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2026 Best General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools in California

17 Colleges in the United States
1,867 General Educational Leadership & Administration Degrees Awarded
$82,680 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Educational Leadership & Administration degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general educational leadership & administration programs.

College Factual analyzed 60 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general educational leadership & administration schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General Educational Leadership & Administration 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 general educational leadership & administration degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in General Educational Leadership & Administration

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Southern California this year for general educational leadership & administration. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 316 general educational leadership & administration degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the general educational leadership & administration program make about $90,290 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Read more about the general educational leadership & administration program at University Of Southern California

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top schools for general educational leadership & administration. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 15 general educational leadership & administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general educational leadership & administration program make about $70,847 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,238. More information about a degree in general educational leadership & administration from University Of California Berkeley

3

San Diego State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 73 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general educational leadership & administration degree from San Diego State University earn around $105,035 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,417. See the full general educational leadership & administration program report for San Diego State University

4

California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 18 general educational leadership & administration degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $49,427. Typical student debt for the program is $17,226. Read more about the general educational leadership & administration program at California State Polytechnic University Pomona

5

California State University Fullerton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general educational leadership & administration, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 general educational leadership & administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $96,306 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525. More information about a degree in general educational leadership & administration from California State University Fullerton

6

San Jose State University earned the #6 position for general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 general educational leadership & administration students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. Get the full general educational leadership & administration details for San Jose State University

7
Santa Clara University crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University earned the #7 position for general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 38 general educational leadership & administration degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $92,238 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree. See the full general educational leadership & administration program report for Santa Clara University

8

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #8 position for general educational leadership & administration this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 20 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $76,876. Typical student debt for the program is $19,273. Read more about the general educational leadership & administration program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

9

San Francisco State University came in at #9 for general educational leadership & administration this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 45 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general educational leadership & administration program make about $106,694 in their early career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. More information about a degree in general educational leadership & administration from San Francisco State University

10

Concordia University Irvine landed the #10 spot for general educational leadership & administration this year. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 152 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine generally make around $104,155. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete this degree. Get the full general educational leadership & administration details for Concordia University Irvine

11

Saint Marys College Of California placed #11 among the best general educational leadership & administration schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moraga. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 general educational leadership & administration students who graduated with this degree at Saint Marys College Of California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $74,507. Typical student debt for the program is $25,041. See the full general educational leadership & administration program report for Saint Marys College Of California

12

California State University East Bay came in at #12 for general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 37 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $95,100 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree. Read more about the general educational leadership & administration program at California State University East Bay

13

California State University Northridge came in at #13 for general educational leadership & administration this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 general educational leadership & administration students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $84,058 early in their careers. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Read more about the general educational leadership & administration program at California State University Northridge

14

Pepperdine University came in at #14 for general educational leadership & administration this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 100 general educational leadership & administration degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $85,709. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $23,645 in student loans. See the full general educational leadership & administration program report for Pepperdine University

15

Loyola Marymount University placed #15 among the best general educational leadership & administration schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 general educational leadership & administration students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $89,704. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree. Read more about the general educational leadership & administration program at Loyola Marymount University

16

California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #16 for general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 79 general educational leadership & administration degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Students who receive their general educational leadership & administration degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $96,352 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,886. More information about a degree in general educational leadership & administration from California State University Dominguez Hills

17

California State University Fresno ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general educational leadership & administration schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. California State University Fresno awarded about 56 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $113,758 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598. Get the full general educational leadership & administration details for California State University Fresno

18

California Lutheran University earned the #18 position for general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. California Lutheran University awarded about 23 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general educational leadership & administration program make about $84,731 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,727. Read more about the general educational leadership & administration program at California Lutheran University

19

California State University Stanislaus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best general educational leadership & administration schools. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. California State University Stanislaus awarded about 46 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus generally make around $46,807. Typical student debt for the program is $14,813. More information about a degree in general educational leadership & administration from California State University Stanislaus

20
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best general educational leadership & administration schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. National University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 88 general educational leadership & administration degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from National University generally make around $94,937. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree. See the full general educational leadership & administration program report for National University

21

Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earned the #21 position for general educational leadership & administration this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 92 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general educational leadership & administration program make about $94,998 in their early career. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System graduates carry a median of $27,471 in student loans. Get the full general educational leadership & administration details for Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System

22

University Of California Los Angeles ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best general educational leadership & administration schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 22 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. General Educational Leadership & Administration graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $109,183 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general educational leadership & administration from University Of California Los Angeles

23

Chapman University came in at #23 for general educational leadership & administration this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. Chapman University awarded about 30 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $60,278. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans. See the full general educational leadership & administration program report for Chapman University

24

California State University San Bernardino landed the #24 spot for general educational leadership & administration this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 22 general educational leadership & administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino generally make around $111,677. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general educational leadership & administration from California State University San Bernardino

25
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best general educational leadership & administration schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 general educational leadership & administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general educational leadership & administration degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $62,903. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans. See the full general educational leadership & administration program report for University Of San Francisco

Rest of the Top 36 General Educational Leadership & Administration Schools

These schools also placed among the best for general educational leadership & administration this year:

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27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Ashford University crest
Ashford University
San Diego, CA

View All General Educational Leadership & Administration Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 60 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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