<p>CSU is not a bargain if you're paying for it. But the interesting case comes if your employer pays for all of it.</p>
<p>The name of the game is ROI, risk and the risk transferred to your employer. If you have a tuition reimbursement fund of $3k and CSU costs $3k, then your risk of not coming out ahead is nil. The risk is transferred to your employer other than your time studying. The first job or promotion that you can attribute to the MBA will make your ROI positive.</p>
<p>If you go to a daytime top-15 MBA program on your own dime, you have to forego your salary for three years plus tuition and make that all that back plus inflation to break even. Your upside is far higher but you will start 6 feet in the hole and need to climb out. </p>
<p>If your employer thinks an MBA is good, they need to ante up instead of just talk. If you're a career changer or unemployed or can't get your employer to ante up, then I think it's a much bigger gamble with both CSU and top-15.</p>