Business Administration, Management and Operations at National University

National University's business program ranks in the 95th percentile nationally for earnings—impressive on paper—but that success looks more modest when you zoom into California. At $61,299 starting, graduates earn well above the national median for business programs but land squarely in the middle of California's competitive landscape (60th percentile). They're making about 24% more than the typical California business graduate, yet still trailing schools like Cal Poly SLO and USC by $10,000 or more.

The debt picture works in this program's favor. With $26,818 in median loans and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44, graduates can realistically manage repayment while building careers. That's particularly important for the 26% of students here on Pell grants. The 7% earnings growth over four years is modest but steady, suggesting graduates find stable corporate roles rather than explosive career trajectories.

For California families, this represents a practical path into business management—you'll earn enough to justify the investment and outpace most national competitors, even if you're not reaching Silicon Valley tech salaries. If your child can access California's flagship schools, those offer stronger earnings potential. But National University delivers solid ROI for students who need flexibility or are building business careers outside the state's most elite employers.