I think the reputation of Pepperdine is a Google search away from you.<div><br></div><div>Of course, the choice of degree hinges on your goals. USC IBEAR could be an alternative.</div>

My aunt used to be an assistant dean at Pepperdine (not business) so I might be biased.&nbsp; Pepperdine is very well known and respected within LA.&nbsp; Within LA, Pepperdine is probably seen as just a step below USC and probably just as good as any UC (excl. berkeley and UCLA).&nbsp; But once you move further from LA, its reputation drops drastically.&nbsp; It reminds me of another private school (Fordham in NY) where there is a vast difference in perception within and outside the city.&nbsp; &nbsp;<div><br></div><div>If you are thinking of moving abroad, then it makes no difference if you attend Pepperdine or any random school in LA (e.g. Cal State schools) based solely on reputation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

One other thing they have in comon:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/11/the-worst-party-schools-in-the-us/pepperdine-university">https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/11/the-worst-party-schools-in-the-us/pepperdine-university</a>

USC would be a much better option if your sights are set beyond the southland. But in LA - and southern California more broadly - Pepperdine has an excellent network.&nbsp;

It's really too bad that UCLA doesn't offer a 12 month option.&nbsp;<br><br>I have looked into the USC IBEAR program and it honestly looks really interesting. However, what makes me a bit weary is that their class profile says that the average number of years of work experience is 12. With only 5 years of overall work experience I am much closer to the Pepperdine class average (3 years) than 12 years. The cost of the program is also a bit of a deterrent, although I could stomach it.&nbsp;

[quote]It's really too bad that UCLA doesn't offer a 12 month option.&nbsp;&nbsp;[/quote]<br>It is, but with the bevy of 1-year options in the region, it's not really that much of a shame.<br><br>The IBEAR MBA program page says that their participants have "anywhere from 6 to 25 years of work experience," which is quite a wide range. Although you are certainly at the bottom of that range, I do think it's worth reaching out to them, especially if your work experience shows strong career growth (and perhaps if you think you can outscore the median GMAT, which is 630.)