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# Best Finance 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 8 Finance programs in California by median earnings of Finance graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) leads the list at $118,737, followed by [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) at $109,303 and Menlo College at $103,918.

The median across the listed programs is $98,352, with a spread of $61,419 from the top figure to the lowest of $57,318. For 2 of the 8 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

7 of the 8 schools are private nonprofits, and 1 is public. California State University-Northridge posts the lowest average net price on the page at $7,021, and it also holds the highest admission rate, admitting 93% of applicants.

California State University-Northridge ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

8 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $118,737 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) reports [$118,737 in median earnings](/school/santa-clara-university/outcomes/) for its Finance graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $50,062. |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $109,303 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list and posts a 45% admission rate, the lowest among the 8 programs. |
| 3 | Menlo College · Atherton, CA | $103,918 | $31,100 | $25,546 | 68.5% |
|  | With a cohort of 28 graduates, Menlo College shows median federal debt of $23,250 among Finance completers who borrowed. |
| 4 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $103,605 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
|  | [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/) sits 4th on this page and carries an [average net price of $31,537](/school/university-of-san-francisco/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 5 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $93,099 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
|  | Median earnings of $93,099 four years after completing and a cohort of 204 graduates mark [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/)'s Finance program. |
| 6 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $74,656 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/), a public university in Northridge, [ranks 7th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/california-state-university-northridge/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts median earnings of $74,656 for its Finance graduates four years after completing. |
| 7 | Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA | $66,821 | $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 an average net price of $38,729 across all aid recipients. |
| 8 | Pepperdine University · Malibu, CA | $57,318 | $58,098 | $50,560 | 62.9% |
|  | [Pepperdine University](/school/pepperdine-university/majors/) posts [median earnings of $57,318](/school/pepperdine-university/outcomes/) for its Finance graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 8. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Finance graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figures cover federally aided completers of the Finance program who were working and not enrolled after completing. For 2 of the 8 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 from $57,318 to $118,737 and the median of $98,352 cover the 8 schools with a published figure. Santa Clara University leads Loyola Marymount University by $9,434, and the spread from top to bottom is $61,419.

## 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