2023 Most Popular Business Schools in California
A business student has lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
The Most Popular Business Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Business Degree Central has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 303 schools in California to see which ones were the most popular programs for business students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Business Schools in California
Learn more about these popular schools below:
The programs at University of Southern California helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular business schools in California. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4,043 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from USC accumulate an average of $15,661 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $489. During the early years of their career, USC graduates make an average of $65,044 annually. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a large public school situated in Fullerton, California. It awarded 2,804 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from Cal State Fullerton accumulate an average of $17,931 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $191. During the early years of their career, Cal State Fullerton graduates make an average of $47,875 annually. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. This large public school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 2,533 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from SDSU accumulate an average of $18,150 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $251 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SDSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,826 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Business Schools in California list. Located in Northridge, California, the large public school awarded 2,227 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from CSUN accumulate an average of $18,166 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from CSUN, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,924 during the early years of their career. Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on California State University - Northridge
San Jose State University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular business programs. San Jose State University is a large public school located in San Jose, California that handed out 2,214 degrees in 2020-2021.
After graduating from San Jose State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,886 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 48% were women.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Business Schools in California ranking. Cal Poly Pomona is located in Pomona, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,064 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,789 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $171, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Cal Poly Pomona graduates make an average of $45,201 annually. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
Full California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Report
University of California - Irvine landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular business programs. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,025 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,722 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $209. Once they receive their degree, UC Irvine graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $44,120 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Business Schools in California ranking. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,010 degrees to qualified students.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,702 in student loans. During the early years of their career, CSULB graduates make an average of $45,445 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 46% were women.
San Francisco State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #10 on the list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,830 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,529 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $196, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, SFSU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,645 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 47% were women.
University of California - Berkeley landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular business programs. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 1,818 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $15,301 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $323. During the early years of their career, UC Berkeley graduates make an average of $60,587 annually. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #12 on the list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,807 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,277 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $278, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from UCLA, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,838 during the early years of their career. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.
Pasadena City College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. Located in Pasadena, California, the large public school handed out 1,697 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $11,830 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Pasadena City College graduates make an average of $45,432 annually. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
University of California - Davis landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular business programs. University of California - Davis is a large public school located in Davis, California that handed out 1,519 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,449 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $281, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UC Davis graduates make an average of $46,065 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 43% were women.
University of California - Riverside landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular business programs. This large public school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 1,410 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $18,387 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $150 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, UCR graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,967 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #16 on the list. Sacramento, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,402 students in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,924 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $172.After graduating from Sac State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,098 during the early years of their career. Around 45% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on California State University - Sacramento
California State University - East Bay ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. Cal State East Bay is located in Hayward, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,350 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $20,301 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $176. Once they receive their degree, Cal State East Bay graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,422 during the early year of their career. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Pepperdine University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. Pepperdine is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Malibu, California. It awarded 1,257 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $25,930 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $597, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Pepperdine graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $52,133 during the early year of their career. Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for business students. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the large public school handed out 1,213 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,067 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $377, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $54,753 during the early years of their career. Around 42% of those degree recipients were women.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report
University of Phoenix - California ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. UOPX - California is a small private for-profit school situated in Costa Mesa, California. It awarded 1,152 degrees in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $35,636 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $143, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UOPX - California graduates make an average of $49,213 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 30% were women.
With a ranking of #21, California State University - Fresno did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for business students working. This large public school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 1,039 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,360 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Fresno State graduates make an average of $45,058 annually. Around 44% of those degree recipients were women.
East Los Angeles College ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. This large public school is located in Monterey Park, California, and it awarded 1,029 degrees in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from East Los Angeles College accumulate an average of $12,276 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, East Los Angeles College graduates make an average of $35,172 annually. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular business programs. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large public school awarded 1,018 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
On average, students take out $17,712 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Cal State LA graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,734 during the early year of their career. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Coastline Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Business Schools in California ranking. Located in Fountain Valley, California, the medium-sized public school handed out 1,002 degrees in 2020-2021.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,825 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Coastline Community College graduates make an average of $36,233 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 40% were women.
California State University - San Bernardino ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Business Schools in California list. San Bernardino, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 965 students in 2020-2021.
Degree recipients from CSUSB accumulate an average of $18,358 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $137 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from CSUSB, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,226 during the early years of their career. Around 47% of those degree recipients were women.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Business Schools in California
Not only did these schools make the top 45 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Most Popular Business Schools in the Far Western US Region
View Most Popular Business Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular business schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | University of Redlands | Redlands, CA |
| 48 | De Anza College | Cupertino, CA |
| 49 | Northcentral University | San Diego, CA |
| 49 | Sofia University | Palo Alto, CA |
| 51 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 52 | Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa, CA |
| 53 | Saddleback College | Mission Viejo, CA |
| 54 | Irvine Valley College | Irvine, CA |
| 55 | Golden Gate University - San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 56 | California Baptist University | Riverside, CA |
| 57 | Westcliff University | Irvine, CA |
| 58 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA |
| 59 | Grossmont College | El Cajon, CA |
| 60 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
| 61 | California State University - Stanislaus | Turlock, CA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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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