Historically based in Angers, it now has campuses in Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Budapest, Malaga, Luxembourg and Shanghai.

The school offers several programmes, including a five-year course (known as the "Grande École" program) delivering a diploma approved by the French state and conferring the degree of master.

Triple accredited (AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS), ESSCA is also a member of the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles.

ESSCA competitive entrance exam takes place after the Baccalauréat, in contrast to some French graduate schools that recruit their students after two years of preparatory classes.

Recognized by the State in 1975, ESSCA was the first school offering direct entry after the baccalaureate to become a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles in 1977.

ESSCA received EPAS[3] accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development on 24 April 2006, becoming the first French graduate school to be awarded this international label.