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# Best Marketing 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 12 Marketing programs in California by median earnings of Marketing graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $104,723 for its Marketing graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed schools, the median figure is $60,362, with a range from $104,723 to $34,348. For 4 of the 12 programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list is overwhelmingly private: 11 of the 12 schools are private nonprofits, while just 1 is public. California State University-Northridge posts the lowest average net price at $7,021, and 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

12 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 | $104,723 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) reports [$104,723 in median earnings](/school/santa-clara-university/outcomes/) for its Marketing graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $50,062. |
| 2 | University of San Francisco · San Francisco, CA | $91,815 | $41,431 | $31,537 | 61.7% |
|  | [University of San Francisco](/school/university-of-san-francisco/majors/) [admits 62% of applicants](/school/university-of-san-francisco/admissions/) and its Marketing completers who borrowed left with a median federal debt of $21,250. |
| 3 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $83,562 | $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/) posts median earnings of $83,562 for its Marketing graduates four years after completing. |
| 4 | Loyola Marymount University · Los Angeles, CA | $82,825 | $48,381 | $32,268 | 45.1% |
|  | [Loyola Marymount University](/school/loyola-marymount-university/majors/) posts an [admission rate of 45%](/school/loyola-marymount-university/admissions/) and an average net price of $32,268 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 5 | Menlo College · Atherton, CA | $74,930 | $31,100 | $25,546 | 68.5% |
|  | Menlo College shows median earnings of $74,930 for its Marketing graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 29 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 6 | California State University-Northridge · Northridge, CA | $64,373 | $7,021 | $4,905 | 93.5% |
|  | [California State University-Northridge](/school/california-state-university-northridge/majors/), a public university, reports [median federal debt of $13,350](/school/california-state-university-northridge/cost/) among Marketing completers who borrowed and an average net price of $7,021. |
| 7 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $56,350 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | An [average net price of $26,285](/school/california-baptist-university/cost/) coincides with an admission rate of 85% at [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/). |
| 8 | La Sierra University · Riverside, CA | $48,040 | $45,566 | $44,988 | 91.5% |
|  | La Sierra University reports an average net price of $44,988 for families earning under $30,000, and its Marketing graduates earned a median of $48,040 four years after completing. |
| 9 | Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego, CA | $46,087 | $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. |
| 10 | Woodbury University · Burbank, CA | $42,682 | $33,692 | $28,815 | 81.7% |
|  | [Woodbury University](/school/woodbury-university/majors/) shows [median earnings of $42,682](/school/woodbury-university/outcomes/) for its Marketing graduates four years after completing, with a cohort of 6 graduates in the earnings cohort. |
| 11 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $39,585 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
|  | [Azusa Pacific University](/school/azusa-pacific-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $15,781](/school/azusa-pacific-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 481st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 12 | Vanguard University of Southern California · Costa Mesa, CA | $34,348 | $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. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Marketing graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 4 of the 12 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. Santa Clara University reports $104,723, which is $12,908 above the $91,815 posted by University of San Francisco. Across the list the spread from Santa Clara University to the lowest figure is $70,375.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Marketing Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-marketing-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Top Marketing Programs in Texas by Earnings](/rankings/best-marketing-programs-in-texas/)
-   [Best Marketing Programs in New York](/rankings/best-marketing-programs-in-new-york/)
-   [Top Marketing Programs in Florida by Earnings](/rankings/best-marketing-programs-in-florida/)
-   [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