Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

87 Best Universities in California for Business

We ranked the top 87 universities for Business in California based on strict academic metrics. Our methodology evaluated 428.4K subject-specific papers and 19.35M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Business

#1 in United States #1 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Business

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Business

#19 in United States #20 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Business

#23 in United States #24 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Business

#31 in United States #33 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Business

#41 in United States #45 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Business

#43 in United States #50 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Business

#53 in United States #62 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

9

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Business

#64 in United States #74 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Business

#69 in United States #80 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Business

#101 in United States #118 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Business

#104 in United States #123 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Business

#122 in United States #145 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Business

#146 in United States #171 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Business

#154 in United States #179 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Business

#185 in United States #214 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

17

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Business

#190 in United States #219 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

18

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Business

#196 in United States #225 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

19

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Business

#217 in United States #249 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

20

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Business

#225 in United States #258 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

21

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Business

#232 in United States #265 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

22

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Business

#234 in United States #267 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

23

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Business

#238 in United States #271 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

24

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Business

#248 in United States #281 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

25

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Business

#249 in United States #282 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

26

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Business

#257 in United States #291 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

27

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Business

#282 in United States #318 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

28

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Business

#284 in United States #320 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

29

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Business

#289 in United States #325 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

30

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Business

#293 in United States #330 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

31

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Business

#297 in United States #334 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

32

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Business

#308 in United States #346 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

33

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Business

#322 in United States #361 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

34

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Business

#325 in United States #364 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

35

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Business

#331 in United States #370 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

36

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Business

#378 in United States #420 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

37

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Business

#384 in United States #427 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

38

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Business

#385 in United States #428 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

39

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Business

#390 in United States #433 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

40

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Business

#424 in United States #470 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

41

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Business

#445 in United States #492 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

42

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Business

#453 in United States #501 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

43

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Business

#469 in United States #517 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

44

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Business

#478 in United States #527 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

45

Claremont, CA

For Business

#486 in United States #535 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

46

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Business

#499 in United States #548 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

47

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Business

#509 in United States #558 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

48

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Business

#514 in United States #564 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

49

Rosemead

University of the West

For Business

#561 in United States #618 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

50

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Business

#602 in United States #661 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

51

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Business

#603 in United States #662 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

52

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Business

#607 in United States #666 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

53

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Business

#609 in United States #668 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

54

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Business

#621 in United States #681 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

55

Oakland

For Business

#629 in United States #689 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

56

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Business

#650 in United States #711 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

57

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Business

#703 in United States #767 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

58

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Business

#705 in United States #769 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

59

San Diego

California Western School of Law

For Business

#724 in United States #788 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

60

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Business

#760 in United States #825 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

61

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Business

#763 in United States #829 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

62

Atherton

For Business

#768 in United States #834 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

63

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Business

#773 in United States #840 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

64

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Business

#776 in United States #843 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

65

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Business

#784 in United States #851 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

66

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Business

#785 in United States #852 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

67

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Business

#798 in United States #865 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

68

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Business

#822 in United States #889 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

69

Cypress

Trident University International

For Business

#832 in United States #901 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

70

Whittier

Whittier College

For Business

#844 in United States #914 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

71

San Diego

United States University

For Business

#849 in United States #919 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

72

La Mirada

Biola University

For Business

#861 in United States #931 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

73

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Business

#871 in United States #941 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

74

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Business

#889 in United States #959 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

75

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Business

#893 in United States #964 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

76

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Business

#897 in United States #968 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

77

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Business

#898 in United States #970 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

78

San Diego

Ashford University

For Business

#899 in United States #971 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

79

Claremont, CA

For Business

#929 in United States #1003 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

80

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Business

#942 in United States #1017 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

81

Irvine

Brandman University

For Business

#966 in United States #1041 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

2009 Founded

82

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Business

#974 in United States #1049 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

83

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Business

#985 in United States #1060 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

84

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Business

#1046 in United States #1121 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

85

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Business

#1070 in United States #1145 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

86

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

For Business

#1101 in United States #1176 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

87

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Business

#1114 in United States #1190 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded