2026 Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools in California
[Business Administration & Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong business administration & management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 237 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value business administration & management schools.
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2026 Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the business administration & management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools
Leading the list is San Diego Miramar College, our #1 best value for business administration & management in California. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the business administration & management program here. Business Administration & Management graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Mesa College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $40,642. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #3 place for business administration & management. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $7,998. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $56,738. Set against $7,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in business administration & management will find it at Skyline College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
College Of The Canyons is a great value for students pursuing a degree in business administration & management, landing the #5 spot this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,980 median debt.
Irvine Valley College came in at #6 for value in business administration & management this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $6,672. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.
Saddleback College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $5,707. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oxnard College placed #8 among the best values for business administration & management. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
Moorpark College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $12,831. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Norco College placed #11 among the best values for business administration & management. Norco College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norco. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Students borrow a median of $8,203 to complete the business administration & management program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. Set against $8,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego City College landed the #12 spot for business administration & management value this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,625 to complete the business administration & management program here. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from San Diego City College generally make around $33,350. Set against $10,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College came in at #13 for value in business administration & management this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Reedley College came in at #14 for value in business administration & management this year. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Fresno City College came in at #15 for value in business administration & management this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $7,689. Business Administration & Management graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $27,966 early in their careers. Set against $7,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gavilan College earned the #16 position for value in business administration & management this year. Set in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,508, with out-of-state students paying around $12,249. Students borrow a median of $5,939 to complete the business administration & management program here. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $28,496. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Canada College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the business administration & management program here. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $106,691. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College came in at #18 for value in business administration & management this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $14,308 in student loans. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $24,594. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College came in at #19 for value in business administration & management this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $5,681 in student loans. Early-career business administration & management graduates make about $20,816. Set against $5,681 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grossmont College landed the #20 spot for business administration & management value this year. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Santiago Canyon College came in at #21 for value in business administration & management this year. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Solano Community College earned the #22 position for value in business administration & management this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $1,172, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Business Administration & Management graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Imperial Valley College placed #23 among the best values for business administration & management. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $6,176. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Imperial Valley College generally make around $42,617. Set against $6,176 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value business administration & management schools. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for business administration & management graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Hartnell College placed #25 among the best values for business administration & management. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the business administration & management program here. Soon after graduation, business administration & management degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Business Administration & Management Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s business administration & management value ranking:
More Business Administration & Management Rankings
View All Business Administration & Management Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 237 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 105 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
