2026 Best Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in California
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their higher education/higher education administration programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for higher education/higher education administration students.
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Best Schools for Higher Education/Higher Education Administration in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall higher education/higher education administration education in California.
Top Schools in Higher Education/Higher Education Administration
University Of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $90,290 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in higher education/higher education administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 41 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $96,306 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in higher education/higher education administration, ranking #3. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences one of the top schools for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences awarded about 32 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $70,901 in their early career.
More information about a degree in higher education/higher education administration from University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences
A rank of #5 makes California State University Northridge one of the top schools for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Northridge awarded about 17 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $84,058. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202.
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California State University Fresno came in at #6 for higher education/higher education administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Fresno awarded about 12 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the higher education/higher education administration program make about $113,758 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree.
Read more about the higher education/higher education administration program at California State University Fresno
National University came in at #7 for higher education/higher education administration this year. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 higher education/higher education administration students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from National University generally make around $94,937. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
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California Baptist University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best higher education/higher education administration schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Baptist University awarded about 11 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $62,436. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete this degree.
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Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses came in at #9 for higher education/higher education administration this year. Set in the city of Stockton, Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses awarded about 54 higher education/higher education administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their higher education/higher education administration degree from Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses earn around $80,195 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $42,366.
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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 · 18 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.
