Best colleges for Accounting and Related Services in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Santa Clara University, California Lutheran University and University of San Francisco are the top bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in California by graduate earnings. Santa Clara University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,417, College Scorecard. College of the Canyons, Santa Monica College and California State University - Northridge award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in California: 255, 235 and 225 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 161 California colleges offer Accounting and Related Services and award 5,671 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,417 | 48 | 88% | $44,094 | $19,250 |
| 2 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,696 | 21 | 70% | $23,129 | $21,858 |
| 3 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $72,588 | 32 | 70% | $37,121 | $24,660 |
| 4 | Menlo College Atherton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,067 | 24 | 54% | $26,655 | $26,955 |
| 5 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,960 | 39 | 79% | $36,488 | $17,000 |
| 6 | Chapman University Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,362 | 50 | 82% | $42,965 | $21,250 |
| 7 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,240 | 94 | 84% | $26,035 | $24,969 |
| 8 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,904 | 225 | 57% | — | $15,810 |
| 9 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $66,628 | 22 | 70% | $25,578 | $25,000 |
| 10 | Biola University La Mirada Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $65,246 | 23 | 68% | $26,727 | $23,875 |
Top 6 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cabrillo College Aptos Public · Certificate | $57,294 | 55 | 38% | — | — |
| 2 | Mt San Antonio College Walnut Public · Associate degree | $34,604 | 116 | 45% | — | — |
| 3 | Asher College Sacramento Private for-profit · Associate degree Small program | $41,351 | 17 | 56% | $16,924 | $17,375 |
| 4 | Ventura Adult and Continuing Education Ventura Public · Certificate Small program | $37,356 | 7 | 97% | — | — |
| 5 | Stellar Career College Modesto Private for-profit · Certificate Small program | $35,186 | 8 | 79% | $13,155 | $7,248 |
| 6 | CET-El Centro El Centro Private not-for-profit · Certificate Small program | $14,972 | 13 | 93% | $19,396 | $6,729 |
Colleges awarding the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita Public | 255 | Not reported |
| 2 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 235 | Not reported |
| 3 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 225 | $68,904 |
| 4 | East Los Angeles College Monterey Park Public | 185 | Not reported |
| 5 | Ventura College Ventura Public | 129 | Not reported |
| 6 | Ohlone College Fremont Public | 126 | Not reported |
| 7 | Irvine Valley College Irvine Public | 115 | Not reported |
| 8 | Santa Ana College Santa Ana Public | 110 | Not reported |
| 9 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 103 | $61,037 |
| 10 | Southwestern College Chula Vista Public | 97 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 151 California colleges offering Accounting and Related Services
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011).
Top skills
What Accountants and Auditors earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Accounting and Related Services programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees?+
College of the Canyons (255 graduates a year), Santa Monica College (235 graduates a year) and California State University - Northridge (225 graduates a year) award the most Accounting and Related Services degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 161 California colleges offer Accounting and Related Services.
What is the best college for Accounting and Related Services in California?+
By graduate earnings, Santa Clara University leads among bachelor's Accounting and Related Services programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $78,417, College Scorecard. California Lutheran University and University of San Francisco follow. By degrees awarded, College of the Canyons is the largest, with 255 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Accounting and Related Services program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Santa Clara University tops the list at $78,417. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Accountants and Auditors earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in California is $103,760 (median $97,050), across about 175,360 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Accounting and Related Services program?+
The Accounting and Related Services program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices. This program is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in accounting, auditing, or…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Accountants and Auditors?+
The national job outlook is about +4.6% growth with around 124,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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