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$21,127 Avg Student Debt

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for business students. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Also there are many trade schools and bpptcamp that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Business Degree Central has created its <nil> ranking. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.

View our full ranking methodology.

Top Business Graduate Certificate Schools in California

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
$18,093 Avg Student Debt

Our analysis found Santa Clara University to be the best school for business students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in California.

By the time they get their graduate certificate, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,093 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at SCU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 10% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full Santa Clara University Report

#2

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
$61,396 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at University of Southern California helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best business schools in California.

USC does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 82% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on University of Southern California

#3

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California
$19,922 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola Marymount University. It ranked #3 on our list.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Loyola Marymount. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read full report on Loyola Marymount University

#4

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
$19,875 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Golden Gate University - San Francisco helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best business schools in California.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Golden Gate University - San Francisco does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on Golden Gate University - San Francisco

#5

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California
$36,380 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 18 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Claremont Graduate University landed the # 5 spot on the list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Claremont Graduate University. In 2019-2020 about 67% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#6

Brandman University

Irvine, California
$12,720 Average Tuition & Fees

Brandman University ranked #6 on this year’s list.

If you are interested in distance education, Brandman is an excellent choice, since graduate classes are offered online.

Read More…

#7

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, California
$20,600 Average Tuition & Fees

California Lutheran University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the ranking.

Online graduate courses are available at CLU, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.

Full California Lutheran University Report

#8

National University

La Jolla, California

National University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #8 on the list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at National University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 48% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on National University

#9

San Jose State University

San Jose, California
$9,286 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s best schools for business students working on their graduate certificate.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since San Jose State does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on San Jose State University

$8,251 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Channel Islands ranked #10 on this year’s list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CSUCI does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 99% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#11

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
$9,570 Average Tuition & Fees

San Diego State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #11 on the list.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at SDSU. During the 2019-2020 year, about 91% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on San Diego State University

#12

Concordia University, Irvine

Irvine, California

Concordia University, Irvine came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the ranking.

Since the graduate programs at Concordia University, Irvine are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.

Full Concordia University, Irvine Report

#13

DeVry University - California

Pomona, California
$17,552 Average Tuition & Fees

DeVry University - California did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for business students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #13 on the list.

DeVry University - California does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 63% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#14

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
$8,738 Average Tuition & Fees

San Francisco State University ranked #14 on this year’s list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SFSU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 93% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on San Francisco State University

#15

California State University - Northridge

Northridge, California
$8,477 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Northridge landed the #15 spot in the rankings for the best graduate certificate business programs.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at CSUN. In 2019-2020 about 91% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on California State University - Northridge

#16

Northcentral University

San Diego, California
$18,207 Average Tuition & Fees
$22,015 Avg Student Debt

Northcentral University ranked #16 on this year’s list.

Graduate Certificate recipients from Northcentral University accumulate an average of $22,015 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

Interested in an online degree? Then you definitely want to check out Northcentral University. Every graduate student at the school took at least one class online.

Read More…

#17

California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
$8,219 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Los Angeles ranked #17 on this year’s list.

Online graduate courses are available at Cal State LA, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

$8,494 Average Tuition & Fees

California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #18 on this year’s list.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at CSUDH. In fact, around 97% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Report

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 18 schools only.

References

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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