Top Business Administration Programs in California (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Business Colleges in California
This page ranks the 55 Business Administration and Management programs in California by the median earnings of Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. University of California-Berkeley leads the list with median earnings of $144,599 four years after completing, a gap of $33,697 ahead of second-ranked California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $72,027, with a range from $144,599 to $48,432.
The list is split almost evenly between 27 public and 28 private nonprofit institutions. California State University-Los Angeles ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, while San Diego Christian College posts the lowest average net price at $992.
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has the highest admission rate at 98%.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $144,599 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley reports $144,599 in median earnings of Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $13,481. | |||||
| 2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo, CA | $110,902 | $16,665 | $7,529 | 31.3% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ranks 2nd on this list, with $110,902 in median earnings for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $109,128 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
| A private nonprofit university in Los Angeles, University of Southern California admits 10% of applicants and posts median earnings of $109,128 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 4 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $104,390 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
| University of San Francisco shows median federal debt of $23,250 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $104,390 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | Golden Gate University · San Francisco, CA | $91,369 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Golden Gate University ranks 5th on this list and reports $91,369 in median earnings for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 6 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $91,227 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
| Pepperdine University carries an average net price of $58,098 and median earnings of $91,227 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 7 | Dominican University of California · San Rafael, CA | $88,913 | $35,333 | $24,572 | 83.5% |
| Dominican University of California admits 84% of applicants and reports $88,913 in median earnings for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | University of Redlands · Redlands, CA | $85,278 | $30,031 | $28,287 | 82.7% |
| University of Redlands ranks 8th on this list, with median federal debt of $27,000 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 9 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $84,378 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
| Chapman University reports $84,378 in median earnings for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $46,555. | |||||
| 10 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $82,543 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
| Loyola Marymount University admits 45% of applicants and posts median earnings of $82,543 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 11 | Menlo College · Atherton, CA | $81,996 | $31,100 | $25,546 | 68.5% |
| Menlo College ranks 11th on this list, with $81,996 in median earnings for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 12 | University of California-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $80,755 | $14,251 | $8,123 | 28.6% |
| University of California-Irvine shows median federal debt of $13,000 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed and an average net price of $14,251. | |||||
| 13 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $80,632 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
| California Baptist University reports $80,632 in median earnings for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $26,285. | |||||
| 14 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $79,678 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
| With an admission rate of 52%, University of San Diego ranks 14th on this list and posts $79,678 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 15 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $78,900 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
| Azusa Pacific University shows median federal debt of $22,970 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $78,900 four years after completing. | |||||
| 16 | Woodbury University · Burbank, CA | $77,992 | $33,692 | $28,815 | 81.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Burbank, Woodbury University ranks 961st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports $77,992 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 17 | California State University-East Bay · Hayward, CA | $77,567 | $9,320 | $6,360 | 97.4% |
| California State University-East Bay posts an average net price of $9,320 and median earnings of $77,567 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing, with 800 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 18 | California Lutheran University · Thousand Oaks, CA | $76,916 | $30,109 | $22,161 | 75.7% |
| Ranking 18th on this list, California Lutheran University reports $76,916 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and admits 76% of applicants. | |||||
| 19 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $76,769 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
| University of La Verne ranks 19th on this list, with median earnings of $76,769 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $20,161. | |||||
| 20 | University of the Pacific · Stockton, CA | $76,025 | $25,447 | $17,004 | 71.3% |
| Median federal debt of $19,500 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed coincides with earnings of $76,025 four years after completing at University of the Pacific. | |||||
| 21 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $75,887 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
| Sonoma State University ranks 199th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Business Administration and Management graduates earn a median of $75,887 four years after completing. | |||||
| 22 | Cal Poly Maritime Academy · Vallejo, CA | $75,574 | $20,555 | $13,552 | 95.0% |
| Cal Poly Maritime Academy posts an average net price of $20,555 and median earnings of $75,574 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 23 | Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA | $74,495 | $38,729 | $30,999 | 83.7% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University admits 84% of applicants and reports median federal debt of $18,750 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $74,495 four years after completing. | |||||
| 24 | Whittier College · Whittier, CA | $73,792 | $25,757 | $21,718 | 80.8% |
| Whittier College ranks 24th on this list, with median earnings of $73,792 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $25,757. | |||||
| 25 | San Francisco State University · San Francisco, CA | $73,775 | $12,278 | $9,341 | 96.4% |
| San Francisco State University reports median earnings of $73,775 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,278. | |||||
| 26 | California State University-Chico · Chico, CA | $72,651 | $14,480 | $9,902 | 92.7% |
| With a cohort of 585 graduates, California State University-Chico ranks 26th on this list and shows a median federal debt of $16,750 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 27 | California State University-Monterey Bay · Seaside, CA | $72,558 | $13,663 | $9,970 | 97.4% |
| California State University-Monterey Bay admits 97% of applicants and posts median earnings of $72,558 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 28 | University of California-Riverside · Riverside, CA | $72,027 | $14,304 | $8,852 | 76.4% |
| 28th on this list, University of California-Riverside reports median earnings of $72,027 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 29 | California State University-Fullerton · Fullerton, CA | $71,646 | $6,555 | $3,315 | 90.5% |
| California State University-Fullerton ranks 6th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $71,646 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 30 | California State University-Channel Islands · Camarillo, CA | $71,183 | $9,849 | $6,857 | 94.8% |
| A public university in Camarillo, California State University-Channel Islands lists median earnings of $71,183 and a median federal debt of $15,000 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 31 | Fresno Pacific University · Fresno, CA | $70,983 | $13,630 | $11,133 | 64.1% |
| Fresno Pacific University, a private nonprofit institution, reports median earnings of $70,983 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 64%. | |||||
| 32 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona · Pomona, CA | $70,954 | $11,531 | $7,851 | 75.2% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona ranks 15th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $70,954 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 33 | California State University-San Marcos · San Marcos, CA | $70,900 | $10,229 | $6,230 | 95.1% |
| With an average net price of $6,230 for families earning under $30,000, California State University-San Marcos reports median earnings of $70,900 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 34 | San Diego State University · San Diego, CA | $69,902 | $15,364 | $9,910 | 36.2% |
| San Diego State University lists median earnings of $69,902 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and a median federal debt of $15,000 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 35 | Concordia University-Irvine · Irvine, CA | $68,635 | $28,115 | $25,431 | 66.0% |
| Concordia University-Irvine reports median earnings of $68,635 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $28,115. | |||||
| 36 | University of California-Merced · Merced, CA | $68,277 | $11,983 | $7,945 | 90.5% |
| A public university in Merced, University of California-Merced reports median earnings of $68,277 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 37 | California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, CA | $67,853 | $10,440 | $7,183 | 46.3% |
| California State University-Long Beach reports median earnings of $67,853 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,440. | |||||
| 38 | California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA | $67,636 | $9,338 | $6,501 | 94.0% |
| With an admission rate of 94%, California State University-Sacramento shows median earnings of $67,636 for its Business Administration and Management completers four years after graduating. | |||||
| 39 | The Master's University and Seminary · Santa Clarita, CA | $66,165 | $32,647 | $24,624 | 84.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Santa Clarita, The Master's University and Seminary shows median federal debt of $19,500 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 40 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $65,760 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
| California State University-Northridge ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $65,760 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 41 | William Jessup University · Rocklin, CA | $65,031 | $28,062 | $23,123 | 93.3% |
| William Jessup University has an average net price of $28,062 and its Business Administration and Management graduates earn a median of $65,031 four years after completing. | |||||
| 42 | California State University-Fresno · Fresno, CA | $64,133 | $7,000 | $5,105 | 95.3% |
| With 655 graduates in the earnings cohort, California State University-Fresno reports median earnings of $64,133 for its Business Administration and Management completers four years after graduating. | |||||
| 43 | California State University-Stanislaus · Turlock, CA | $63,677 | $6,067 | $3,938 | 98.1% |
| California State University-Stanislaus carries an average net price of $3,938 for families earning under $30,000 and its Business Administration and Management graduates earn a median of $63,677 four years after completing. | |||||
| 44 | California State University-Dominguez Hills · Carson, CA | $63,662 | $8,615 | $7,303 | 93.3% |
| Median earnings for Business Administration and Management graduates at California State University-Dominguez Hills reach $63,662 four years after completing, and the school admits 93% of applicants. | |||||
| 45 | Mount Saint Mary's University · Los Angeles, CA | $63,194 | $21,413 | $23,849 | 73.1% |
| Mount Saint Mary's University shows median federal debt of $31,250 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $63,194 four years after graduating. | |||||
| 46 | Vanguard University of Southern California · Costa Mesa, CA | $62,957 | $21,241 | $17,225 | 62.4% |
| Vanguard University of Southern California admits 62% of applicants and reports an average net price of $21,241. | |||||
| 47 | California State University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA | $62,716 | $3,967 | $2,877 | 91.3% |
| California State University-Los Angeles ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and its Business Administration and Management graduates earn a median of $62,716 four years after completing. | |||||
| 48 | Hope International University · Fullerton, CA | $61,912 | $29,310 | $27,991 | 33.0% |
| Hope International University reports median earnings of $61,912 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing, with 38 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 49 | California State University-Bakersfield · Bakersfield, CA | $61,705 | $5,652 | $3,536 | 93.9% |
| California State University-Bakersfield reports median earnings of $61,705 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $5,652. | |||||
| 50 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt · Arcata, CA | $60,005 | $13,171 | $8,483 | 98.2% |
| With an admission rate of 98%, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt shows median federal debt of $15,448 among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 51 | San Diego Christian College · Santee, CA | $59,489 | $992 | $992 | 30.8% |
| A private nonprofit institution, San Diego Christian College carries an average net price of $992 and a median of $24,941 in federal debt across all of its borrowers who completed. | |||||
| 52 | Simpson University · Redding, CA | $58,478 | $27,817 | $25,511 | 86.0% |
| Simpson University ranks 52nd on this list, with median earnings of $58,478 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 53 | La Sierra University · Riverside, CA | $56,939 | $45,566 | $44,988 | 91.5% |
| La Sierra University shows an average net price of $45,566 and a median of $26,000 in federal debt among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. | |||||
| 54 | California State University-San Bernardino · San Bernardino, CA | $56,361 | $4,564 | $2,681 | 93.7% |
| California State University-San Bernardino places 43rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $56,361 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 55 | San Jose State University · San Jose, CA | $48,432 | $13,760 | $9,730 | 84.6% |
| San Jose State University lists an admission rate of 85% and an average net price of $9,730 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Risk Management graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after graduation. For 1 of the 55 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 55 schools with a published figure. The gap between first-ranked University of California-Berkeley and second-ranked California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $33,697.
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