Which one:USC PART TIME (3 years) or Pepperdine FULL TIME (1.25 years)

Question

I was recently accepted into an accelerated full time 15 month MBA at Pepperdine with a $30,000 scholarship and also accepted to the part time 2.75 year MBA at USC with no scholarship options available. I am sooo torn on which option to go with! USC is ranked top 17 out of 477 schools and is known as one of the best MBA schools in LA with a phenomenal MBA and alumni network, great resources, huge school spirit and average graduating salary of $120,000. Pepperdine is a ranked 83 out of 477 schools and is also a great option with great professors, network, smaller class sizes, good individual help and average graduating salary of $78,000. However, the network at USC has the reputation of being one of the strongest in the US.

Please note I am currently making a career switch after 8 years from HR to Marketing and am also currently unemployed due to COVID. There is no internship opportunity in the accelerated Pepperdine program but I could choose to extend and add an internship if I wanted. There are internship opportunities with USC and my understanding is some help with finding jobs as well. However, I would also have to worry about finding full time work during a pandemic if I choose USC.

Please help!! I just found out last week about USC and need to decide by today or tomorrow the latest. I'm so torn because both are great options and have been so nice to connect with. Most people who live in LA recommend USC and those who live/work outside of LA tend to recommend Pepperdine because it is significantly shorter and also a great program.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

JohnnyBlaze · Answer

Go to USC

Pepperdine has a b-school? No way! You really can't compare the two programs, they are vastly different and will give you very different results. USC is a sold T20 program w/ super loyal alums and a new superstar dean.....Pepperdine has a beach? Malibu? Not sure what Pepperdine will get you that you can't do without an MBA.

MBAVet25 · Answer

USC part time is not the same as the full time program and does not have the same level of prestige or selectivity. Pepperdine might be your best bet since it is full time.

Posted from my mobile device

nightblade354 · Answer

chels1234 , ask yourself what industry you want to work in. Ask yourself which program has a better reputation in that field. Ask yourself what you value most in a B. school program. These answers, and many others, should help sway your decision one way or another. While true that USC is a T-20, it may not carry the weight that you want it to in your career field/geographical location. Really dig in and see if something speaks to you!

Congrats on the acceptances and welcome to the club!

P.S. I added a poll so people can vote on your question.

chaotik1600 · Answer

USC is a no-brainer here. Thinking past the bare minimum of an MBA as a degree, you will have a greater number of opportunities by tenfold at USC. Additionally, once you are connected to the Career Center and the alumni base, you can leverage their full network for a job to balance during the part-time degree.

Given that you want to make a career switch, Pepperdine is really not comparable to USC for the jumping-off point the school can provide. 10 years down the road you'll be happy you chose the undeniably stronger school.

JackPack · Answer

USC is a great school with great MBA program. If you can afford it, it is definitely worth spending 3 years at USC. Also, you can work part time and get work experience simultaneously. You do an MBA degree only once in your life, so you should not make a decision about which you will regret after 20 years.

Which one:USC PART TIME (3 years) or Pepperdine FULL TIME (1.25 years)

Which School should I choose?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards