USC Marshall vs Berkeley Haas
Which MBA program is right for you?
USC Marshall
Berkeley Haas
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | USC Marshall | Berkeley Haas |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking | #17 | #8 |
| Acceptance Rate | 27% | 12% |
| Avg. GMAT | 710 | 726 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.45 | 3.65 |
| Class Size | 240 | 300 |
| Avg. Salary | $155,000 | $175,000 |
| Employment Rate | 91% | 93% |
| Annual Tuition | $66,156 | $68,444 |
The Verdict
Choose USC Marshall if…
you want LA's entertainment and tech market, a larger alumni network in Southern California, and a strong general management program.
Full USC Marshall Profile →Choose Berkeley Haas if…
you want Silicon Valley access, the top MBA for innovation and entrepreneurship, and the prestige of a top-10 program.
Full Berkeley Haas Profile →Why People Compare These Two
Marshall (#17) and Haas (#8) are the two most prominent MBA programs in California. The 9-spot ranking gap favors Haas, but Marshall's LA location provides access to entertainment, consumer tech, and media industries that don't recruit as heavily at Haas. Candidates choosing between them are often deciding between NorCal and SoCal as much as between schools.
Career Markets
Haas's Bay Area location puts you at the doorstep of Google, Apple, Meta, and hundreds of startups. Marshall's LA location provides access to Disney, Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, and the consumer tech companies building in LA (Snap, SpaceX, TikTok). For Silicon Valley tech and VC, Haas wins. For entertainment, media, and LA-based tech, Marshall wins.
The Honest Take
Haas is the higher-ranked program with a stronger national and global brand. Marshall compensates with LA's industry diversity and a larger class that produces a broader alumni network in Southern California. If you want Silicon Valley, go to Haas. If you want LA, go to Marshall. For careers that don't depend on geography, Haas's ranking edge is the tiebreaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haas worth the ranking premium?
For Silicon Valley tech, VC, and startup careers, Haas's brand and Bay Area location are hard to replicate. For LA-based careers, Marshall's local network can match or exceed Haas's reach in Southern California. The premium is worth it for NorCal paths.
Which is better for entertainment?
Marshall in LA. The entertainment industry recruits heavily from USC, and Marshall's proximity to studios, agencies, and production companies is unmatched. Haas has some entertainment connections, but this is Marshall's turf.
Which has the larger alumni network in California?
Marshall's larger class size and USC's massive overall alumni base give it a broader California network. Haas's alumni network is smaller but more concentrated in the Bay Area tech ecosystem. Different geographic strengths.