Best Business Administration, Management and Operations Schools in California

California has 64 colleges offering Business Administration, Management and Operations programs tracked by the College Scorecard, producing 31,468 recent graduates. Graduates in California earn $46,631 on average within two years — 10% above the national average of $42,386, making the state one of the stronger markets for this field.

School choice matters significantly: University of California-Berkeley graduates earn $81,456 while University of Antelope Valley graduates earn $23,649 — a $57,807 gap. Research each program's curriculum, employer connections, and career services before deciding.

64
Schools in CA
$46,631
CA Avg. Earnings
$42,386
National Avg.
1179
Schools Nationally

Public vs Private: Business Administration, Management and Operations in California

Public Schools (28)
$46,164
avg. 2yr earnings
Private Schools (29)
$47,108
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $944 more in early earnings on average, but typically cost more. Compare net price to determine which offers better ROI.

Business Administration, Management and Operations Schools in California, Ranked by Earnings

#1
U

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$81,456
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $74,034
Graduates: 224
Acceptance: 11.7%
#2
G

Golden Gate University

San Francisco, CA · Private

$66,941
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $67,879
Graduates: 91
Acceptance: N/A
#3
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$64,328
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $63,640
Graduates: 241
Acceptance: 29.8%
#4
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$61,303
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $62,573
Graduates: 639
Acceptance: 10.0%
#5
N

Northcentral University

San Diego, CA ·

$60,771
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#6
N

Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA · Private

$58,221
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $50,095
Graduates: 52
Acceptance: N/A
#7
P

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$57,770
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $53,559
Graduates: 127
Acceptance: 49.9%
#8
U

University of Massachusetts Global

Aliso Viejo, CA · Public

$56,302
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $54,565
Graduates: 112
Acceptance: N/A
#9
N

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$55,512
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $68,843
Graduates: 40
Acceptance: 16.5%
#10
U

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA · Private

$54,594
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $61,400
Graduates: 118
Acceptance: 50.8%
#11
S

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public

$54,320
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $48,133
Graduates: 401
Acceptance: 94.7%
#12
U

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA · Private

$53,244
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $51,126
Graduates: 218
Acceptance: 80.9%
#13
U

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA · Private

$52,733
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $47,184
Graduates: 143
Acceptance: 94.9%
#14
C

California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo, CA · Public

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $47,549
Graduates: 46
Acceptance: 98.7%
#15
W

Woodbury University

Burbank, CA · Private

$52,107
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $47,237
Graduates: 28
Acceptance: 72.9%
#16
N

National University

San Diego, CA · Private

$51,928
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $54,361
Graduates: 283
Acceptance: N/A
#17
C

Chapman University

Orange, CA · Private

$50,856
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $47,455
Graduates: 308
Acceptance: 55.6%
#18
U

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private

$50,640
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $49,449
Graduates: 433
Acceptance: 48.5%
#19
H

Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses

Stockton, CA ·

$49,527
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#20
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$49,270
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $47,857
Graduates: 138
Acceptance: 25.6%
#21
C

California State University-Chico

Chico, CA · Public

$49,223
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $45,056
Graduates: 613
Acceptance: 93.7%
#22
A

Ashford University

San Diego, CA ·

$48,911
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $52,247
Graduates: 2,135
Acceptance: N/A
#23
C

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, CA · Private

$48,823
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $43,707
Graduates: 124
Acceptance: 88.9%
#24
S

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA · Public

$48,432
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $44,617
Graduates: 172
Acceptance: 80.2%
#25
M

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$48,265
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,111
Graduates: 53
Acceptance: 68.7%
#26
U

University of Phoenix-California

Ontario, CA ·

$48,220
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $49,674
Graduates: 8,342
Acceptance: N/A
#27
C

California Aeronautical University

Bakersfield, CA ·

$48,041
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#28
S

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public

$47,891
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $46,360
Graduates: 394
Acceptance: 96.2%
#29
C

California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public

$47,676
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $49,638
Graduates: 795
Acceptance: 96.8%
#30
M

Menlo College

Atherton, CA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $45,971
Graduates: 67
Acceptance: 67.8%
#31
U

University of San Diego

San Diego, CA · Private

$47,260
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $47,084
Graduates: 126
Acceptance: 46.8%
#32
D

DeVry University-California

Ontario, CA · For-Profit

$46,521
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $47,138
Graduates: 3,457
Acceptance: 43.3%
#33
C

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public

$46,389
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $43,709
Graduates: 1,112
Acceptance: 93.6%
#34
D

Dominican University of California

San Rafael, CA · Private

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $52,951
Graduates: 54
Acceptance: 95.6%
#35
C

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $45,999
Graduates: 285
Acceptance: 94.8%
#36
T

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, CA · Private

$45,919
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,876
Graduates: 48
Acceptance: 75.9%
#37
F

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA · Private

$45,207
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $46,756
Graduates: 81
Acceptance: 57.5%
#38
C

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA · Public

$44,405
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $43,105
Graduates: 2,229
Acceptance: 86.7%
#39
C

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA · Public

$44,055
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,174
Graduates: 334
Acceptance: 47.1%
#40
C

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA · Public

$43,757
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $42,153
Graduates: 1,695
Acceptance: 73.7%
#41
A

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA · Private

$43,732
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $45,995
Graduates: 257
Acceptance: 79.5%
#42
C

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public

$43,601
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $45,186
Graduates: 235
Acceptance: 95.7%
#43
U

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public

$41,937
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $41,245
Graduates: 228
Acceptance: 39.2%
#44
S

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA · Public

$41,705
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,950
Graduates: 385
Acceptance: 34.4%
#45
C

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA · Public

$41,586
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,961
Graduates: 600
Acceptance: 93.2%
#46
C

Concordia University-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Private

$41,406
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,016
Graduates: 85
Acceptance: 59.9%
#47
C

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA · Public

$40,806
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,252
Graduates: 452
Acceptance: 91.3%
#48
V

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA · Private

$40,697
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,217
Graduates: 50
Acceptance: 64.7%
#49
C

California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public

$40,034
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $42,995
Graduates: 271
Acceptance: 93.1%
#50
W

William Jessup University

Rocklin, CA · Private

$39,801
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $45,049
Graduates: 66
Acceptance: 76.8%
#51
C

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$39,513
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,833
Graduates: 977
Acceptance: 91.9%
#52
C

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA · Public

$39,205
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $39,749
Graduates: 522
Acceptance: 97.5%
#53
U

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$39,087
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,354
Graduates: 580
Acceptance: 63.3%
#54
C

California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public

$38,721
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,249
Graduates: 227
Acceptance: 96.4%
#55
H

Hope International University

Fullerton, CA · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,799
Graduates: 25
Acceptance: 35.4%
#56
C

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public

$37,883
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,691
Graduates: 198
Acceptance: 98.3%
#57
C

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA · Public

$36,528
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $33,538
Graduates: 170
Acceptance: 88.2%
#58
C

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public

$36,294
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $32,215
Graduates: 181
Acceptance: 98.8%
#59
H

Holy Names University

Oakland, CA · Private

$36,141
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $37,840
Graduates: 20
Acceptance: N/A
#60
S

Simpson University

Redding, CA · Private

$36,042
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,108
Graduates: 80
Acceptance: 99.0%
#61
W

Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Private

$35,914
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $36,650
Graduates: 59
Acceptance: 85.4%
#62
L

La Sierra University

Riverside, CA · Private

$29,751
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $38,431
Graduates: 24
Acceptance: 93.3%
#63
S

San Diego Christian College

Santee, CA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr Earnings: $40,671
Graduates: 18
Acceptance: 62.8%
#64
U

University of Antelope Valley

Lancaster, CA ·

$23,649
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Business Administration, Management and Operations in California?
University of California-Berkeley ranks #1 for Business Administration, Management and Operations in California with median graduate earnings of $81,456 within two years of graduation. There are 64 schools offering Business Administration, Management and Operations programs in the state.
How much do Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates earn in California?
Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates in California earn an average of $46,631 within two years of graduation. This is 10% above the national average of $42,386 for this major.
What is the hardest Business Administration, Management and Operations school to get into in California?
University of Southern California is the most selective Business Administration, Management and Operations program in California with an acceptance rate of 10.0%. The average acceptance rate across Business Administration, Management and Operations programs in the state is 71.4%.
Should I attend a public or private school for Business Administration, Management and Operations in California?
In California, private Business Administration, Management and Operations programs produce average earnings of $47,108 vs $46,164 at public schools. However, public schools typically cost less — consider net price relative to earnings when calculating ROI. There are 28 public and 29 private options in the state.

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Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.