Best colleges for Marketing in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Santa Clara University, University of San Diego and Menlo College are the top bachelor's Marketing programs in California by graduate earnings. Santa Clara University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $58,493, College Scorecard. Loyola Marymount University, Santa Clara University and University of San Diego award the most Marketing degrees in California: 160, 134 and 88 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 California colleges offer Marketing and award 768 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Marketing program focuses on the principles and practices involved in promoting products and services. It is designed for students interested in understanding market dynamics, consumer behavior, and strategic communication. This…
Top 7 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 | $58,493 | 134 | 88% | $44,094 | $19,712 |
| 2 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $56,313 | 88 | 84% | $26,035 | $21,375 |
| 3 | Menlo College Atherton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,788 | 45 | 54% | $26,655 | $24,476 |
| 4 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,281 | 160 | 79% | $36,488 | $25,000 |
| 5 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,891 | 74 | 70% | $37,121 | $21,500 |
| 6 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,108 | 49 | 62% | $26,940 | $27,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,016 | 33 | 57% | — | $14,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Marketing 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 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 160 | $48,281 |
| 2 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara Private not-for-profit | 134 | $58,493 |
| 3 | University of San Diego San Diego Private not-for-profit | 88 | $56,313 |
| 4 | University of San Francisco San Francisco Private not-for-profit | 74 | $44,891 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 53 | Not reported |
| 6 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit | 49 | $41,108 |
| 7 | Menlo College Atherton Private not-for-profit | 45 | $49,788 |
| 8 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 33 | $37,016 |
| 9 | Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 28 | Not reported |
| 10 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa Private not-for-profit | 17 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 11 California colleges offering Marketing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Master's University and Seminary | Santa Clarita | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| La Sierra University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Westcliff University | Irvine | Private for-profit | 10 |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Canada College | Redwood City | Public | 6 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Woodbury University | Burbank | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Los Angeles Pacific University (Online) | San Dimas | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Marketing Managers (SOC 11-2021).
Top skills
What Marketing Managers earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Marketing programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Marketing degrees?+
Loyola Marymount University (160 graduates a year), Santa Clara University (134 graduates a year) and University of San Diego (88 graduates a year) award the most Marketing degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 California colleges offer Marketing.
What is the best college for Marketing in California?+
By graduate earnings, Santa Clara University leads among bachelor's Marketing programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $58,493, College Scorecard. University of San Diego and Menlo College follow. By degrees awarded, Loyola Marymount University is the largest, with 160 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Marketing 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 $58,493. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Marketing Managers earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Marketing Managers in California is $207,860 (median $193,620), across about 54,660 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Marketing program?+
The Marketing program focuses on the principles and practices involved in promoting products and services. It is designed for students interested in understanding market dynamics, consumer behavior, and strategic communication. This…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Marketing Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +6.6% growth with around 34,300 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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