Fowler College of Business Administration

What Fowler College of Business Administration does

Fowler College of Business Administration is the business school of San Diego State University (SDSU), operating within the California State University system and serving nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students across its on-campus and online programs. Founded in 1955 and renamed in 2021 following a major naming gift from Greg and Elisabeth Fowler, the college delivers AACSB-accredited bachelor's degrees in Business Administration (with concentrations in Accountancy, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing), graduate degrees including the MBA (full-time, part-time, and Sports MBA variants), specialized MS programs in Accountancy, Finance, Cybersecurity Management, Information Systems, Global Business Development, and Supply Chain Innovation, plus graduate certificate programs and an online BSBA degree completion channel delivered through SDSU Global Campus. The college is structured around five academic departments and 20+ centers and institutes, including the Lavin Entrepreneurship Center, the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence, the AI4Business Lab, the Corporate Governance Institute, the Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate, and the Partrick-Clayes Center for Career Development.

The business model is tuition-driven under standardized California State University pricing, supplemented by a $70 non-refundable Cal State Apply application fee, program-specific fees, donor gifts (the Fowler and Partrick-Clayes gifts being the most notable), and ancillary revenue from corporate partnerships such as the Fastenal-sponsored Undergraduate Sales Competition and consulting engagements (e.g., Taylor Farms). Go-to-market is primarily sales-led through centralized CSU admissions infrastructure (Cal State Apply, Slate supplemental applications, transcript submission, optional GMAT/GRE) with event-driven recruitment (information sessions, career fairs, campus recruiting) and organic social/earned media channels including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Technology infrastructure is described as standard learning management systems with proprietary AI-powered career readiness tools (PitchVantage, Quinncia) deployed via the AI4Business Lab.

Fowler College serves two primary customer segments: individual students (undergraduate and graduate) and corporate employer partners. Corporate employer engagement functions primarily as a placement channel rather than a revenue source — Fortune 500 companies including 3M, Frito-Lay, Qualcomm, and HP recruit Fowler graduates annually, supplemented by nonprofit and startup hiring relationships. The college maintains leadership under Dean Dan Moshavi, supported by associate deans, department chairs, and an expanded development team that includes an Executive Director of Development and multiple Directors focused on fundraising.

Name

Fowler College of Business Administration

Legal name

San Diego State University

Website

https://business.sdsu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Fowler College of Business Administration is the AACSB-accredited business school of San Diego State University, offering undergraduate, graduate (MBA and MS), and certificate business programs to nearly 10,000 students, with corporate employer partnerships supporting graduate placement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Business Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD), Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Business education programs
• Undergraduate business degrees
• Graduate business programs
• AACSB accredited education
• Career development services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate tuition, application fees ($70 for Cal State Apply), and program-specific fees for business education programs including MBA, MS programs, and certificate programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fowler College of Business Administration is a higher education institution within San Diego State University that delivers undergraduate and graduate business degrees, certificate programs, and career development services. It educates nearly 10,000 students through bachelor's programs in Business Administration and master's programs including MBA, MS in Accountancy, Finance, Information Systems, Cybersecurity Management, Global Business Development, Supply Chain Innovation, and Sports MBA. The college also provides experiential learning, recruiting services for employers, and operates specialized centers for AI, entrepreneurship, real estate, and global business.

Product overview

Fowler College of Business Administration at SDSU is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of business education programs. The core offerings include undergraduate bachelor's programs in Business Administration and graduate master's programs (MBA, MS in Accountancy, Finance, Information Systems, Cybersecurity Management, Global Business Development, Supply Chain Innovation, and Sports MBA). These are complemented by specialized programs including the Fowler Scholars elite leadership program, the Partrick-Clayes Center for Career Development, the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence, and the AI4Business Lab providing AI-powered career tools. Certificate programs provide additional credentialing options for graduate students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Business Programs Bachelor's degree programs in Business Administration with specializations in accounting, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing; designed for prospective undergraduate students seeking foundational business education.
• Graduate Business Programs Master's degree programs including MBA (Full-Time, Part-Time), MS in Accountancy, MS in Finance, MS in Information Systems, MS in Cybersecurity Management, MS in Global Business Development, MS in Supply Chain Innovation, and Sports MBA; designed for students pursuing advanced business credentials and career advancement.
• Graduate Certificate Programs Advanced certificate programs for graduate students seeking specialized business credentials in addition to or separate from master's degrees.
• Online Degree Completion (BSBA) Online bachelor's degree completion program for business administration delivered through SDSU Global Campus, designed for working professionals and remote learners seeking to finish their BSBA.
• Sports MBA A specialized MBA program focused on the business of sports, serving students pursuing careers in sports management, athletics administration, and related industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #14 in Entrepreneurship (public) by U.S. News & World Report
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Taylor FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2025Taylor Farms, one of the nation's largest producers of salad kits and produce, partnered with Fowler Scholars program for a six-month marketing research project targeting Gen Z consumers. Students visited headquarters, conducted focus groups, surveys, and sensory panels, delivering a full marketing research report.
• FastenalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 October 2024Fastenal sponsored the inaugural Undergraduate Sales Competition, designing real-world B2B sales scenarios and providing $500 scholarships to winners. Also participated as judge/mentor alongside other companies.
• CintasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Fowler College's inaugural Undergraduate Sales Competition as company representative and judge.
• E. & J. Gallo WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Fowler College's inaugural Undergraduate Sales Competition as company representative and judge.
• Triad Components GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Fowler College's inaugural Undergraduate Sales Competition as company representative and judge.
• Rite-HiteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in Fowler College's inaugural Undergraduate Sales Competition as company representative and judge.
• ProgenesiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotech company founded by MBA alumnus Nabil Arrach, hiring Fowler graduates and SDSU alumni. Progenesis provides genetic testing for IVF patients and has created over 30 positions globally.
• Fortune 500 CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor employers recruiting Fowler graduates annually including companies like 3M, Frito-Lay, Qualcomm, HP, and other Fortune 500 stalwarts for full-time positions and internships.
• Lavin Entrepreneurship CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter at SDSU supporting entrepreneurship education and student ventures through programs, mentorship, and resources.
• Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter supporting international business education and global engagement opportunities for Fowler students.
• James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial IntelligencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI research center providing students access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence education and research opportunities in business applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UCLA Anderson School of Management: Top-ranked California MBA and business school with similar graduate specialization breadth and recruiting base, anchoring the same West Coast business talent market as Fowler.
• University of Washington Foster School of Business: Public West Coast business school with parallel undergraduate and graduate specialization breadth and a similar West Coast employer recruiting footprint.
• USC Marshall School of Business: Major private business school in Los Angeles offering undergraduate, MBA, and specialized master's programs with strong Fortune 500 recruiter pipelines; directly comparable in scale, program mix, and Southern California employer base.
• University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business: Top-tier public business school with comparable program mix (UG, MBA, MS) and rankings profile; comparable scale and emphasis on employer pipeline development.
• Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business: Large public business school with similar scale, broad specialization set, and strong online and graduate programs; a key direct comparable for enrollment, rankings, and tuition positioning.
• San José State University Lucas College of Business: Peer CSU-system business college in Northern California offering AACSB-accredited UG and MBA programs; the closest structural peer in the same state system competing for similar applicant demographics.
• UC San Diego Rady School of Management: San Diego-based business school with comparable graduate and undergraduate programs in the same local market; directly competes for the same San Diego employer partners and student pool.

Broad incumbents

• UC Berkeley Haas School of Business: Premier public California business school; comparable program portfolio (UG, MBA, specialized MS) but at a much higher brand and ranking tier, competing for California-resident applicants and recruiters.

Emerging players

• Hult International Business School: Globally focused business school with a strong online and one-year MBA offering; competes for the same working-professional MBA segment and specialized master's applicants as Fowler's graduate programs.
• Quantic School of Business: Mobile-first, accredited online MBA and business education provider; represents the disruptive low-cost online MBA category that pressures mid-tier Part-Time MBA enrollment and pricing at schools like Fowler.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sdsufowler
• Facebookfacebook.com/sandiegostate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-diego-state-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdsufowler
• Xx.com/sdsu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fowler College of Business Administration