One of the biggest investments any business enthusiast can ever make is studying in any of the best schools, universities or colleges in California. Are you a business consultant who wants to improve his/her career prospects? Did you click on the article because you want to confirm if a business consultant needs any formal education or a higher degree?
Let’s say you’ve been wondering about studying business in Florida, but you have no clue about the ideal colleges for such. If you’re in any of the categories described above, then this article is definitely for you. But before you consider these business universities in California, it’s ideal that you know who this article is for.
This article is targeted toward:
- Business enthusiasts who want to walk up the professional ladder.
- Prospective undergraduate business students who want to study in California.
- Management experts seeking a career boost.
- And lastly, business consultants.
In California, there are many schools to study business, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This guide seeks to bring to your fingertips the list of best schools for business in California.
Read Also: 25 Best Schools For Business In The World 2024
Why Should I Study Business Administration in California?
Simply put, business administration is one of the most popular undergraduate majors for college students in California. Following this assertion, many business schools in California have aligned their curriculum to offer the best in that field.
Besides that, a business degree from any of the colleges in California sets you up for better jobs.
What’s the Average First-Year Salary of a Californian Business Graduate Student?
The average first-year salary of a graduate of any California business school will depend on many factors. Such factors include the school of graduation. The business school where an individual graduated from has a lot to do with how much you earn after graduation.
Take a look at our survey report on that in the table;
| Business School | First-year Average Salary |
| UC Berkeley | $76,600 |
| Cal Poly | $59,800 |
| USC | $57,800 |
| USF | $22,456 |
| Pepperdine University | $29,004 |
Following this report, you can see that the business school you attended affects your future earnings. That’s why we recommend you attend the best colleges for business programs if you live in California.
What are the Considerations to Put In Place Before Making A Choice Of Business School?
Before choosing a business institute to attend, you have to consider the following factors;
- SAT Scores
- Graduation rate
- Acceptance rate
- School ranking
- Alumni first-year salary
- School career potential.
- Tuition costs and other fees.
Putting these factors into perspective will help you make the right choice according to your budget. However, you can place your stakes high and secure a scholarship to pay the bills.
What are the 10 Best Business Schools In California?
From research, we have come up with a list of schools that will properly train you for the business world. We base our list on multiple criteria which include tuition, graduation and acceptance rates. Also, we took into perspective the school’s ranking, student surveys, college graduate interviews, and editorial review.
The best Californian business schools include;
#1. University of Southern California
- Tuition: $36,161
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- SAT Scores: 1350-1530
- Alumni start salary: $53,800.
- Location: Los Angeles, California
Have you heard of the World Bachelor of Business degree?
I bet you don’t! Besides a bachelor’s degree program, USC offers the World Bachelor of Business Program. They run this program at the USC campus, Hong Kong University of Science, and Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi.
At the end of this program, participants get 3 degrees from these 3 universities. All business programs at USC focus on collaboration innovation, research, responsibility and reinforcing entrepreneurial attitudes.
#2. University of California – Berkeley
- Tuition: $17,862
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Acceptance Rate: 15%
- SAT Scores: 1350-1520
- Alumni Start Salary: $48,700
- Location: Berkeley, California
Through its Haas School of Business, the University of California gives its students a global outlook on business. Haas School of Business offers her students an out-of-the-box degree that gets them into the business world ASAP.
Here, students learn how to make business decisions in a novel way while maintaining a social conscience. Undergraduate programs available include; accounting and finance, business communications, organizational behaviour, etc.
#3. University of San Francisco
- Tuition: $34,475
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- SAT Scores: 1120-1350
- Alumni Start Salary: $95,000
- Location: San Francisco, California
The University of San Francisco is one of the best schools to do a business undergraduate program in California. According to US News Business programs Rankings, the University of San Fransico is ranked 135-149 in Best Business Schools and #168 in Part-time MBA.
Via its School of Management, this institution trains its students to adapt both in private, public, and non-profit parastatals. This so much agrees with their slogan “From City Hall to Fortune 500 companies to Silicon Valley startups.”
#4. Pepperdine University
- Tuition: $40,941
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Acceptance Rate: 36%
- SAT Scores: 1220-1420
- Alumni Start Salary: $47,800
- Location: Malibu, California
Pepperdine University is one of the universities in California with an unquestionably first-rate undergraduate business program. But the not-so-good news about this university is the limited choice of majors. All you have to choose from is management, accounting, finance or marketing.
On the other hand, the university is a religious school. This allows the students to learn intense commitment to ethical business practices.
#5. Santa Clara University
- Tuition: $41,545
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- SAT Scores: 1270-1440
- Alumni Start Salary: $61,100
- Location: Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara University is a Catholic university that has a school of business called Leavey. Students at Leavey have a variety of business program options to choose from. The major courses include; economics, accounting, finance, accounting information systems, management, management information systems, and marketing.
On the other hand, students can add a minor program such as; business analytics, real estate, and retail management. Another big attraction for Leavey is the business students’ community services.
Also Read: 25 Best Schools For Engineering in the World
#6. Loyola Marymount University
- Tuition: $43,779
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- SAT Scores: 1210-1390
- Alumni Start Salary: –
- Location: Los Angeles, California
Loyola Marymount is also a Catholic university with prowess in business programs. Peculiar to this university is the use of the CBA Advantage app. Undergraduate business students use this app to network and access job applications and internships. Besides that, the university curriculum teaches students on how to manage “people, planet, and profit.”
According to the lastest USNews ranking, Loyola Marymount University is ranked as follows: Entrepreneurship: #12, Marketing: #23, Management: #27, Business Analytics: #34 and Part-time MBA: #63.
#7. University of California – San Diego
- Tuition: $13,452
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- SAT Scores: 1260-1470
- Alumni Start Salary: $43,400
- Location: San Diego, California
Are you looking for a school that will train you on how to integrate business skills into every professional endeavour? Where you need to go is the Rady School of Business.
Rady School of Business offers minor business programs such as accounting, general business, supply chain management and entrepreneurship and innovation. However, major programs are in business psychology or international business. One thing you will get out of the Rady School of Business is refurbished leadership skills.
#8. University of California – Los Angeles
- Tuition: $15,002
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- SAT Scores: 1290-1520
- Alumni Start Salary: $44,500
- Location: Los Angeles, California
UCLA is one of the best business schools in California. Their unique approach and business curriculum that cannot be replicated make them one of the best universities for business in California. The undergraduate program at UCLA prepares students for how to understand and adapt to the world of business. In addition, students are groomed for further MBA studies at UCLA.
#9. University of the Pacific
- Tuition: $47,480
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- SAT Scores: Not required
- Alumni Start Salary: –
- Location: Stockton, California
Once you’ve been admitted to a business degree program at the University of the Pacific, students will have access to manage a $1 million investment fund. Why? That cash is to help students get real-world experience in the stock market.
After this, students are prepared for an MBA program to complement their undergraduate account training. What UOP does is produce certified professional accountants.
#10. Chapman University
- Tuition: $41,463
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- SAT Scores: 1190-1370
- Alumni Start Salary: $43,900
- Location: Orange, California
Get an undergraduate business degree at Chapman if you are looking for a degree that is recognised and accredited. Peculiar to this university is the opportunity to earn either of the following degrees; BS in Accounting, BS in Business Administration, or BA in Economics. Also, there are other minor courses such as business analytics, entrepreneurship, and “humanomics,”
Also Read: 15 Best Schools In Florida For Business 2024
#11. University of California – Irvine
- Tuition: $15,014
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Acceptance Rate: 29%
- SAT Scores: 1190-1410
- Alumni Start Salary: $41,100
- Location: Irvine, California
UG business students at UC Irvine major in 7 business courses in addition to 5 other courses. The university is one of the business universities in California that offers a BA in business administration and a BS in business information systems. Underrepresented students have a high chance of getting admitted to UC Irvine.
#12. Pitzer College
- Tuition: $30,013
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- SAT Scores: 1300-1450
- Alumni Start Salary: –
- Location: Claremont, California
Pitzer is an accredited business college in California. At Pitzer, business students earn degrees from two institutions. First a BA degree in management engineering and a BS degree in engineering from the second institution. Usually, the second institution is the University of South Carolina or Columbia.
According to Niche Ranking of the Best Colleges for Business in America, Pitzer Coller takes the 71st position out of 1,243 schools.
#13. California Polytechnic University (Cal Poly)
- Tuition: $20,036
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- SAT Scores: 1230-1420
- Alumni Start Salary: $52,100
- Location: San Luis Obispo, California
If your line of business program is consumer packaging, then Cal Poly is the ideal business school for you. Cal Poly offers majorly 3 packaging programs that come with degrees in accounting, HR, and real estate finance. This triple degree makes it one of the best business schools in California.
#14. University of California – Davis
- Tuition: $15,724
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- SAT Scores: 1160-1400
- Alumni Start Salary:
- Location: Davis, California
At the University of California-Davis, intending business students can only run a bachelor’s program. Some of the particular minor business programs include; energy efficiency and energy science and technology. On the other hand, it may extend to energy policy, professional writing, and technology management.
#15. National University
- Tuition: $23,232
- Graduation Rate: 13%
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- SAT Scores: Not required
- Alumni Start Salary: –
- Location: San Diego, California
If you want to escape the SAT score requirement then the National University bids you welcome. National University is a top business school in California, the reason that it offers accredited business programs that are recognised anywhere in the world.
Furthermore, you don’t have to go through the rigour of writing an SAT or ACT it is not needed to get admitted into the school.
Read Also: 15 Best Undergraduate Schools For Computer Science 2024
Frequently Asked Questions The Business Schools in California
What are the Best Business Universities in California?
Just like you’ve seen above, there are a lot of options when it comes to schools that offer good business programs in California. However, the top 5 business colleges in California are; the University of Southern California, the University of California, the University of San Francisco, Pepperdine University and Santa Clara University.
What are the Best Undergraduate Business Schools in California?
- Chapman University
- Santa Clara University
- Pepperdine University
- University Of San Diego
- University Of San Francisco
- Loyola Marymount University
- The University Of The Pacific
- University Of Southern California
- The University Of California—Berkeley
- University Of California—Los Angeles
Getting a bachelor’s degree in business will require you to take an undergraduate business program. To effectively do that, you have to attend an undergraduate business school. And for the records, California has tons of them. Some of the best undergraduate business colleges in the USA are in California can be seen above.
What are the Best Graduate Business Schools in California?
- Biola University
- Chapman University
- California State University
- California Baptist University
- Claremont Graduate University
- Loyola Marymount University
- California State University East Bay
- California Polytechnic State University
- The California State Polytechnic University
- The California State University Stanislaus
If you’re seeking an MBA, then an undergraduate school is not what you need. For those who have a bachelor’s degree in business already, up next is to get an MBA. To get an MBA, you may want to study in any of the graduate schools listed above.
Are there Online Business Schools in California?
- Pepperdine University
- University of La Verne
- Golden Gate University
- Azusa Pacific University
- California Baptist University
There are 42 universities offering online business courses in California. Some are community colleges whereas others are affiliate programs.
What’s the Average Cost of an MBA Degree in California?
Graduate schools come at a cost. For an MBA in California, it costs about $51,330. The cheapest MBA program in California costs about $11,310 at the California State University, Northridge. However, the most expensive cost is $116,229 at the University of Southern California.
Read Also: Web Grants for Students: All you need to know
Summary
Now, you’ve come to terms with the best undergraduate and graduate business colleges in California. So, if you want a business degree, check out these universities again and find the one that best suits your professional ambition.
Good luck!!!
