Compare Evening, Weekend, and Flex MBA Schedule Options

Students within the Evening, Weekend, and Flex MBA programs all earn the same prestigious Berkeley MBA degree. Professors are selected from the same pool as the Full-Time MBA program and students are held to the same academic standards. The biggest difference between the Evening & Weekend MBA program is how and when you choose to take classes.

When you submit your application, you indicate your preference for on-campus Evening, on-campus Weekend, or online Flex. We are generally able to place students in their preferred cohort at their time of application. Core courses are designed to be completed in your originally approved format preference. Cohort change requests are accommodated on a space-available basis and are not guaranteed. Once you complete your first three semesters of core coursework, you can mix and match, choosing to take your electives either online or in person on campus as availability allows.

Yes. Evening and Weekend MBA students can take online electives. Once you complete your first three semesters of core coursework, you can mix and match, choosing to take your electives either online or in person on campus as availability allows. Students typically begin taking electives in their second year, but have the option to take electives in the summer after their first year, following completion of the foundational core curriculum. Elective coursework allows students to tailor their MBA experience based on their interests, career goals, and areas of focus.

Yes. Flex MBA students can opt for a fully online experience or a hybrid of online and in-person classes. You’ll take 13 required core courses online, from wherever is most accessible for you. Then, you can mix and match, choosing to take your electives either online or in person on campus as availability allows.

No matter which MBA schedule option you choose, the program is designed to be a three-year, six-semester (fall and spring) program. Students can accelerate the program by 1 or 2 semesters by taking a heavier load of courses and/or by taking a summer course, and complete the program in two to two and a half years. Once enrolled, students occasionally find they need more time, or even a little less, and can partner with the program office on designing a schedule that meets their needs.

Yes. Flex MBA students are required to attend three immersive weekends:

• WE Launch Evening & Weekend MBA Student Orientation—weekend in July prior to program start date. Your entire class takes flight together at WE Launch, our required student orientation weekend.
• Flex Leadership Communications Course—weekend in spring semester during first year. In this required core course, Flex students explore the vital link between leadership and communication.
• Business Communications in Diverse Work Environments—this is the final core course; Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend in January during second year. This weekend immersion is focused on the Communicating in Diverse Work Environments core course.

Yes. The Evening & Weekend MBA Program uses a per-unit pricing system. For the 2026-27 academic year, each unit is $4,190. There are 42 units required for the degree for an estimated total cost of $175,980. The fee includes the WE Launch and the Mid-Program Academic retreats.

*Note: Fees typically increase each academic year.

Our part-time MBA schedule options allow you to work while pursuing your education and expanding your network. Consider your professional and personal commitments, time availability, proximity to the UC Berkeley campus, and independent learning expectations to evaluate which MBA schedule is best for you.

The Evening MBA option is ideal for those who ...

• are based in the Bay Area
• are able to commute to Berkeley two evenings a week
• value an on-campus and in-person learning environment
• want to join campus clubs and co-curriculars
• want regular in-person interaction while keeping weekends more available

The Weekend MBA option is ideal for those who ...

• are based in the Bay Area, Greater California, or surrounding states
• are able to commute or fly in to Berkeley for all-day Saturday classes
• value an on-campus and in-person learning environment
• want to join campus clubs and co-curriculars
• have weekday work responsibilities that make evening attendance difficult

The Flex MBA option is ideal for those who …

• are based around the US or internationally
• are unable to commute to campus weekly
• are active military members
• travel frequently for work