The Lucas College and Graduate School of Business is one of San Jose State University's schools and colleges. Lucas College is the largest Business school in Silicon Valley with firms in the area employing more of its graduates than from any other university in the United States. 80% of graduates are employed in the Valley.[3] In 2010, the school appeared in Forbes' ranking of the top 20 "Colleges that will make you rich".[4]
History
The college was founded as the Department of Commerce in 1928, with the mission statement of "[making] this department one which will attract not only those who especially desire business proficiency as a vocational objective but also teachers who have been notably lacking in clerical accuracy and are thereby handicapped when confronted with blanks and schedules for official data".[5] The department was organized by four teachers, led by Elmer H. Staffelbach,[6] and only two areas of study were offered, secretarial training and accountancy.[5]
By 1950, the Department of Commerce had grown to a staff of 40 that supported 7 majors and had a student body of 1,528, nearly a fifth of the entire student body.[6]
In 2006, the school was renamed in honor of Donald Lucas and his wife Sally Lucas.[7] Donald graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing in 1957. Sally graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree in 1959. Donald created the Lucas Dealership Group and the Lucas Trust Ventures, which focused in the business of automobiles and real estate, respectively. Both companies have several locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The college was named after the couple for their generous donation, history of philanthropy, and successful careers in Business and Education.[8]
Academics
The Lucas College and Graduate School of Business serves over 6,000 students (5,923 undergraduate and 405 graduate students), consists of six departments and offers 29 types of degrees (13 undergraduate disciplines, 5 graduate disciplines, 2 academic minors, and 9 academic certificates).[9]
Departments and Concentrations:
Department of Accounting and Finance
Concentrations: Accounting, Finance, Accounting Information Systems, Corporate Accounting and Finance
School of Global Innovation and Leadership
Concentrations: Entrepreneurship, Operations and Supply Chain Management, International Business
Department of Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management
The Lucas College of Business has the same requirements as the whole university. San José State is objective for most applicants, where it primarily decides applicants based on GPA, SAT/ACT, and the rigor of classes taken during one's secondary school. State residency and graduating from a high school in the Santa Clara County are factors as well. Applicants who pose unique, personal circumstances may be given a different outlook on their application if and only if they apply to the Educational Opportunity Program at San José State.[10]
Poets&Quants’ Best Online MBA Programs For 2025; Ranked #34 in the U.S. and #2 among all public universities in California (Poets&Quants).
Fortune’s Best MBA Programs for 2025; Ranked #47 in the U.S., #5 among public universities, and #11 for Best MBA Programs to Study International Business (Fortune Recommends).
#1 Among Public Universities in the Country for Accounting Salaries for Graduates (Wall Street Journal).
#2 Among Public Universities in the Country for Marketing Salaries for Graduates (Wall Street Journal).
The Top Colleges for High-Paying Careers in Finance, Tech and Consulting; among public universities in the nation, SJSU ranks #7 for tech salaries and #20 for management consulting salaries (Wall Street Journal).
The Lucas College and Graduate School of Business ranks in the top 20 among undergraduate business programs in California (US News & World Report).
The Lucas College and Graduate School Online MBA Program Ranks Top 50 Nationally and #2 Among Public Universities in California[11]
