Best Business Programs in California (2026)
A Business degree in California can lead to careers in finance, marketing, operations, consulting, or entrepreneurship. The schools below are ranked by graduate earnings, AACSB accreditation, and net price — because the real ROI varies wildly by school.
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#1
Menlo College
Atherton, CA
Net Price
$32,324/yr
Median Earnings
$76,858
Grad Rate
52%
Business Share
67.9%
#2
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Net Price
$18,832/yr
Median Earnings
$96,304
Grad Rate
86%
Business Share
17.3%
#3
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$50,518/yr
Median Earnings
$86,034
Grad Rate
79%
Business Share
29.5%
#4
Chapman University
Orange, CA
Net Price
$46,708/yr
Median Earnings
$80,694
Grad Rate
82%
Business Share
30.6%
#5
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Net Price
$14,538/yr
Median Earnings
$100,212
Grad Rate
93%
Business Share
3.9%
#6
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA
Net Price
$26,039/yr
Median Earnings
$127,532
Grad Rate
91%
Business Share
5.6%
#7
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
Net Price
$8,509/yr
Median Earnings
$166,642
Grad Rate
92%
Business Share
1.2%
#8
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA
Net Price
$14,794/yr
Median Earnings
$96,197
Grad Rate
86%
Business Share
6.4%
#9
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA
Net Price
$35,567/yr
Median Earnings
$90,053
Grad Rate
75%
Business Share
15.2%
#10
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Net Price
$13,866/yr
Median Earnings
$83,432
Grad Rate
87%
Business Share
11.1%
#11
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
Net Price
$14,659/yr
Median Earnings
$88,581
Grad Rate
93%
Business Share
0.3%
#12
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA
Net Price
$14,318/yr
Median Earnings
$86,999
Grad Rate
86%
Business Share
6.1%
#13
Cal Poly Maritime Academy
Vallejo, CA
Net Price
$17,793/yr
Median Earnings
$105,475
Grad Rate
59%
Business Share
15.9%
#14
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
Net Price
$9,404/yr
Median Earnings
$77,464
Grad Rate
68%
Business Share
24.5%
#15
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA
Net Price
$20,523/yr
Median Earnings
$74,115
Grad Rate
62%
Business Share
30.8%
#16
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA
Net Price
$26,445/yr
Median Earnings
$77,620
Grad Rate
69%
Business Share
19.8%
#17
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Net Price
$5,115/yr
Median Earnings
$69,015
Grad Rate
69%
Business Share
24.0%
#18
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA
Net Price
$12,672/yr
Median Earnings
$72,974
Grad Rate
76%
Business Share
15.7%
#19
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Net Price
$16,807/yr
Median Earnings
$82,568
Grad Rate
83%
Business Share
0.5%
#20
Golden Gate University
San Francisco, CA
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$90,346
Grad Rate
—
Business Share
55.3%
#21
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Net Price
$9,426/yr
Median Earnings
$69,554
Grad Rate
70%
Business Share
16.3%
#22
Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA
Net Price
—
Median Earnings
$75,789
Grad Rate
4%
Business Share
60.0%
#23
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Net Price
$18,549/yr
Median Earnings
$73,362
Grad Rate
74%
Business Share
5.5%
#24
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA
Net Price
$6,858/yr
Median Earnings
$73,868
Grad Rate
48%
Business Share
24.5%
#25
Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA
Net Price
$29,761/yr
Median Earnings
$72,184
Grad Rate
53%
Business Share
21.3%
Why a Business degree?
Business is the most popular bachelor's major in the U.S. (~20% of all degrees), but graduate outcomes vary by 3-4x depending on school. The right school choice matters more here than in almost any other major.
Common career paths: Financial Analyst · Marketing Manager · Management Consultant · Investment Banker · Operations Manager
Typical starting salary range: $55,000–$95,000
Find your best fit, not just the highest rank
Our 2-minute quiz weights cost, earnings, graduation rate, and other priorities to your family — and matches you to schools that actually fit, not just the top of a list.
Take the fit quiz →Other majors in California
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