Best colleges for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Los Angeles Valley College, Loyola Marymount University and University of Southern California award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees and certificates in California: 401, 132 and 103 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 90 California colleges offer Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations and award 1,522 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to create and manage small businesses effectively. It is ideal for individuals looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship,…
Top 2 institutions, 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 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,146 | 30 | 70% | $37,121 | $22,812 |
| 2 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,818 | 11 | 55% | — | $19,998 |
Colleges awarding the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees in California
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). 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 | Los Angeles Valley College Valley Glen Public | 401 | Not reported |
| 2 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 132 | Not reported |
| 3 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 103 | Not reported |
| 4 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 84 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 63 | Not reported |
| 6 | Pasadena City College Pasadena Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 7 | MiraCosta College Oceanside Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 8 | Chabot College Hayward Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 9 | College of the Canyons Santa Clarita Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit | 30 | $43,146 |
ShowHide the other 80 California colleges offering Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees?+
Los Angeles Valley College (401 graduates a year), Loyola Marymount University (132 graduates a year) and University of Southern California (103 graduates a year) award the most Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 90 California colleges offer Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations.
Which Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of San Francisco tops the list at $43,146. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in California is $152,250 (median $124,390), across about 300,840 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program?+
The Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to create and manage small businesses effectively. It is ideal for individuals looking to pursue careers in entrepreneurship,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card