main buildings (Mullin, Cornell, Entrepreneurs, and Gold) forming a circle at Sunset Boulevard and Westwood Plaza. The Collins Building is connected to the Gold building.
- Marion Anderson Hall opened in 2020, a 64,000-square-foot expansion funded entirely by donors. It was designed by Gensler (interior) and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners (exterior) and aims for LEED Platinum certification, serving as a prominent entrance to the Anderson complex.
Graduate programs
- MBA programs: full-time MBA, fully employed (part-time) MBA, and Executive MBA (and related offerings). The school also runs programs for executives, including the Post Graduate Program in Management for Executives (PGPX) and the UCLA PGP PRO.
- Master of Science in Business Analytics: launched to meet growing demand for data-driven decision making.
- Master of Financial Engineering.
- PhD programs in several business disciplines.
- Global EMBA programs serving Asia Pacific and the Americas.
- Undergraduates can access an Accounting minor through UCLA.
MBA programs in more detail
- The MBA program uses a mix of case study, experiential learning, lectures, and team projects.
- The curriculum centers on ten core courses plus at least twelve electives. Students are placed into cohorts (sections) of about 65 and complete a structured set of courses together.
- The program supports student-led leadership roles within cohorts and an active student association (ASA) that handles career recruiting, clubs, and academic issues.
- Students can focus their studies in areas such as Accounting, Operations, Finance, Global Economics and Management, Human Resources, Information Systems, Marketing, Real Estate, and other fields.
Other programs
- Applied Management Research (AMR): a two-quarter, team-based consulting field study project in the second year, allowing students to work on real business problems for partner companies.
- Executive education: since 1954, offering a variety of programs beyond the campus, including custom and open-enrollment options.
- Postgraduate programs for executives (PGPX) and a separate PGP PRO for professionals.
Doctoral programs
- Doctoral training is offered in Accounting; Behavioral Decision Making; Decisions, Operations & Technology Management; Finance; Global Economics and Management; Management and Organizations; Marketing; and Strategy.
Rankings
- UCLA Anderson consistently ranks among top U.S. and global business schools in various publications, including QS, Bloomberg Businessweek, U.S. News & World Report, and FT. Specific rankings vary by year and method.
Research and centers
- Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies coordinates teaching, research, and activities related to entrepreneurship.
- Laurence D. Fink Center for Finance & Investments supports research and teaching in finance and investments.
- UCLA Anderson Forecast provides state and national economic forecasts.
- MEMES Center examines management for media, entertainment, and sports.
- Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) operates as part of a national network.
- Other centers support real estate, communications, and other disciplines, often linking academics with industry partners.
Alumni
- The UCLA Anderson alumni network includes tens of thousands of members—about 44,000 alumni across more than 25 chapters in over 75 countries.
Student life
- The school emphasizes community service and outreach. One notable initiative is Challenge for Charity (C4C), a student-led competition among West Coast business schools to maximize volunteer hours and fundraising for Special Olympics.
Key takeaways
- UCLA Anderson is a major American business school known for its MBA programs, strong research centers, and deep ties to the UCLA campus.
- It emphasizes experiential learning, collaboration, and leadership development through cohort-based programs and student-run activities.
- The school has a history of significant donor support, campus expansion, and ongoing growth in executive and analytics education.
This page was last edited on 1 February 2026, at 20:54 (CET).