Best Accounting Colleges in California (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Business Colleges in California
This page ranks the 20 Accounting programs in California by the median earnings of Accounting graduates four years after completing. Only schools with a reported Accounting earnings cohort in California appear.
Across the 1 school with a published figure, the median is $91,330. Santa Clara University leads the list at $91,330.
The list is overwhelmingly private: 19 of the 20 schools are private nonprofits, while 1 is public. California State University-Northridge ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the best on this page.
University of Southern California posts the highest six-year completion rate at 92%.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Accounting Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $130,087 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
| Santa Clara University admits 48% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 88%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Finance and Financial Management Services (160 graduates), Marketing (79 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($130,087), Finance and Financial Management Services ($118,737), Marketing ($104,723) | |||||
| 2 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $121,101 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| With an admission rate of 10%, University of Southern California is the most selective school on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 92%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (832 graduates), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (172 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (160 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Real Estate ($143,977), Accounting and Related Services ($121,101), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($109,128) | |||||
| 3 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $111,733 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
| Loyola Marymount University carries an average net price of $48,381 and graduates 79% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (154 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (115 graduates), Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (52 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($111,733), Finance and Financial Management Services ($109,303), Marketing ($82,825) | |||||
| 4 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $109,142 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
| University of San Diego ranks 437th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 84% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Finance and Financial Management Services (204 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (166 graduates), Marketing (116 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($109,142), Finance and Financial Management Services ($93,099), International Business ($85,285) | |||||
| 5 | Saint Mary's College of California · Moraga, CA | $107,570 | $30,378 | $19,462 | 86.5% |
| Saint Mary's College of California admits 87% of applicants and reports an average net price of $30,378. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (148 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($107,570), Business/Commerce, General ($80,262) | |||||
| 6 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $102,147 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
| Chapman University posts a six-year completion rate of 82% and an average net price of $33,559 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (481 graduates), Business/Corporate Communications (113 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (47 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($102,147), Business/Managerial Economics ($84,978), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($84,378) | |||||
| 7 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $95,973 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
| University of San Francisco ranks 328th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 62% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (125 graduates), Marketing (110 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (109 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($104,390), Finance and Financial Management Services ($103,605), Accounting and Related Services ($95,973) | |||||
| 8 | Menlo College · Atherton, CA | $93,619 | $31,100 | $25,546 | 68.5% |
| Menlo College reports a six-year completion rate of 54% and an average net price of $31,100. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (70 graduates), Marketing (29 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($93,619), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($81,996) | |||||
| 9 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $92,329 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| California State University-Northridge holds the lowest average net price on the page at $7,021 and ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (805 graduates), Marketing (389 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (273 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($92,329), Finance and Financial Management Services ($74,656), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,760) | |||||
| 10 | Biola University · La Mirada, CA | $91,330 | $31,495 | $27,144 | 74.4% |
| Biola University reports median earnings of $91,330 for its Accounting graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (106 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (17 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | California Lutheran University · Thousand Oaks, CA | $89,573 | $30,109 | $22,161 | 75.7% |
| California Lutheran University admits 76% of applicants and reports an average net price of $22,161 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (112 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (28 graduates), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (26 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($89,573), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($76,916) | |||||
| 12 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $81,150 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
| An average net price of $26,285 and a six-year completion rate of 62% are reported by California Baptist University. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (160 graduates), Marketing (39 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($81,150), Business/Commerce, General ($68,936), Marketing ($56,350) | |||||
| 13 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $79,833 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
| University of Redlands admits 83% of applicants and reports a six-year completion rate of 67%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (126 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (105 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($85,278), Business/Commerce, General ($85,066), Accounting and Related Services ($79,833) | |||||
| 14 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $77,520 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
| An average net price of $20,151 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with a 63% six-year completion rate at University of La Verne. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (350 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($77,520), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($76,769) | |||||
| 15 | Mount Saint Mary's University · Los Angeles, CA | $74,449 | $21,413 | $23,849 | 73.1% |
| Mount Saint Mary's University, a private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, ranks 187th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (20 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (9 graduates), Marketing (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($63,194) | |||||
| 16 | Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA | $63,749 | $38,729 | $30,999 | 83.7% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University posts a 77% six-year completion rate and an average net price of $38,729. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (115 graduates), Marketing (33 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (28 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $62,508 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
| Pepperdine University has a six-year completion rate of 83% and an admission rate of 63%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (218 graduates), International Business (24 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($91,227) | |||||
| 18 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $60,771 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
| Azusa Pacific University lists an average net price of $15,781 for families earning under $30,000 and admits 88% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (82 graduates), Marketing (25 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($78,900) | |||||
| 19 | La Sierra University · Riverside, CA | $59,153 | $45,566 | $44,988 | 91.5% |
| La Sierra University ranks 1420th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a 60% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (33 graduates), Marketing (31 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (12 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($56,939) | |||||
| 20 | Woodbury University · Burbank, CA | $47,260 | $33,692 | $28,815 | 81.7% |
| Woodbury University admits 82% of applicants and carries an average net price of $33,692. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Accounting and Related Services (13 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (12 graduates), Marketing (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($77,992) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Accounting graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Accounting earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing the program. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or the characteristics of who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. Only 1 of the 20 listed programs has a published earnings figure, so the range and median below cover that single school. With one citable value, the spread from Santa Clara University to the bottom of the list is $0.
Related rankings
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