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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 Master's Degree Schools in California

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
$55,011 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best school for business students who want to pursue a master’s degree in California.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Stanford. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 10% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
$13,036 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent master’s degree programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best business schools in California.

Online graduate courses are available at UCLA, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 79% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of California - Los Angeles

#3

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
$14,160 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 75 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the # 3 spot on the list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UC Berkeley. In fact, around 90% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read full report on University of California - Berkeley

#4

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Santa Clara University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since SCU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 10% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#5

University of Southern California

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

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #5 on our list.

USC does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. 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

#6

University of California - Davis

Davis, California
$13,608 Average Tuition & Fees

University of California - Davis ranked #6 on this year’s list.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at UC Davis. In fact, around 52% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#7

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
$27,250 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #7, University of San Francisco did quite well on this year’s best schools for business students working on their master’s degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since USFCA does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read full report on University of San Francisco

California State University Maritime Academy came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the ranking.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Cal Maritime. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 53% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on California State University Maritime Academy

#9

University of California - Irvine

Irvine, California
$13,356 Average Tuition & Fees

University of California - Irvine came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the ranking.

UC Irvine does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In 2019-2020 about 95% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#10

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California
$37,420 Average Tuition & Fees

Pepperdine University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for business students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list.

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

Full Pepperdine University Report

#11

Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, California

Saint Mary’s College of California came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the ranking.

Read full report on Saint Mary’s College of California

#12

University of California - San Diego

La Jolla, California
$13,564 Average Tuition & Fees

University of California - San Diego landed the #12 spot in the rankings for the best master’s degree business programs.

UCSD does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 65% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#13

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California
$28,496 Average Tuition & Fees

Academy of Art University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for business students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list.

One thing to take note of is that Academy of Art University does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 81% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

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$11,629 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #14, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well on this year’s best schools for business students working on their master’s degree.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 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 95% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

#15

Loyola Marymount University

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

Loyola Marymount University landed the #15 spot in the rankings for the best master’s degree business programs.

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

#16

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
$13,581 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on this year’s best schools for business students working on their master’s degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UCSB does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Report

#17

University of San Diego

San Diego, California
$28,410 Average Tuition & Fees

University of San Diego did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for business students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list.

You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at USD. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 24% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#18

Golden Gate University - San Francisco

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

Golden Gate University - San Francisco came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the ranking.

One thing to take note of is that Golden Gate University - San Francisco does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In fact, around 58% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Full Golden Gate University - San Francisco Report

#19

Claremont Graduate University

Claremont, California
$36,380 Average Tuition & Fees

Claremont Graduate University landed the #19 spot in the rankings for the best master’s degree business programs.

Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Claremont Graduate University. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 67% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Full Claremont Graduate University Report

#20

California Lutheran University

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

California Lutheran University ranked #20 on this year’s list.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since CLU does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on California Lutheran University

#21

University of Redlands

Redlands, California
$23,532 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Redlands ranked #21 on this year’s list.

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

Full University of Redlands Report

#22

Chapman University

Orange, California

Chapman University landed the #22 spot in the rankings for the best master’s degree business programs.

One thing to take note of is that Chapman does offer online graduate classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 51% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#23

William Jessup University

Rocklin, California
$14,527 Average Tuition & Fees

William Jessup University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the ranking.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since William Jessup University does offer online graduate classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 17% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read full report on William Jessup University

#24

San Jose State University

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

San Jose State University landed the #24 spot in the rankings for the best master’s degree business programs.

Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at San Jose State. In 2019-2020 about 94% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full San Jose State University Report

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 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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