As a business major, you will gain a lot of skills that are helpful in various aspects of life. For instance, business majors often gain a series of skills that typically involve analytic comprehension as well as how to, strategic problem-solving skills, and effective communication. As a business major, you will also learn a lot about marketing, finances, operational management, as well as how to be entrepreneurial in an effective way. It may sound quite overwhelming at first, but that’s exactly how every new experience feels! Most people often second guess their interests when they enter college so whatever major that you choose doesn’t mean your future is set in stone. However, if you are interested in becoming a business major, this article will discuss the best colleges in California for that major!
In no particular order, this article will address:
- Benefits of Obtaining a Business Degree
- Best U.S Based Colleges
- Why a Degree in Business?
Benefits of Obtaining a Business Degree
Business majors often make a median salary of $78,000 and on the higher pay end can make up to $176,000 with commission! What makes this career so unique is that it has a lot of opportunities for career growth as well as high job security. In 2021, 74% of individuals who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business were employed within the year. With great pay and stable post-graduate options, there’s no surprise as to why business majors are constantly increasing!
As previously mentioned, obtaining a business degree involves learning a lot about a variety of different skill sets! While it may seem a little overwhelming at first, it is important to remember that your professors will guide you to where you need to be. With this degree, individuals often get careers in:
- Management Positions
- Marketing
- Sales
- Finance
- Accounting
- Human Resources
- Consulting
However, if none of these jobs pique your interest, many people who receive business degrees also start small businesses of their own and truly allow for their creativity to reach new heights! With the rise of the digital age, it’s easier than ever to become your own boss and live out your biggest dreams. When it comes to location, the highest earning business degree jobs are in cities such as:
- Sunnyvale
- Livermore
- Vacaville
- Napa
- Berkeley
- Grass Valley
- Santa Rosa
Although these statistics can change overtime, these locations are currently determined by average wage and also the city’s average cost of living.
California Colleges for Business Majors
University of Southern California, Downtown LA, CA
With often being confused with an Ivy league school, the University of Southern California
is a no-brainer that had to be included on this list. University of Southern California is well known for its diverse amount of concentrations as well as its prestigious alumni networking opportunities. Some of the available undergraduate programs in business include:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Management Consulting
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Real Estate Finance
However, the University of Southern California also offers other programs for business majors so that students can obtain their Master’s degrees or even PhD’s! The average annual cost to attend USC is about $60,000 to $62,000, with a business concentration, and there is an average acceptance rate of 11-13%. While it may seem difficult to attend this institution, remember that your dream school can sometimes only be one application away. So always keep your goals high.
University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
It seems as if Berkeley is known as one of the best schools for any major that it offers, and that's rightfully so! While admissions is highly competitive, this program offers a lot of helpful tools that can help jumpstart your career in business post-graduation! With the prestige that comes along with attending such a well known institution, the networking opportunities that Berkely offers is truly unlike any other school. Some of the available undergraduate programs in business include:
- Business Administration
While the list isn’t as long as USC’s, there are other business related fields that students can also enroll in:
- Economics
- Engineering (with a business minor)
- Technology and Entrepreneurship
These interdisciplinary studies can help students still receive the best education possible while also increasing their chances of getting enrollment within the school, through choosing a slightly less impacted major. However, the average tuition cost to attend UC Berkeley ranges from $35,000 to $65,000. With the average acceptance rate of 14-15%, getting into this school may be a challenge, but one that would bring a very plentiful reward in the end!
California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Now, it’s time to see some more affordable options! While universities offer prestige after graduation, in most cases, state universities also offer a diverse education without causing too much student debt! California State University Long Beach is the top Cal State for those who want to pursue a business degree. Known for its nature-filled campus and diverse student body, Long Beach is a great school for both commuters as well as on campus residents. What makes Cal State Long Beach a good school for business majors is the fact that the student life is very engaging, which makes networking very easy for students of all levels.
Some of the available undergraduate programs in business include:
- Business Administration
- Accountancy
- Finance
- Management
- Human Resources Management
- International Business
- Marketing
Cal State Long Beach has options that can fit every individual's needs. The average tuition cost is around $7,000 for California residents and around $18,000 for non-residents. However, unlike the previous schools the acceptance rate is 39-41% which means that this school is a lot more feasible for the average student, so it’s worth applying to!
University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
Approximately 5 miles away from the beach, UCI is one of the most scenic campuses in California. UCI is a very research based institution that values hands-on learning and application of concepts learned in the classroom. This prepares students for their future careers and allows them to be proficient in public speaking, entrepreneurship, research, and marketing, all before they graduate. Orange County is also home to some of the largest businesses and industries that typically extend internship opportunities to students.
Some of the available undergraduate programs in business include:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Information Systems
- Marketing
- Operations and Decision Technologies
With an annual average tuition of $13,700 per year and an acceptance rate of approximately 28% UCI is one the the most feasible options for California and also non-Californian residents! Take in the sun and really see the beauty of the Pacific Ocean right outside your class!
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
University of San Diego is a Catholic university that is known for its large and diverse campus! What makes UCSD so unique is that it’s also considered to be a highly innovative campus, as well. UCSD has what they call “The Basement” which is an incubator that provides entrepreneurial and business students the resources that they need in order to help create or start their ventures! Not only does this help students create a bond with one another, but it also promotes a creative and innovative environment that is hard to replicate elsewhere.
Some of the available undergraduate programs in business include:
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Economics and Management Science
UCSD also has graduate programs available for those who wish to continue their education and take their bachelor’s a step further. The average tuition cost for UCSD is around $14,000 for California residents and $44,000 for non-Californian residents. With an acceptance rate of 31-34% UCSD is a feasible option for those that are very confident in their academic abilities. Don’t miss out on your opportunity to get your ideas out of your head and into the real world, apply to UCSD and see what opportunities may be awaiting you!
Why a Degree in Business?
From the above options, it is clear that business is a major that hardly ever gets boring. With so many diverse career paths, becoming a business major truly opens up a variety of new doors for undergraduate and postgraduate students. While attending college, or choosing the right school, is seemingly no easy task it is important to take risks and apply to schools that may seem challenging as well. As you go into a field that is very intrinsically motivated, it is important that you never lose sight of your ambition and remember that you can truly do anything that your heart desires with hard work and determination. And if any of these options seem financially impossible, remember that FAFSA and student loans are always available for students so that they can receive their higher education with less stress!
