USC Marshall MBA - Class, Cost, Funding, Curriculum & Salary

USC Marshall ranks #15 according to the 2023 US News MBA Ranking of Best Business Schools. The full-time MBA program contributes considerably to the ranking.

Class Profile

For the Class of 2024, the class size has fallen to 190 compared to the 2023 class size of 218. One striking shift is the international representation, which has surged to 41%, compared to 34% for the 2023 class. Similarly, female presence has grown significantly, now constituting 46% of the class, up from 36%.

Academic prowess remains strong, with an average GMAT of 732 (up from 716) and a newly introduced GRE average of 321. The academic records also display consistency, with an average GPA of 3.58 (slightly higher than 3.57 last year).

In terms of professional experience, the Class of 2024 boasts an impressive 66 months (approximately 5.5 years).

Pre-MBA Industries

Financial Services takes the lead, with 19%. Technology, Healthcare, and Consulting are equally represented in lower double-digit percentages, while Manufacturing and Government/Military are represented above 5%.

Undergraduate Majors

Business and Commerce lead the way at 26%. Engineering and Computer Science closely follow at 25%, Economics at 14%, and Sciences (12%) balance the class both as a STEM (37%), and Business/Economics (40%).

USC Marshall Full-time MBA Fee

For the first year, tuition stands at $72,501, with additional fees for USC Central Services and Health totalling $1,150. MBA Program Fees add another $1,350, while the PRIME Fee, specific to certain students, amounts to $3,850. Books and supplies are estimated at $3,100. When all the cost components are considered, the total cost is $109,261. In the second year, tuition decreases slightly to $67,009, and the PRIME Fee is not applicable, resulting in a reduced total cost of $95,139.

USC Marshall Full-time MBA Scholarships and Financial Aid

USC Marshall MBA offers support for minority ethnicity, veterans, and financially disadvantaged applicants through scholarships and loan programs. The Federal Stafford Loan is the most popular. The USC Tuition Payment plan is another unique initiative where students can pay back the loan in interest free installments, starting with a deposit and four equal installment payments in a term. The corporate tuition reimbursement is a unique 100% tuition free funding offered to USC employees if they decide to pursue an MBA.

      
USC Marshall Full-time MBA Curriculum

USC Marshall Full-time Course Schedule

The core curriculum is structured around building foundation skills in Operations, Accounting, Communication, Corporate Finance, Problem Solving, Marketing, Data Science, and Strategy.      
     

Electives

The Elective Courses at USC Marshall offer students the opportunity to explore 7 specializations. MBA students get the chance to opt for 7.5 units of elective classes in the spring semester of the 1st year. Students can also opt for additional elective courses during summer for the respective internships. In the second year of the MBA program at USC Marshall, students can choose a customized program of their interest and earn 30 remaining electives. The 7 specializations are:

•    Accounting
•    Finance & Business Economics
•    Data Science & Operations
•    Marketing
•    Management and Organizations
•    Business Communication
•    Entrepreneurship

USC Marshall’s Full Time MBA program also offers two featured elective Courses, including Negotiation and Deal Making and second one is the Strategy and Operations through CFO Lens.

Global Experiential Learning

USC Marshall’s full-time MBA program offers global consulting in asset management. There are two parts of Global Experiential Learning - Prime and the APEC Business Advisory Council.

USC Marshall Prime was established in 1997. An integral part of Full-Time MBA experience for more than 20 years, the course orients students to first study a region's cultural, economic, and political facets, after which they will work with multinational companies, domestic enterprises, or governmental institutions. Students can opt for any one of six unique experiences in Southeast Asia.

The other Global Learning Program is the APEC Business Advisory Council, which is for first-year MBA students. This project is highly competitive. Students spend a lot of time outside their regular MBA coursework to gain the research and recommendations for this program.

Experiential Learning Courses

Experiential Learning at USC Marshall is provided through four initiatives – one on managing an investment, the second on social impact, the third around leadership development, and the fourth on research.

• Graduate Student Investment Fund (SIF) Course: SIF is a one-year course that includes 3-unit finance electives in Applied Portfolio Management. It exposes to contemporary investment and portfolio theory. In this course, students learn techniques around fund Management, sector reports, company research reports, investment research reports, and security pitches.

• The MBA Society and Business Fellowship Program is a highly selective program targeted at a small cadre of MBA students with an interest in social IMPACT, with topics covering poverty alleviation, homelessness, education for the underprivileged, and global health initiatives.

• Marshall Leadership Fellows Program (MLFP): MLFP is a one-year leadership development program that includes one-on-one coaching, support for first-year students, and sharing leadership learnings from the Marshall community.

• Independent Projects: Second-year MBA students in good standing who have completed the core curriculum may apply to complete an independent research project. The independent project option allows students to conduct studies in areas of interest that are not covered in other courses. Field Research in Business, Independent Research in Business, Research Practicum in Business, and Consulting Projects in Business are examples of independent projects.

STEM MBA

USC Marshall is also a STEM-certified MBA by mandating the required courses in data-driven decision making, which qualifies international students for the OPT visa extension to 24 months.

Dual Degrees

Full-time MBA students can apply for a dual degree in conjunction with the Marshall MBA. Applicants must apply to both schools individually. Available dual courses for the Marshall MBA program are:

•    Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (J.D./MBA)
•    Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in East Asian Area Studies (MBA/M.A.)
•    Master of Business Administration/Master of Planning (MBA/MPl)
•    Master of Business Administration/Master of Real Estate Development (MBA/MRED)
•    Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Gerontology (MBA/M.S.)
•    Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (MBA/M.S.)
•    Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Medicine (MBA/M.D.)
•    Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Pharmacy (MBA/Pharm.D.)
•    Master of Business Administration/Master of Arts in Jewish Non-profit Management (MBA/M.A.)
•    Master of Business Administration/Master of Social Work (MBA/MSW)

Marshall Certificate Program

Marshall School offers several for-credit certificate programs. Students must apply individually for each certificate course to get enrolled. The available certificate program includes:

•    Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
•    Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation
•    Graduate Certificate in Marketing
•    Graduate Certificate in Optimization and Supply Chain Management
•    Graduate Certificate in Strategy and Management Consulting
•    Graduate Certificate in Sustainability and Business
•    Graduate Certificate in Technology Commercialization

USC Marshall Full-time MBA Application Process

Marshall Full-time, MBA Application process is a cost-free application process where the school tries to seek genuine students irrespective of their ability to pay a fee.

Marshall MBA Full-time admission also doesn’t require a letter of recommendation. However, the applicants must submit scanned copies of the official transcripts. After online submission, you are also required to send the official transcripts via post. Along with the transcripts, the original test scores of the latest GRE or GMAT exam are compulsory.

Students must submit two compulsory essays, one of which must be 100 words and the other must be 600 words. The third essay of 250 words is optional for students, whereby they can provide any additional information that students want to convey to the admission committee.

Requirements of Application Procedure:

•    A completed online application.
•    Four-year undergraduate degree or equivalent degree from an accredited institution.
•    Academic Transcripts.
•    GMAT or GRE scores (except for those who have been granted a test waiver)
•    Two compulsory Essays.
•    A Professional Resume.
•    TOEFL or IELTS scores (for international students)

Essays
Question 1: What is your specific, immediate, short-term career goal upon completion of your MBA? Please include an intended position, function, and industry in your response. (word limit: 100)

Question 2: Please draft a letter that begins with “Dear Admissions Committee” (word limit: 600)

This letter is meant to be your personal statement that provides the Admissions Committee with an understanding of your candidacy for Marshall beyond what is evident in other parts of your application. This essay is purposely open-ended. You are free to express yourself in whatever way you see fit. Our goal is to have an appreciation for and an understanding of each candidate in ways that are not captured by test scores, grades, and resumes.

USC Marshall Full-time MBA Salary by Function

By Function: 2022

Marketing and Sales claimed a significant share, with 29% of graduates securing positions in this domain, boasting an average base salary of $133,208. Finance followed closely, with 28% entering the financial sector, enjoying an average base salary of $153,188. Consulting emerged as another prominent choice, with 25% of graduates opting for this function, commanding an impressive average base salary of $169,211.

8% of alumni pursued roles in Operations and Logistics, earning an average base salary of $133,545, while 5% embarked on Leadership Development roles, which offered a robust average base salary of $156,125.

By Function: 2022 vs. 2021

In 2022, Marketing/Sales maintained its popularity, attracting 29% of graduates, up slightly from 28% in 2021. This function saw a significant increase in average base salary, from $117,980 to $133,208.

Financial Services witnessed notable growth, hiring 28% in 2022 compared to 23% in 2021. Salaries in this sector also saw a substantial increase, climbing from $134,352 to $153,188.

Consulting, which hired 20% in 2021, experienced an uptick to 25% in 2022, with a commendable rise in average base salary from $154,379 to $169,211.
However, there was a decline in hiring for Operations/Logistics, dropping from 12% in 2021 to 8% in 2022, though salaries increased from $123,941 to $133,545.

Likewise, L/D Rotational Programs saw a decline in hiring from 10% to 5%, but salaries grew substantially from $123,363 to $156,125.

USC Marshall Full-time MBA Salary by Industry

By Industry: 2022

Technology emerged as a top choice, with 29% of graduates entering the industry, offering an average base salary of $145,821. Consulting closely followed, employing 21% of Marshall MBA, who earned an impressive average base salary of $169,559. Financial Services accounted for 20% of placements, with an average base salary of $158,600. Entertainment and Interactive Gaming attracted 10%, offering unique opportunities at an average base salary of $119,889. Healthcare and Consumer Packaged Goods sectors also played a significant role, hiring 6% and 5%, respectively, with competitive average base salaries.

By Industry: 2022 vs. 2021

In 2022, the Technology sector has the most appeal, hiring 29% of graduates, just like in 2021. However, there was a substantial increase in the average salary, rising from $127,392 to $145,821, reflecting the sector's continued growth.

Financial Services also retained its hiring percentage at 20%, but there was a notable boost in average salary from $137,917 to $158,600, signifying stronger compensation packages.

Consulting, which employed 18% in 2021, saw a significant uptick to 21% in 2022, with a commendable increase in average salary, rising from $156,778 to $169,559.

Interestingly, the Media/Entertainment/Interactive Gaming sector saw a slight drop in hiring percentage from 13% to 10%, while average salaries rose from $107,171 to $119,889.

Consumer Packaged Goods remained consistent at 5%, but salaries increased from $112,083 to $126,143.

Lastly, Healthcare/Biotech/Pharma hiring went up from 3% in 2021 to 6% in 2022, with salaries slightly decreasing from $122,600 to $112,600.

USC Marshall Full-time MBA– US Placement Data

An impressive 81% of graduates secured positions within California, reflecting the school's strong ties to the region's vibrant job market. The West and Northeast regions also attracted Marshall MBA, with 6% and 7% respectively offering competitive average base salaries of $152,298 and $162,667. In the Southwest, 4% of graduates found opportunities with an average base salary of $137,200.

USC Marshall Full-time MBA–Top Employers

USC Marshall MBA graduates found top employment opportunities across various industries. Amazon, Mattel, and Amgen were key players in the corporate sector. Consulting giants like McKinsey, Deloitte, and EY offered diverse career paths. Tech innovators Apple, Meta, and Cisco Systems provided cutting-edge roles, while finance was represented by firms like Goldman Sachs, PwC, and RBC Capital Markets. Media and entertainment leaders NBCUniversal and Electronic Arts also featured prominently.

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