2026 Best Business Economics Schools in California
Business Economics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their business economics programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for business economics students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Business Economics in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the business economics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Business Economics
Our analysis ranked Santa Clara University the best school in the country for a degree in business economics. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 business economics students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their business economics degree from Santa Clara University earn around $79,380 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
Read more about the business economics program at Santa Clara University
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Santa Cruz one of the top schools for business economics. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 304 business economics students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the business economics program make about $52,029 in their early career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Read more about the business economics program at University Of California Santa Cruz
Chapman University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best business economics schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. Chapman University awarded about 48 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the business economics program make about $54,064 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,977.
See the full business economics program report for Chapman University
Students looking for a strong business economics program will find one at University Of California Irvine, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 493 business economics degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $44,277. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
Get the full business economics details for University Of California Irvine
California State University Long Beach is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in business economics, landing the #5 spot this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 business economics students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Business Economics graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $38,967 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,329.
More information about a degree in business economics from California State University Long Beach
Westmont College placed #6 among the best business economics schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Westmont College graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 business economics students who graduated with this degree at Westmont College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Westmont College generally make around $54,457. Westmont College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the business economics program at Westmont College
Ashford University came in at #7 for business economics this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. Ashford University graduates 10% of students within six years. About 20 business economics degrees were awarded at Ashford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their business economics degree from Ashford University earn around $66,360 in the first couple years of their career. Ashford University graduates carry a median of $36,551 in student loans.
More information about a degree in business economics from Ashford University
More Business Economics Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.
- 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.
