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# Top Business Administration Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of [Best Business Colleges in California](/rankings/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](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) 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](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/).

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

55 schools in list order

| 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](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/majors/) reports [$144,599 in median earnings](/school/university-of-california-berkeley/outcomes/) 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](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list, with [$110,902 in median earnings](/school/california-polytechnic-state-university-san-luis-obispo/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) [admits 10% of applicants](/school/university-of-southern-california/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $23,250](/school/university-of-san-francisco/cost/) 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](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $58,098](/school/pepperdine-university/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-redlands/majors/) ranks 8th on this list, with [median federal debt of $27,000](/school/university-of-redlands/cost/) among Business Administration and Management completers who borrowed. |
| 9 | Chapman University · Orange, CA | $84,378 | $46,555 | $33,559 | 65.4% |
|  | [Chapman University](/school/chapman-university/majors/) reports [$84,378 in median earnings](/school/chapman-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) [admits 45% of applicants](/school/loyola-marymount-university/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-california-irvine/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $13,000](/school/university-of-california-irvine/cost/) 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](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) reports [$80,632 in median earnings](/school/california-baptist-university/outcomes/) 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%](/school/university-of-san-diego/admissions/), [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/) 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](/school/azusa-pacific-university/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $22,970](/school/azusa-pacific-university/cost/) 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](/school/woodbury-university/majors/) [ranks 961st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/woodbury-university/) 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](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/majors/) posts an [average net price of $9,320](/school/california-state-university-east-bay/cost/) 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](/school/california-lutheran-university/majors/) reports $76,916 for its Business Administration and Management graduates four years after completing and [admits 76% of applicants](/school/california-lutheran-university/admissions/). |
| 19 | University of La Verne · La Verne, CA | $76,769 | $20,161 | $20,151 | 71.2% |
|  | [University of La Verne](/school/university-of-la-verne/majors/) ranks 19th on this list, with [median earnings of $76,769](/school/university-of-la-verne/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-the-pacific/majors/). |
| 21 | Sonoma State University · Rohnert Park, CA | $75,887 | $12,885 | $8,310 | 93.4% |
|  | [Sonoma State University](/school/sonoma-state-university/majors/) [ranks 199th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/sonoma-state-university/) 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](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/majors/) posts an [average net price of $20,555](/school/cal-poly-maritime-academy/cost/) 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](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/majors/) [admits 84% of applicants](/school/point-loma-nazarene-university/admissions/) 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](/school/san-francisco-state-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $73,775](/school/san-francisco-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/california-state-university-chico/majors/) ranks 26th on this list and shows a [median federal debt of $16,750](/school/california-state-university-chico/cost/) 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](/school/california-state-university-monterey-bay/majors/) [admits 97% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-monterey-bay/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-california-riverside/majors/) reports [median earnings of $72,027](/school/university-of-california-riverside/outcomes/) 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](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/majors/) [ranks 6th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-fullerton/) 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](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/majors/) lists [median earnings of $71,183](/school/california-state-university-channel-islands/outcomes/) 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](/school/fresno-pacific-university/majors/), a private nonprofit institution, reports [median earnings of $70,983](/school/fresno-pacific-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/majors/) [ranks 15th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona/) 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](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, [California State University-San Marcos](/school/california-state-university-san-marcos/majors/) 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](/school/san-diego-state-university/majors/) lists [median earnings of $69,902](/school/san-diego-state-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-california-merced/majors/) reports [median earnings of $68,277](/school/university-of-california-merced/outcomes/) 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](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/majors/) reports [median earnings of $67,853](/school/california-state-university-long-beach/outcomes/) 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%](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/admissions/), [California State University-Sacramento](/school/california-state-university-sacramento/majors/) 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](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/) [ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-northridge/) 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](/school/california-state-university-fresno/majors/) reports [median earnings of $64,133](/school/california-state-university-fresno/outcomes/) 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](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/majors/) carries an [average net price of $3,938](/school/california-state-university-stanislaus/cost/) 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](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/majors/) reach $63,662 four years after completing, and the school [admits 93% of applicants](/school/california-state-university-dominguez-hills/admissions/). |
| 45 | Mount Saint Mary's University · Los Angeles, CA | $63,194 | $21,413 | $23,849 | 73.1% |
|  | [Mount Saint Mary's University](/school/mount-saint-marys-university/majors/) shows [median federal debt of $31,250](/school/mount-saint-marys-university/cost/) 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](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/majors/) [admits 62% of applicants](/school/vanguard-university-of-southern-california/admissions/) 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](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/majors/) [ranks 3rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-los-angeles/) 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](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/majors/) reports [median earnings of $61,705](/school/california-state-university-bakersfield/outcomes/) 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%](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/admissions/), [California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt](/school/california-state-polytechnic-university-humboldt/majors/) 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](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/majors/) places 43rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports [median earnings of $56,361](/school/california-state-university-san-bernardino/outcomes/) 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](/school/san-jose-state-university/majors/) lists an [admission rate of 85%](/school/san-jose-state-university/admissions/) 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.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Accounting Colleges in California](/rankings/best-accounting-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in California](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-california/)
-   Accounting Colleges in California for Social Mobility