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 | $144,599 Median Business Earnings | $5,311 | 11.0% | 92.8% | |
| #2 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Santa Clara, CA | $114,994 Median Business Earnings | $22,985 | 48.0% | 87.9% |
| #3 | Los Angeles, CA | $112,366 Median Business Earnings | $13,516 | 9.8% | 91.8% | |
| #4 | San Luis Obispo, CA | $111,945 Median Business Earnings | $7,529 | 31.3% | 86.4% | |
| #5 | Santa Barbara, CA | $96,078 Median Business Earnings | $9,231 | 33.0% | 83.0% | |
| #6 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | San Francisco, CA | $92,241 Median Business Earnings | $31,537 | 61.7% | 70.1% |
| #7 | Golden Gate UniversityPrivate | San Francisco, CA | $91,369 Median Business Earnings | — | — | — |
| #8 | Biola UniversityPrivate | La Mirada, CA | $91,330 Median Business Earnings | $27,144 | 74.4% | 67.6% |
| #9 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | Los Angeles, CA | $91,274 Median Business Earnings | $32,268 | 45.1% | 78.9% |
| #10 | Pitzer CollegePrivate | Claremont, CA | $89,636 Median Business Earnings | $14,535 | 25.2% | 83.4% |
| #11 | La Jolla, CA | $89,451 Median Business Earnings | $7,525 | 26.7% | 86.1% | |
| #12 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Malibu, CA | $89,426 Median Business Earnings | $50,560 | 62.9% | 83.4% |
| #13 | San Rafael, CA | $88,913 Median Business Earnings | $24,572 | 83.5% | 78.0% | |
| #14 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | San Diego, CA | $86,973 Median Business Earnings | $15,586 | 52.4% | 83.7% |
| #15 | Menlo CollegePrivate | Atherton, CA | $86,456 Median Business Earnings | $25,546 | 68.5% | 53.5% |
| #16 | Davis, CA | $86,155 Median Business Earnings | $9,211 | 41.8% | 85.7% | |
| #17 | University Of RedlandsPrivate | Redlands, CA | $84,817 Median Business Earnings | $28,287 | 82.7% | 67.3% |
| #18 | Westmont CollegePrivate | Santa Barbara, CA | $84,815 Median Business Earnings | $20,899 | 77.0% | 70.3% |
| #19 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Orange, CA | $84,324 Median Business Earnings | $33,559 | 65.4% | 81.9% |
| #20 | Belmont, CA | $83,441 Median Business Earnings | — | — | 6.7% |
