Best Business/Commerce, General Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
5
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
+$570,051
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$56,632
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate: 80.6% |
+$988,646 | $99,019 | $75,867 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Grad rate: 85.3% |
+$590,104 | $74,497 | $29,918 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of Redlands
Grad rate: 69.0% |
+$545,074 | $76,277 | $70,233 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
California Baptist University
Grad rate: 61.2% |
+$433,564 | $68,919 | $52,408 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Azusa Pacific University
Grad rate: 62.8% |
+$292,870 | $62,117 | $54,735 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Business/Commerce, General Degrees by State
Browse Business/Commerce, General programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.