San Francisco Bay University has launched MBA Pro+, a $10,000 online Master of Business Administration program designed to help working professionals develop business, leadership, and artificial intelligence skills for a rapidly changing workforce.
The WASC-accredited nonprofit university developed the program as a flexible and lower-cost alternative to traditional MBA programs. Students can pay for the degree as they progress rather than committing to the full tuition amount upfront.
MBA Pro+ combines self-paced online coursework, one-on-one faculty mentorship and AI-enhanced learning experiences. The program does not simply add AI tools to an existing MBA curriculum. San Francisco Bay University said it redesigned the entire learning experience around the needs of modern working professionals.
The 36-credit program consists of 12 asynchronous courses that students can complete around their careers, families and other responsibilities.
Students will have regular access to faculty mentors as well as 24-hour access to AI-supported learning tools. The program can personalize support based on each student’s abilities, professional objectives, learning preferences and previous experiences.
Personalized assistance will be available in more than 50 languages, expanding access for students from different professional, educational and cultural backgrounds.
The complete MBA costs $10,000 and uses a flexible pay-as-you-go model. San Francisco Bay University positioned the price as a response to growing concerns about the cost and return on investment associated with graduate business education.
According to the GMAC Prospective Students Survey cited by the university, 37% of prospective students consider affordability a priority when choosing an MBA program. Another 37% prioritize return on investment, while 30% focus on career outcomes.
MBA Pro+ is designed around the capabilities that employers frequently identify as difficult to find, including critical thinking, creative problem-solving, communication, adaptability and responsible leadership.
The curriculum aligns its learning activities with 45 employer-demanded competencies intended to support long-term professional development rather than prepare students only for a single position or industry.
The university invested more than 16,000 hours in developing the program. Academic leaders, professors, learning experience designers, industry specialists and AI technologists contributed to its curriculum and learning model.
Faculty and subject-matter experts involved in the program have experience at organizations including OpenAI, Google, IBM, 3M, Boeing, AT&T and Cisco.
At the center of MBA Pro+ is a skill-based learning framework known as Think → Do → Create.
Students first develop an understanding of a business concept, then apply the concept through practical exercises and ultimately create work that demonstrates their ability to use it in a professional setting.
The continuous process incorporates personalized feedback and gives students opportunities to revise and improve their work.
This structure is intended to move students beyond memorizing business terminology or completing conventional assignments. The university wants participants to demonstrate that they can analyze situations, make decisions and solve problems that resemble those encountered in the workplace.
MBA Pro+ will also give students opportunities to participate in immersive simulations, community projects and other applied learning experiences.
Students will develop a portfolio of completed work that can demonstrate their ability to address real business challenges. The portfolio is intended to provide potential employers with evidence of professional capabilities beyond a degree or transcript.
The program is supported by Bayley, San Francisco Bay University’s proprietary, curriculum-aligned AI system.
Bayley uses a Socratic learning approach that guides students through questions, feedback and reflection rather than simply providing answers.
The university said the system is designed to help students analyze problems, examine assumptions and improve their reasoning.
Bayley will be integrated throughout the curriculum to support practice, application and personalized feedback. Students can use it while completing coursework, developing projects and reviewing concepts.
San Francisco Bay University describes the model as co-intelligent learning, combining human judgment and mentorship with the speed and personalization made possible by AI.
The university believes AI can give students more opportunities to practice and receive feedback while allowing faculty members to focus on mentorship, networking, professional guidance and deeper academic engagement.
Faculty will remain responsible for establishing academic standards, determining curriculum requirements and overseeing the educational experience.
The university emphasized that its AI tools are intended to amplify faculty capabilities rather than replace instructors.
Faculty governance will also help ensure that AI-generated interactions remain aligned with course objectives and support student learning.
Beyond using AI as an educational tool, the curriculum will teach students how to apply emerging technologies responsibly within businesses.
Participants will examine ethical considerations and leadership responsibilities associated with AI adoption in the workplace.
These capabilities are intended to prepare graduates to evaluate where AI can create value, understand its limitations and make informed decisions about its use within organizations.
The program reflects San Francisco Bay University’s view that access to information is no longer a sufficient competitive advantage for business professionals.
Generative AI systems can quickly retrieve information, produce written material and assist with analysis. The university believes future business leaders will differentiate themselves through judgment, communication, creativity, professional relationships and the ability to use technology responsibly.
MBA Pro+ is therefore designed to develop both technical fluency and the social and emotional intelligence that automated systems cannot independently replicate.
The online format may appeal to professionals who cannot leave the workforce or relocate to complete a full-time graduate degree.
Because the courses are asynchronous, students can determine when to complete much of their coursework. Regular faculty mentorship provides a human support structure alongside the self-paced content.
San Francisco Bay University also intends for the curriculum to evolve as employer expectations, student needs and technology continue to change.
The adaptive structure allows the university to update learning experiences and incorporate new business practices rather than relying on a static curriculum for an extended period.
Noodle partnered with San Francisco Bay University to bring MBA Pro+ to market.
Noodle founder and CEO John Katzman said the program provides another option for students who may not need or cannot justify the cost of a traditional six-figure MBA.
The university will offer rolling enrollment, enabling students to begin the program at multiple points rather than waiting for a single annual admissions cycle.
The inaugural MBA Pro+ cohort is scheduled to begin on September 1, 2026.
San Francisco Bay University is based in Fremont, California, and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in business, psychology, computer science and engineering.
The university integrates technology, applied learning and personalized support into its academic programs. It also offers scholarships and a streamlined application process intended to reduce traditional barriers to higher education.
San Francisco Bay University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
The launch of MBA Pro+ expands the university’s effort to develop affordable, career-focused degree programs that respond more quickly to changes in technology and the labor market.
KEY QUOTES:
“Business education was built for a different era. Access to information is no longer the competitive advantage. Today’s leaders need to think critically, build professional relationships, solve complex problems and use AI responsibly. MBA Pro+ was designed around those realities from day one.”
Dr. Nick Ladany, President of San Francisco Bay University
“We believe the future of education isn’t artificial intelligence or human intelligence. It’s both working together. By combining AI with human interaction, we’re creating a co-intelligent learning experience that transforms knowledge into employer-valued capabilities while developing the social and emotional intelligence that technology cannot replicate.”
Dr. Heather Herrera, Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at San Francisco Bay University
“It’s time to stop building graduate education around institutions and start building it around our students. MBA Pro+ was designed as an adaptive learning system that continuously evolves to stay ahead of the changing needs of our students, faculty, employers and the industry.”
Dr. Brad Fuster, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs at San Francisco Bay University
“We designed MBA Pro+ to amplify, not replace, the knowledge and skills of faculty. By incorporating AI-enhanced experiences, we’re able to give students more opportunities to apply what they’re learning while allowing SFBU faculty to focus on what we do best: providing the mentorship, networking and guidance to be successful.”
Dr. Johnathan Mun, Professor and Chair of Business at San Francisco Bay University
“The workforce is changing, and this program addresses tomorrow’s skills to create tomorrow’s leaders. The six-figure, ivory tower MBA has its audience and purpose, but there is a larger group of people for whom this is the better option.”
John Katzman, Founder and CEO of Noodle
