GradROI
ROI Comparison · 2026

Berkeley Haas vs UCLA Anderson

Haas and Anderson are both UC-system MBAs but with very different profiles. Haas (Berkeley) is smaller, top-10, and deep in tech + sustainability. Anderson (UCLA) is bigger, top-15, and industry-diverse with strong entertainment + Pacific Rim placement. Tuition is similar (~$73k in-state) making both public-school values.

Head-to-Head: Key Metrics

MetricBerkeley HaasUCLA Anderson
Tuition (per year)$73,300$73,200Better
Median Starting Salary$170,000Better$160,000
10-Year Net ROI (est.)$410,000Better$360,000
Acceptance Rate17.6%31.0%Better
Duration2 years2 years
US News Ranking#7Better#15

Green highlight = better on that metric. Tuition: lower is better. Salary/ROI: higher is better. Acceptance: higher = easier to get in. Duration: shorter = less opportunity cost.

Who Should Choose Which?

Tech / PM career switcher

→ Berkeley Haas: Haas's Bay Area proximity + FAANG recruiting pipeline is stronger than LA-based Anderson.

Entertainment / media industry MBA

→ UCLA Anderson: UCLA Anderson's LA + Hollywood alumni network is unmatched in any MBA program.

Sustainability / impact investing focused

→ Berkeley Haas: Haas's Center for Responsible Business is the deepest sustainability concentration in US top-10.

Strengths & Trade-offs

Berkeley Haas

Bay Area two-year MBA with strongest sustainability + clean-tech focus; tight cohort (~280) + UC Berkeley cross-reg.

Strengths

  • Bay Area location — direct pipeline to FAANG + VC ecosystem
  • Sustainability + impact investing concentration is deepest in US top-10
  • Cross-reg with UC Berkeley (Engineering, Data Science)

Trade-offs

  • Bay Area living costs push all-in 2-yr cost above $270k
  • Smaller class size means fewer niche electives
  • Public-school salary cap on some faculty impacts recruiting
UCLA Anderson

Two-year West Coast MBA with entertainment + media industry depth and strong Pacific Rim recruiting.

Strengths

  • Strongest entertainment + media industry MBA pipeline (LA proximity)
  • Top-3 for Pacific Rim / Asia-Pacific recruiting
  • Mid-tier cost of attendance — public school pricing

Trade-offs

  • LA traffic + housing costs a real tax on student life
  • Outside entertainment, recruiting pipeline is thinner than Haas
  • Out-of-state residency tuition gap is narrow (+$5-7k) — not a huge saver

Frequently Asked Questions

Starting salary comparison?

Haas Class of 2024 median base was ~$170,000; Anderson was ~$160,000. Haas's tech + finance mix pulls it higher.

Which is more selective?

Haas admits ~17.6%; Anderson admits ~31%. Haas is significantly more selective.

Tuition comparison?

Haas in-state is $73,300/year ($80k oos); Anderson in-state is $73,200/year. Nearly identical pricing, but California-resident math matters.

How much does LA vs Bay Area living cost?

Bay Area ~$55-75k/year; LA ~$45-60k/year. Bay Area is 15-25% more expensive all-in.

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