Business programs across California's 65 ranked institutions produce graduates with earnings ranging from $47,626 to $109,183 ten years after enrollment. With program outcomes varying from $28,602 to $123,780 depending on institution selection, the $13,833 earnings premium above the national average demonstrates why careful program evaluation matters significantly for career trajectories and long-term financial outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of California-Berkeley, achieving the highest program earnings at $123,780. The top tier includes University Of California-Los Angeles at $92,873 and Santa Clara University at $92,847, demonstrating how elite undergraduate business programs translate directly into exceptional median earnings and management careers that justify their positioning in California's competitive landscape.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Berkeley, CA | $123,780 Median Business Earnings | $5,895 | 11.7% | 92.9% | |
| #2 | Los Angeles, CA | $92,873 Median Business Earnings | $6,864 | 8.7% | 92.7% | |
| #3 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Santa Clara, CA | $92,082 Median Business Earnings | $36,094 | 43.8% | 88.4% |
| #4 | Los Angeles, CA | $87,676 Median Business Earnings | $15,470 | 10.0% | 92.0% | |
| #5 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $86,269 Median Business Earnings | $6,476 | 29.8% | 85.2% | |
| #6 | Santa Barbara, CA | $86,107 Median Business Earnings | $7,745 | 27.8% | 85.3% | |
| #7 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | San Francisco, CA | $85,487 Median Business Earnings | $31,741 | 50.8% | 71.1% |
| #8 | Moraga, CA | $85,156 Median Business Earnings | $17,981 | 88.6% | 69.0% | |
| #9 | San Rafael, CA | $84,698 Median Business Earnings | $45,630 | 95.6% | 76.3% | |
| #10 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | San Diego, CA | $81,361 Median Business Earnings | $17,543 | 46.8% | 81.6% |
| #11 | Belmont, CA | $80,840 Median Business Earnings | — | — | 31.6% | |
| #12 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Orange, CA | $79,071 Median Business Earnings | $37,985 | 55.6% | 80.4% |
| #13 | Westmont CollegePrivate | Santa Barbara, CA | $78,938 Median Business Earnings | $24,220 | 79.9% | 70.1% |
| #14 | Santa Cruz, CA | $78,567 Median Business Earnings | $9,472 | 62.5% | 74.5% | |
| #15 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Malibu, CA | $77,788 Median Business Earnings | $36,463 | 49.9% | 84.7% |
| #16 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | Los Angeles, CA | $74,221 Median Business Earnings | $30,208 | 40.3% | 79.8% |
| #17 | La Jolla, CA | $71,520 Median Business Earnings | $7,487 | 24.5% | 87.6% | |
| #18 | University Of RedlandsPrivate | Redlands, CA | $71,360 Median Business Earnings | $21,520 | 80.9% | 70.7% |
| #19 | University Of The PacificPrivate | Stockton, CA | $71,120 Median Business Earnings | $17,716 | 94.9% | 67.8% |
| #20 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | Rohnert Park, CA | $69,909 Median Business Earnings | $9,406 | 94.7% | 60.5% |
