Become the influential leader in business you’re called to be. The Early Career MBA is the ideal degree program for rising professionals with fewer than three years of professional experience. This program is designed to help you develop the expertise, experience and confidence to launch a promising career. The program is designed to be completed in as few as 12–24 months*. 

*12-month completion requires a full-time commitment to the program

With an MBA, you’ll learn to take control of your career by acquiring four important drivers of influential leadership:

• Deep qualitative and quantitative business knowledge
• Wisdom in the face of important decisions
• A powerful personal network
• Inspiration to follow your purpose

Collaborative learning for rising professionals

The Early Career MBA is ideal for recent graduates and those with less work experience. You’ll be able to learn in a supportive, engaging environment as you collaborate and build your network with other emerging professionals.

This program includes 36 core units. The Early Career MBA also contains three (3)  foundational courses that build crucial skills such as team leadership and collaboration, professional communication, and field experience. 

Concentrations to fit your goals

The Master of Business Administration is designed to be flexible and customizable so you can become an effective, well-rounded leader in a wide variety of industries. We also offer four (4) concentrations* so you can pursue your calling:

• MBA, Organizational Leadership
• MBA, Project Management
• MBA, Global Leadership
• MBA, Sport Management

*Nine (9) additional units are required for those pursuing a concentration in Early Career MBA.

Academia to prepare you for success

The Fermanian School of Business MBA program is committed to serving students with the best value in quality, academic rigor, professional support services, and individual attention to support students in meeting their academic and professional goals.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Visit the ACBSP's website for more information.  

Program Start Date:   

• Summer 2025 Quad II — July 7, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad I — September 2, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad II — October 27, 2025
• Spring 2026 Quad I — January 12, 2026
• Spring 2026 Quad II — March 16, 2026

Application Deadline(s):

• Summer 2025 Quad II — June 20, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad I — August 15, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad II — October 10, 2025
• Spring 2026 Quad I — December 12, 2025
• Spring 2026 Quad II — February 27, 2026

All applications submitted after this date will be reviewed based on availability of space.

Start Application

The Selection Process

The educational context at PLNU will challenge you to live a full life that integrates the pursuit of knowledge with beliefs, values, and actions. While honoring diverse perspectives and beliefs, Christian values and principles are woven into the educational experience. We understand your application is not only a reflection of you as a student; it reflects you as a person. At PLNU, we holistically evaluate your academic history, work and life experience, background, and circumstances to determine admission into a graduate program. Your undergraduate GPA is an important piece of your application. However, if you do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0, you may still be eligible for admission based on your application package and the exceptions policy.* Therefore, we strongly encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor, who will advise you regarding your qualifications and provide specific information about the admission-under-exceptions process.

To be admitted into PLNU's MBA program, you must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, as evidenced by an official transcript indicating an undergraduate degree completion.

We encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor if you have any questions about your qualifications or the program in general.

*Exceptions Policy: If you have below a 3.0 GPA in your baccalaureate degree, you will need to speak with your enrollment counselor for more information on the exceptions materials needed for your particular program.

Program Prerequisites

• A completed application for admission to the program

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, as evidenced by official transcripts

• Two (2) references with contact information and relationship to the applicant. 

• Resume

• A personal essay describing the applicant's motivation to earn an MBA and the applicant’s future goals.

• Interview with the Assistant Dean of Graduate Business Education

Application Checklist

Note: The application is completed entirely online with the exception of transcripts, which can be submitted electronically or directly to PLNU, and test scores, which should be submitted electronically.

1. Submit online application for admissions (including $50 non-refundable application fee, which is waived for PLNU alums, current or former military and their dependents, and PLNU employees).
2. Submit official transcripts with proof of earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.* (If you are a PLNU alumnus, please notify your counselor to have your transcripts retrieved. You do not need to request transcripts from the PLNU Office of Records.)
   
   Official transcripts must be sent to:
   Point Loma Nazarene University
   Office of Graduate Admissions
   3900 Lomaland Dr.
   San Diego, CA 92106
   
   Official electronic transcripts must be emailed to:
   gradprocessing@pointloma.edu
   
   *Please note, official transcripts must be sent directly from the regionally accredited institution.
3. Submit personal essay. See the essay prompt for the MBA program in the essay section of the application.

4. Submit a resume/vita.

5. Submit two (2) professional references (name, contact info, and relationship to applicant)

Start Application

State Authorization

In certain states outside California, PLNU is not authorized to enroll students in online courses and/or offer internships. If a student moves to another state after admission to a program or enrollment in an online course, continuation in the program/course will depend on whether PLNU is authorized within that state. Please refer to the State Authorization map to view which states allow online courses and/or internships.

The Fermanian School of Business is committed to serving all MBA students with the best value in quality, academic rigor, professional support services, and individual attention to assist them in meeting their academic and professional goals.

PLNU MBA alumni are working in a wide range of prominent companies throughout San Diego, including:

• Booz Allen Hamilton

• Sempra Energy

• Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Pacifica Companies

• Merrill Lynch

• Bank of the West

• Scripps Health

• Electronic Arts

• Northrop Grumman

• Fastenal

• Cyber

• Wells Fargo

• General Atomics

• San Diego Zoo

• Sharp Healthcare

• Quidel Corporation

• SAIC

• Biota

• Pacira Pharmaceuticals

• Qualcomm

• BioNano Genomics

• Clearfield Sports

• MedImpact

Dean’s Scholarships are available for those who qualify. Please contact your Enrollment Counselor for more details.

For information about the courses required for the Early Career MBA program, view the PLNU Catalog. 

Course Information