Best colleges for business in California

    University of California-Berkeley ranks first in California for business value (#5 nationally, value score 92.6): graduates earn $144,599 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $14,538 a year.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 50 California colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026

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    Best business colleges in California

    University of California-Berkeley ranks first in California for business value (#5 nationally, value score 92.6): graduates earn $144,599 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $14,538 a year. 50 California colleges qualify. At the median one, business graduates earn $72,605 and the average net price is $18,313 a year.

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025

    What the data shows

    Key findings

    • 50 California colleges qualify. At the median one, business graduates earn $72,605 and the average net price is $18,313 a year.
    • The lowest average net price among them is at California State University-Los Angeles: $2,385 a year.
    Median earnings
    $72,605
    National: $64,860
    Median net price
    $18,313
    National: $19,132
    Median federal debt
    $17,062
    business graduates
    Public colleges
    25 of 50
    in this list

    50 colleges

    The California ranking

    Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    1. Rank in California 1

      University of California-Berkeley

      Berkeley, CA · Public · #5 nationally

      92.6Value
      Earnings
      $144,599
      Net price
      $14,538
      Federal debt
      $10,656
      Graduation rate
      94%
    2. Rank in California 2

      University of California-Irvine

      Irvine, CA · Public · #14 nationally

      87.7Value
      Earnings
      $80,755
      Net price
      $13,866
      Federal debt
      $10,500
      Graduation rate
      87%
    3. Rank in California 3

      California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

      San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · #19 nationally

      86.6Value
      Earnings
      $110,902
      Net price
      $18,832
      Federal debt
      $15,000
      Graduation rate
      87%
    4. Rank in California 4

      California State University-Fullerton

      Fullerton, CA · Public · #30 nationally

      83.5Value
      Earnings
      $71,646
      Net price
      $5,115
      Federal debt
      $12,903
      Graduation rate
      68%
    5. Rank in California 5

      University of California-Riverside

      Riverside, CA · Public · #40 nationally

      81.0Value
      Earnings
      $72,027
      Net price
      $12,672
      Federal debt
      $13,763
      Graduation rate
      75%
    6. Rank in California 6

      Sonoma State University

      Rohnert Park, CA · Public · #41 nationally

      80.8Value
      Earnings
      $75,887
      Net price
      $10,759
      Federal debt
      $14,192
      Graduation rate
      55%
    7. Rank in California 7

      California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

      Pomona, CA · Public · #42 nationally

      80.7Value
      Earnings
      $70,954
      Net price
      $9,404
      Federal debt
      $13,775
      Graduation rate
      68%
    8. Rank in California 8

      California State University-East Bay

      Hayward, CA · Public · #43 nationally

      80.6Value
      Earnings
      $77,567
      Net price
      $6,858
      Federal debt
      $16,500
      Graduation rate
      49%
    9. Rank in California 9

      California State University-Long Beach

      Long Beach, CA · Public · #58 nationally

      78.1Value
      Earnings
      $67,853
      Net price
      $9,426
      Federal debt
      $13,000
      Graduation rate
      70%
    10. Rank in California 10

      California State University-Channel Islands

      Camarillo, CA · Public · #60 nationally

      78.0Value
      Earnings
      $71,183
      Net price
      $8,534
      Federal debt
      $13,000
      Graduation rate
      55%
    11. Rank in California 11

      San Diego State University

      San Diego, CA · Public · #61 nationally

      77.9Value
      Earnings
      $69,902
      Net price
      $13,243
      Federal debt
      $14,946
      Graduation rate
      78%
    12. Rank in California 12

      California State University-Monterey Bay

      Seaside, CA · Public · #68 nationally

      77.5Value
      Earnings
      $72,558
      Net price
      $13,861
      Federal debt
      $11,000
      Graduation rate
      63%
    13. Rank in California 13

      San Francisco State University

      San Francisco, CA · Public · #74 nationally

      76.2Value
      Earnings
      $73,775
      Net price
      $9,803
      Federal debt
      $16,624
      Graduation rate
      50%
    14. Rank in California 14

      California State University-Chico

      Chico, CA · Public · #77 nationally

      76.0Value
      Earnings
      $72,651
      Net price
      $14,157
      Federal debt
      $13,305
      Graduation rate
      60%
    15. Rank in California 15

      California State University-San Marcos

      San Marcos, CA · Public · #84 nationally

      75.4Value
      Earnings
      $70,900
      Net price
      $10,939
      Federal debt
      $14,958
      Graduation rate
      55%
    16. Rank in California 16

      California State University-Northridge

      Northridge, CA · Public · #112 nationally

      72.5Value
      Earnings
      $65,760
      Net price
      $6,346
      Federal debt
      $12,875
      Graduation rate
      57%
    17. Rank in California 17

      California State University-Sacramento

      Sacramento, CA · Public · #120 nationally

      71.9Value
      Earnings
      $67,636
      Net price
      $11,186
      Federal debt
      $13,000
      Graduation rate
      54%
    18. Rank in California 18

      University of San Francisco

      San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · #136 nationally

      69.9Value
      Earnings
      $104,390
      Net price
      $30,496
      Federal debt
      $24,000
      Graduation rate
      66%
    19. Rank in California 19

      California State University Maritime Academy

      Vallejo, CA · Public · #139 nationally

      69.5Value
      Earnings
      $75,574
      Net price
      $17,793
      Federal debt
      $20,500
      Graduation rate
      58%
    20. Rank in California 20

      Dominican University of California

      San Rafael, CA · Private nonprofit · #143 nationally

      69.1Value
      Earnings
      $88,913
      Net price
      $35,567
      Federal debt
      $20,250
      Graduation rate
      73%
    21. Rank in California 21

      Loyola Marymount University

      Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · #145 nationally

      69.0Value
      Earnings
      $82,543
      Net price
      $50,518
      Federal debt
      $15,000
      Graduation rate
      79%
    22. Rank in California 22

      Chapman University

      Orange, CA · Private nonprofit · #150 nationally

      68.7Value
      Earnings
      $84,378
      Net price
      $46,708
      Federal debt
      $19,000
      Graduation rate
      83%
    23. Rank in California 23

      California State University-Fresno

      Fresno, CA · Public · #151 nationally

      68.6Value
      Earnings
      $64,133
      Net price
      $5,418
      Federal debt
      $15,000
      Graduation rate
      58%
    24. Rank in California 24

      University of San Diego

      San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · #162 nationally

      68.0Value
      Earnings
      $79,678
      Net price
      $29,539
      Federal debt
      $19,500
      Graduation rate
      81%
    25. Rank in California 25

      Azusa Pacific University

      Azusa, CA · Private nonprofit · #170 nationally

      67.5Value
      Earnings
      $78,900
      Net price
      $22,597
      Federal debt
      $21,500
      Graduation rate
      63%
    26. Rank in California 26

      Pepperdine University

      Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit · #173 nationally

      67.4Value
      Earnings
      $91,227
      Net price
      $48,065
      Federal debt
      $23,500
      Graduation rate
      78%
    27. Rank in California 27

      University of the Pacific

      Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit · #191 nationally

      66.5Value
      Earnings
      $76,025
      Net price
      $24,186
      Federal debt
      $20,804
      Graduation rate
      73%
    28. Rank in California 28

      California State University-Los Angeles

      Los Angeles, CA · Public · #197 nationally

      66.3Value
      Earnings
      $62,716
      Net price
      $2,385
      Federal debt
      $13,528
      Graduation rate
      55%
    29. Rank in California 29

      California State University-Stanislaus

      Turlock, CA · Public · #200 nationally

      66.1Value
      Earnings
      $63,677
      Net price
      $3,565
      Federal debt
      $14,328
      Graduation rate
      52%
    30. Rank in California 30

      University of La Verne

      La Verne, CA · Private nonprofit · #212 nationally

      65.5Value
      Earnings
      $76,769
      Net price
      $20,523
      Federal debt
      $23,360
      Graduation rate
      61%
    31. Rank in California 31

      California Lutheran University

      Thousand Oaks, CA · Private nonprofit · #221 nationally

      65.1Value
      Earnings
      $76,916
      Net price
      $26,445
      Federal debt
      $20,000
      Graduation rate
      69%
    32. Rank in California 32

      California State University-Dominguez Hills

      Carson, CA · Public · #249 nationally

      62.9Value
      Earnings
      $63,662
      Net price
      $7,244
      Federal debt
      $12,500
      Graduation rate
      42%
    33. Rank in California 33

      Saint Mary's College of California

      Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit · #250 nationally

      62.8Value
      Earnings
      $80,262
      Net price
      $32,200
      Federal debt
      $21,500
      Graduation rate
      67%
    34. Rank in California 34

      California Baptist University

      Riverside, CA · Private nonprofit · #257 nationally

      62.5Value
      Earnings
      $80,632
      Net price
      $24,138
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      60%
    35. Rank in California 35

      California State University-Bakersfield

      Bakersfield, CA · Public · #258 nationally

      62.4Value
      Earnings
      $61,705
      Net price
      $4,001
      Federal debt
      $12,905
      Graduation rate
      48%
    36. Rank in California 36

      Point Loma Nazarene University

      San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · #289 nationally

      60.8Value
      Earnings
      $74,495
      Net price
      $40,555
      Federal debt
      $18,750
      Graduation rate
      77%
    37. Rank in California 37

      Whittier College

      Whittier, CA · Private nonprofit · #328 nationally

      58.6Value
      Earnings
      $73,792
      Net price
      $24,940
      Federal debt
      $20,500
      Graduation rate
      55%
    38. Rank in California 38

      Menlo College

      Atherton, CA · Private nonprofit · #387 nationally

      55.7Value
      Earnings
      $81,996
      Net price
      $32,324
      Federal debt
      $25,000
      Graduation rate
      52%
    39. Rank in California 39

      Fresno Pacific University

      Fresno, CA · Private nonprofit · #394 nationally

      55.4Value
      Earnings
      $70,983
      Net price
      $17,491
      Federal debt
      $24,909
      Graduation rate
      49%
    40. Rank in California 40

      University of Redlands

      Redlands, CA · Private nonprofit · #399 nationally

      55.2Value
      Earnings
      $85,066
      Net price
      $30,924
      Federal debt
      $33,750
      Graduation rate
      65%
    41. Rank in California 41

      California State University-San Bernardino

      San Bernardino, CA · Public · #415 nationally

      53.9Value
      Earnings
      $56,361
      Net price
      $3,946
      Federal debt
      $15,000
      Graduation rate
      53%
    42. Rank in California 42

      National University-California

      La Jolla, CA · Private nonprofit · #465 nationally

      51.0Value
      Earnings
      $78,266
      Net price
      $24,008
      Federal debt
      $28,125
      Graduation rate
      43%
    43. Rank in California 43

      California Polytechnic State University-Humboldt

      Arcata, CA · Public · #545 nationally

      47.2Value
      Earnings
      $60,005
      Net price
      $13,751
      Federal debt
      $17,650
      Graduation rate
      44%
    44. Rank in California 44

      Vanguard University of Southern California

      Costa Mesa, CA · Private nonprofit · #606 nationally

      43.7Value
      Earnings
      $62,957
      Net price
      $23,231
      Federal debt
      $19,250
      Graduation rate
      55%
    45. Rank in California 45

      Concordia University-Irvine

      Irvine, CA · Private nonprofit · #611 nationally

      43.4Value
      Earnings
      $68,635
      Net price
      $29,761
      Federal debt
      $22,250
      Graduation rate
      47%
    46. Rank in California 46

      The Master's University and Seminary

      Santa Clarita, CA · Private nonprofit · #624 nationally

      42.3Value
      Earnings
      $66,165
      Net price
      $33,777
      Federal debt
      $21,500
      Graduation rate
      58%
    47. Rank in California 47

      William Jessup University

      Rocklin, CA · Private nonprofit · #719 nationally

      37.6Value
      Earnings
      $65,031
      Net price
      $26,418
      Federal debt
      $22,802
      Graduation rate
      48%
    48. Rank in California 48

      La Sierra University

      Riverside, CA · Private nonprofit · #768 nationally

      34.7Value
      Earnings
      $56,939
      Net price
      $22,767
      Federal debt
      $17,500
      Graduation rate
      52%
    49. Rank in California 49

      Hope International University-California

      Fullerton, CA · Private nonprofit · #799 nationally

      33.1Value
      Earnings
      $61,912
      Net price
      $31,029
      Federal debt
      $21,001
      Graduation rate
      53%
    50. Rank in California 50

      Simpson University-California

      Redding, CA · Private nonprofit · #820 nationally

      31.6Value
      Earnings
      $58,478
      Net price
      $28,219
      Federal debt
      $14,625
      Graduation rate
      35%

    Method: the same value score as the national business ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.

    Questions about business colleges in California

    What are the best colleges for business in California?

    By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 California colleges for business are University of California-Berkeley (value score 92.6), University of California-Irvine (value score 87.7) and California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (value score 86.6). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.

    Which California college has the highest earnings for business graduates?

    University of California-Berkeley: its business graduates have median earnings of $144,599 4 years after the bachelor's degree.

    What is the most affordable business college in California on this list?

    California State University-Los Angeles has the lowest average net price of the ranked California colleges, $2,385 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.

    How many California colleges are ranked for business?

    50 California colleges have a business bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within California.