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Leavey School of Business Santa Clara University
Executive MBA

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Executive MBA

Elevate Your Influence

Ranked #1 in Silicon Valley and top 15 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the Leavey Executive MBA Program at Santa Clara University offers working, experienced executives the tools and skills necessary to succeed at the top levels of business.

Harnessing the expertise and innovation of Silicon Valley the Executive MBA Program delivers an exceptional education based on real-world application, giving you unparalleled access to a rich network of professors, peers and fellow professionals. Offered in a hybrid format, the 2-year program is now more convenient than ever.  With more than a third of the curriculum offered online, you’ll attend in-person classes only approximately one weekend a month.

Start Your Application

The Leavey Difference

Apple Park

Location

With a beautiful 105-acre campus, Santa Clara University is located at the center of the most innovative region in the world, with over 7,000 companies and startups in Silicon Valley.

Leavey School of Business faculty engaging in lively discussions with a student

Faculty

Leavey faculty are teaching scholars–often published in top-ranked journals and presenting at conferences all over the world. Learn more about our Executive MBA faculty.

Student studying with bright colored note cards

Academics

Our curriculum blends team-based collaboration with cutting-edge business practices, preparing students with skills to power dynamic 21st-century careers.

Hands together for a team huddle

Values

Combining our core values rooted in the Jesuit tradition with the dynamic ethos of Silicon Valley, we educate ethical business leaders who will work to make our businesses, our community, and our world a better place.

Leavey School of Business graduate students outside Lucas Hall

Network

Tap into incredibly strong Leavey and Santa Clara University connections–25,000 and 100,000 alumni respectively. Explore Leavey's alumni network.

Lucas Hall at night

Flexibility

Classes are offered in a hybrid format, on evenings and weekends, to fit your life and goals. Plus, a variety of electives and concentrations allow you to customize any Leavey degree to your interests and timeline.

Upcoming Admissions Events
Executive MBA By the Numbers
41%
Female
in the class of 2025
#1
Executive MBA Program in Silicon Valley
by U.S. News & World Report
17
Average Years of Work Experience
in the class of 2025

Curriculum

Our practical, hands-on curriculum is taught by stellar faculty and distinguished Bay Area practitioners. Classes meet in person once a month and virtually once a month, Friday afternoons and Saturdays, every other weekend. Organized around the pillars of strategic leadership, analytical aptitude, cross-functional executive, and entrepreneurial & innovative mindset, the Executive MBA curriculum is designed to provide an integrated and comprehensive learning experience for C-suite leaders.

Year
1
Orientation
Week One
Executive Communications+
Innovation Training+
Executive Decision Making+
Week Two
Foundations of Analytics+
Leadership for Dynamic Environments+
Week One
Executive Communications
Innovation Training
Executive Decision Making
Week Two
Foundations of Analytics
Leadership for Dynamic Environments
Term 1
Strategic Management+
Managing Organizations and Teams+
Financial Accounting+
Strategic Management
Managing Organizations and Teams
Financial Accounting
Term 2
Macroeconomics+
Business Analytics+
Macroeconomics
Business Analytics
Term 3
Marketing Strategy+
Corporate Finance+
Marketing Strategy
Corporate Finance
Year
2
Term 4
Operations and Supply Chains+
Managerial Ethics+
Electives
Operations and Supply Chains
Managerial Ethics
Electives
Term 5
New Product Innovation+
Negotiations+
Electives
New Product Innovation
Negotiations
Electives
Term 6
Strategic Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship+
New Business Ventures+
Sustaining Impact as a Leader+
Electives
Strategic Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship
New Business Ventures
Sustaining Impact as a Leader
Electives

Other bootcamps, simulations, and workshops

Strategic Leadership
  • Mindfulness in Leadership
  • Leading with Improvisation
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Strategic Digital Transformation
Analytical Aptitude
  • Statistics Bootcamp
  • Online Statistics Prep
Cross-Functional Execution
  • Marketing: Brand Simulation
  • Marketing: Experiential Corporate Project
  • Operations: Root Beer Simulation
  • Operations: Little Field Simulation
Entrepreneurial & Innovative Mindset
  • Crossing the Chasm
  • Product Management
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Managing Board Meetings
  • Legal Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs
Strategic Leadership
Analytical Aptitude
Cross-Functional Execution
Entrepreneurial & Innovative Mindset

*Total academic units subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.

Graduate Bulletin 2024-2025 Graduate Academic Calendar

Executive MBA Immersion Trips

Leavey School of Business Executive MBA students in Sonoma

Regional

Students will participate in a short visit to California’s wine country to learn about sustainability and how business activities can lead to the exhaustion of natural resources. They will learn how leaders’ decisions can meet today’s business needs without endangering the environment of tomorrow.

Leavey School of Business Executive MBA students in front of the White House

National

Program participants will travel to Washington DC to explore current issues in governance, the legal and regulatory environment, and business-government relations. Meeting with regulators, government agencies, and more, participants will learn about how national policy and regulation impacts business and innovation.

Leavey School of Business Executive MBA students on their international immersion to Germany

International

To complete their EMBA experience, students will go abroad to understand global markets and business issues. Sessions will address how to navigate international politics and challenges, while preparing students for diverse business opportunities in product development, innovation, and entrepreneurship growth.

Careers for Executive MBAs

The Graduate Business Career Management (GBCM) team organizes a diverse range of events, workshops, and networking opportunities for graduate students and alumni.

Common Roles

Chief Financial Officer 
Senior Director, Marketing
VP, Operations
VP, Product Development
Chief Executive Officer
VP, Program Delivery
VP, Corporate Development
Example Employers: Apple, Google, Amazon, KPMG, Abbott, VMWare, Cisco

Admissions

Executive MBA

Next Steps

Our admissions team looks for:

  • Bachelor's Degree – All majors accepted
  • Professional Work Experience – 10+ years desired

Join us at one of many admissions events, including information sessions, networking events, webinars, and class visits. Find an upcoming event that fits in your schedule.

We know you have questions! Our admissions team is available for one-on-one phone or virtual appointments.

For your application, you'll need:

  • Application fee
  • Resume/CV
  • Personal statement
  • GMAT/GRE scores or test waiver
  • Official transcripts
  • 2 letters of recommendation
  • Interview (as requested)

Start Your Application

Leavey School of Business graduate students collaborating on campus

Executive MBA Admissions Deadlines

Cost & Financing

Executive MBA Program Costs

The estimated total cost for the Executive MBA program is $123,858 for those students starting in fall of 2024. This includes tuition, books, meals and parking during academic terms, and international in-country travel and accommodations for a mandatory international trip.

Program fees are subject to adjustment annually, and the number of required units may change. Visit the University Financial Aid Office website for more information about the cost of attendance.

Ways to Finance Your Executive MBA

Leavey School of Business graduate at commencement

Scholarships

Merit scholarships are automatically considered at the time of application. The majority of merit awards are given to students with a GRE or GMAT score officially submitted, and to students who apply by priority deadlines. Explore all available graduate business scholarships

Students walking in and out of Lucas Hall

Loans

The University Financial Aid Office can help in locating and applying for federal or private loans. You may visit the staff in Patricia A. and Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building; call (408) 551-1000, or email onestop@scu.edu.

Two people shaking hands over a desk

Employer Support

Some students receive financial assistance from their employers that can help offset the cost of attendance. Check out this article from Indeed for tips on gaining employer support for your journey to an MBA.

Frequently Asked Questions

A traditional Master’s in Business Administration provides a general overview of several areas of business—usually finance, marketing, operations, human resources, and analytics. Students have the option to complete their MBA part-time, online or full-time. This degree is best for working professionals with three or more years of experience who want to gain the knowledge and skills to earn a promotion or make a career pivot.

An Executive MBA, on the other hand, is keenly focused on the challenges and opportunities that exist in executive-level positions. From stakeholder negotiations and high-level business planning, to management skills and delegation, this advanced degree will cement your status in your organization. Better yet, you’ll have the chance to reinvigorate your everyday business strategies and pass on your learnings to others.

If you currently hold a senior position, an Executive MBA will give you the final push you need to reach the top tier. For those who already occupy the C-suite, an EMBA will help you learn and implement modern business technologies, lead from a position of empathy and integrity, and approach your work with a fresh energy and perspective.

The application opens in mid September.

There are no prerequisites for the Executive MBA.

The Executive MBA requires at least 10 years of professional experience. The average is 17 years.

Yes, applicants receive waivers based on their professional work experience and academic background.

Yes. All students who submit their completed application by the designated deadline are reviewed for scholarships when we evaluate their application. No additional paperwork is required for most scholarships. Students who submit after that date may be considered if scholarship funds are still available. Scholarships are merit-based. Learn more about EMBA scholarships.

In addition, the university offers federal and private loans. Domestic students (US citizens and permanent residents) are eligible for both federal and private loans, while international students are only eligible for private loans with or without a creditworthy US cosigner.

Fall Deadline (approximate start date August)

  • April 1st for scholarship priority
  • June 1st final deadline

For the application process, NO. However, you are required to submit an official transcript for each school you attended or an official foreign evaluation (if you have an international bachelor’s degree) before the first quarter begins.

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree from outside of the United States are required to have their official transcripts evaluated, regardless if the transcript is printed in English. (Applicants with a US master’s degree are waived this requirement.) We require a course-by-course, cumulative GPA, and U.S. degree equivalency evaluation. We have several service providers.

Maybe. All international bachelor’s degrees MUST be evaluated (see above) and determined to be equivalent to a US bachelor's degree. Click here to read about the policy for admitting students with a three-year degree.

No, the Executive MBA is not STEM approved.

No, the EMBA program is not open to international students who need an F-1 visa to study in the US.

After an application is submitted, applicants will receive an email with login credentials to access their Application Status page. This page will show the application checklist, any missing materials, and provide the option to upload any additional documents.

Once the application is complete, qualified applicants will receive an invitation to schedule an on-campus or video admission interview. Following the interview, most applicants will receive an admission decision within two weeks after the final admissions interview.

If admitted, students must place a $1500 nonrefundable deposit to hold a seat in the Executive MBA program. This amount will be credited to the first quarter’s tuition.