Discover Your Next Step
This will only take a moment.
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.
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 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.
Our curriculum blends team-based collaboration with cutting-edge business practices, preparing students with skills to power dynamic 21st-century careers.
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.
Tap into incredibly strong Leavey and Santa Clara University connections–25,000 and 100,000 alumni respectively. Explore Leavey's alumni network.
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.
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.
Other bootcamps, simulations, and workshops
- Mindfulness in Leadership
- Leading with Improvisation
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Strategic Digital Transformation
- Statistics Bootcamp
- Online Statistics Prep
- Marketing: Brand Simulation
- Marketing: Experiential Corporate Project
- Operations: Root Beer Simulation
- Operations: Little Field Simulation
- Crossing the Chasm
- Product Management
- Emerging Technologies
- Managing Board Meetings
- Legal Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs
*Total academic units subject to change based on annual curriculum review and updates.
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.
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.
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.
Admissions
Next Steps
Admissions Criteria
Our admissions team looks for:
- Bachelor's Degree – All majors accepted
- Professional Work Experience – 10+ years desired
Attend an Admissions Event
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.
Meet with an Advisor
We know you have questions! Our admissions team is available for one-on-one phone or virtual appointments.
Prepare Your Application Materials
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)
Cost & Financing
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, Leavey also offers an Online MBA and Evening MBA program.
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.