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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Business Economics (Income $0-$30k) in California

15 Ranked Colleges
1,400 Degrees Awarded
$17,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Business Economics is the 121st most popular major in the country with 6,169 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 1,428 business economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,400 business economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $37,907 and $21,546 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in business economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great business economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the business economics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Business Economics (Income $0-$30k) in California

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Irvine. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 696 degrees to qualified bachelors’s business economics students in 2019-2020.

UC Irvine did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $9,558 for California Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of California - Irvine.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Business Economics at University of California - Irvine

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCLA has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $8,553 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Business Economics Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Riverside. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UCR is located in Riverside, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 153 bachelors’s business economics degrees to qualified students.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $8,366 for California Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCR.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Business Economics at UCR

#12 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Long Beach, California, this large public school handed out 45 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s business economics students in 2019-2020.

CSULB not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend California State University - Long Beach is $6,364 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Business Economics at California State University - Long Beach

#5

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 308 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $10,872 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UC Santa Cruz.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Business Economics at University of California - Santa Cruz

#6

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s business economics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCSB is $10,316 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Business Economics at University of California - Santa Barbara

#7

University of Redlands

Redlands, California
#10 in overall quality

University of Redlands came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Redlands, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

University of Redlands not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Redlands is $21,763 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Business Economics at University of Redlands

#8

Westmont College

Santa Barbara, California
#6 in overall quality

Westmont College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Westmont is a small school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 54 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Westmont also made our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for Westmont College is $23,381 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Westmont Business Economics Report

#9

University of San Diego

San Diego, California
#8 in overall quality

University of San Diego landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of San Diego is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 4 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

USD also took the #8 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend USD is $22,263 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Business Economics at University of San Diego

#10

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Santa Clara University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santa Clara, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Santa Clara University is $22,356 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full SCU Business Economics Report

#11

Mills College

Oakland, California
#15 in overall quality

Mills College landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mills College is a small school located in Oakland, California that handed out 7 bachelors’s business economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Mills also made our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $15,749 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mills College.

The low student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Business Economics at Mills College

#14 in overall quality

The University of Arizona Global Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UAGC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Arizona Global Campus is $20,283 for california bachelor’s degree business economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full UAGC Business Economics Report

#13

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California
#13 in overall quality

Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in San Diego, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s business economics students in 2019-2020.

PLNU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend PLNU is $25,073 for California Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full PLNU Business Economics Report

#14

Chapman University

Orange, California
#4 in overall quality

Chapman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Orange, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s business economics degrees to 48 students in 2019-2020.

Chapman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. It costs about $33,219 for California Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Chapman University.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Business Economics at Chapman University

#15

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#9 in overall quality

University of San Francisco came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Business Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USFCA is located in San Francisco, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s business economics degrees to qualified students.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Business Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend University of San Francisco is $27,690 for California Bachelor’s Degree Business Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Business Economics at USFCA

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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