10 Best Colleges In California For Business

The best colleges in California for business have been outlined and discussed in this blog post to facilitate admission for Californian residents and international students who want to earn a business degree whether in the undergraduate or postgraduate level of study.

In naming the top study abroad destinations in the world, the United States is usually in the first or second position. Some of the world’s best universities are there and they receive thousands of international students who come to pursue various degree programs in engineering, the arts, health sciences, business, etc. at undergraduate and graduate levels of study.

You have many things to gain when you study in the US or any of the other top destination hubs like Canada, Australia, the UK, etc. you gain quality education and a top-notch degree that is recognized and accepted anywhere in the world. However, the downside to studying in any of these top destination hubs is the high tuition fee for international students.

Citizens and permanent residents pay lesser tuition fees while international students pay more and it is even higher in the US with barely any financial aid opportunity but as a citizen, you will enjoy a couple of scholarships and grants.

The state of California has some of the best universities and colleges in the US and the world and its vibrant location makes it an attractive site for students to pursue a business degree. California is the home of Hollywood (Los Angeles) and San Francisco which are business-driven environments that will also help you in your studies.

With this location close to your doorstep, there are lots of internship opportunities where you will gain actual real-life skills and knowledge that you can apply to solve complex business problems and also use them as a starting point to enter the business world. Whether it is starting a business of your own or getting employed, you will have first-hand knowledge on how to effectively manage a business.

The business space encompasses all other industry, whether you are in the engineering or medical field business still goes on in these fields, and to manage it better you may consider getting an MBA degree. Studying business from scratch or without a prior degree, you will have to start from the undergraduate program which typically takes four years to complete.

But if you already have an undergraduate degree in some other field and still want to earn a business degree, then a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is your best choice. If you already have an MBA and own a business or are employed to manage one and want to upgrade your skills then an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree is your best option.

Each of these degrees is business-related and they all have their respective skills and knowledge they instill in a student, the higher you go, the better you become. Individuals in the political, law, engineering, medical, sporting, etc. fields have gone on to earn an MBA or EMBA degree so that they can effectively manage the business aspect of their field.

In this blog post, we have discussed the best colleges in California for business and also highlight the type of business program. Citizens of the United States and the residents of California especially will find more use to these business schools in California because it is cheaper for them, there are financial aid opportunities, and they easily get employment.

[lwptoc]

Top Best Colleges in California for Business

The following are the best colleges in California for business:

  • USC Marshall Business School
  • Haas School of Business
  • The University of San Francisco School of Management
  • Paul Merage School of Business
  • Rady School of Management
  • Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • UCLA Anderson School of Management
  • Argyros School of Business and Economics
  • SCU Leavey School of Business
  • Pepperdine Graziado Business School

1.      USC Marshall Business School

This is one of the best colleges in California for a business located in Los Angeles, the USC Marshall Business School is the business school of the University of Southern California, it is a private institution established in 1920. Approximately 5,400 students are currently enrolled in the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate business programs.

The undergraduate business degree program at Marshall Business School leads to a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, there are also several joint programs as well as international opportunities. The graduate business program is a two-year full-time MBA that encompasses a diverse range of electives and concentrations.

There is also a special MBA program for Professionals and Managers (MBA-PM), an online MBA (OMBA), an EMBA, and an international MBA (IBEAR) that is completed in one year. The business school offers 11 specialty master’s degrees. Finally, there is also the Ph.D. business program that takes 4-5 years to complete with up to 2 years of a dissertation. This is a highly competitive business school.

School Website

2.      Haas School of Business

The University of California, Berkeley is a top popular university in the United States and the world offering a diverse range of academic programs in various disciplines. The institution offers business degree programs through its business school – Hass School of Business or Berkeley Hass.

The Hass School of Business was established in 1898 and ranked among the best colleges in California for business and in national and international rankings of business. The business school offers an undergraduate degree program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA).

There is also a full-time MBA program and you can integrate the MBA program with the college of engineering, school of public health, and law school. At the end of the program, you will be offered an MBA/MEng, MBA/MPH, and JD/MBA respectively.

School Website

3.      The University of San Francisco School of Management

The University of San Francisco School of Management is one of the best colleges in California for business and management programs. The business school has two locations which are both in San Francisco. The Main Location is at 2130 Fulton Street while the Downtown Location is at 101 Howard Street.

The business school offers an undergraduate degree with seven business majors for you to choose from, expand your degree with a business minor, or earn a Bachelor of Science in Management. There are also eight graduate degrees and five dual degrees offered by the school for you to engage in anyone perfect for your career.

School Website

4.      Paul Merage School of Business

This is the business school of the University of California, Irvine or UCI, established in 1965 and recognized as one of the best colleges in California for business. The school offers unique business programs aside from the typical MBA, it also confers a Ph.D., Master of Accountancy (MPAC), Master of Science in Biotechnology Management (MSBTM), Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM), and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

School Website

5.      Rady School of Management

Rady School of Management is the graduate business school of the University of California, San Diego popularly known as UC San Diego, which aims to build ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who make a positive impact in the world through innovation, collaboration, and knowledge. The business school was established in 2001 and offers postgraduate and undergraduate degree business programs.

The college offers full-time and part-time MBA programs, a full-time Master of Finance, a full-time Master of Science in Business Analytics, and a full-time Master of Professional Accounting as well as a Ph.D. program. The undergraduate courses include minors in business, accounting, supply chain, and entrepreneurship, and innovation.

School Website

6.      Stanford Graduate School of Business

Commonly known as Stanford GSB or the GSB and established in1925 in Stanford, California, the Stanford Graduate Business School is the business school of the prestigious Stanford University. It is one of the best colleges in California for business with the least acceptance rate, admitting only about 6% of applicants annually.

Stanford GSB offers a typical full-time two-year MBA degree, a Master of Science (MSx) program for mid-career executives completed in 1 year, a Ph.D. degree program, and a Research Fellows Program. Students can take a joint business degree along with other schools at Stanford which includes Earth Sciences, Education, Engineering, Law, and Medicine.

There is also an online professional certificate program offered by Stanford GSB known as Stanford LEAD, it is 100% online and takes 1 year to complete. With these programs, the GSB instills ideas in students, deepens and advances their understanding of management, and goes on to develop innovative, principled, and insightful leaders.

School Website

7.      UCLA Anderson School of Management

The University of California, Los Angeles, popularly known as UCLA is a prestigious institution in the Los Angeles region, the state of California, the United States, and in the world and also a top choice place for students from the USA and other parts of the world. Founded in 1935 as a private postsecondary institution, the UCLA Anderson School of Management is one of the best colleges in California for business.

The school is consistently ranked by the QS, Business Insider, Economist, US News & World Report, Forbes, and many others among the top business school programs at national and international levels. Both degree and non-degree programs are offered at UCLA Anderson which are designed to meet the diverse educational needs and professional goals of students.

The programs offered at UCLA Anderson School of Management are:

  • The typical MBA which takes 2 years to complete
  • A fully Employed MBA or FEMBA which takes 3 years to complete
  • The research focused on Ph.D. which takes over 5 years to complete
  • An Executive MBA or EMBA which takes 2 years to complete
  • A global Executive MBA or UCLA-NUS because is jointly delivered by the UCLA Anderson School of Business and the National University of Singapore Business School. It takes 15 months to complete and offer you two world-class MBAs
  • An Executive Education or EXEC ED certificate programs
  • A Master of Financial Engineering or MFE, completed in 13 months
  • A Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), also takes 13 months to complete
  • An Accounting Minor for Undergraduates

School Website

8.      Argyros School of Business and Economics

The Argyros School of Business and Economics is the business school of Chapman University, a private research institution located in Orange, California, United States. Argyros was established in 1977 and consistently ranked among the best colleges in California for business programs.

The business school admits students into its undergraduate and graduate degree programs which equip students with the qualities of individual initiative, analytical skill, accountability, effective communication, and integrity and develop them into business leaders who create value for their organizations.

The undergraduate degree includes eight majors and minors that lead to a BS or BA in Accounting, Economics, Humanomics, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, and Analytics. There is also an accelerated degree program for undergraduate students which takes 5 years to complete and then you will earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree at once.

The postgraduate programs are a typical full-time MBA, Flexible MBA, Executive MBA (EMBA), Accelerated MBA, M.S Real Estate, M.S Accounting, and more.

School Website

9.      SCU Leavey School of Business

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara, California, and established in 1923, the SCU Leavey School of Business is the business school of Santa Clara University which is consistently ranked among the colleges in California for business.

The school has six departments within it which are Accounting, Economics, Operations Management, and Information Systems, Finance, Marketing, and Management serving more than2,000 students enrolled in the undergraduate and graduate levels of study. The graduate program offers a full-time and part-time MBA, an online MBA, and an Executive MBA.

School Website

10. Pepperdine Graziado Business School

This is one of the best colleges in California for the business program and is commonly referred to as Graziado School. The Graziado Business School is the business school of Pepperdine University located in Malibu California and only offers postgraduate programs.

The programs offered are Ph.D., part-time and full-time MBA, MS, and part-time and full-time EMBA, and other online, joint degree, certificate, and global programs. There is a bachelor’s program but it is only for working professionals.

School Website

These are the top 10 best colleges in California for business, you may want to apply to these schools but they are highly competitive and their acceptance rate is low.

FAQs on Best Colleges in California for Business

Which the University of California has the best business program?

The best university in California for the business program is the University of Southern California, Irvine.

Recommendations