Hi Janine,
I'll start off by saying that I think you're going about this the right way. If your main reason for getting an MBA is to transition into a certain industry (and even a specific company), then you should absolutely factor that into what MBA programs you target.
The key question is: What companies recruit at the schools you're considering? The easiest way to learn that is by looking at each school's annual employment report (you can access UCLA Anderson's report
here). If the companies you want to join recruit students from those schools, then that's a great sign. If not, then I suggest you keep looking. While it wouldn't be impossible to get into one of those firms from such a school, the burden would entirely be on you -- they won't come looking for you, and they may not be quick to respond if you apply for a job.
You don't need to attend a top-ten MBA program to get into one of those companies, but I do think you'll need to aim higher than U. of Phoenix. If you want to save money, one strategy is to aim for a lower-tier school (such as U. of Wisconsin or Indiana) that is well regarded and manages to place students with CPG firms each year. If your credentials are strong enough, you may be able to get a full (or at least substantial) ride to one of those schools. But, only apply to schools that pass the test I described above.
Good luck!
Scott
