Best colleges for accounting in California

Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in accounting, ranked by Compass Score.

Best colleges for accounting in California42 schools

42 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in California.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Offers a bachelor’s program in accounting, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B+ · Top 22%
2
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B · Top 46%
3
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
4
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B · Top 47%
5
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B-
6
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B-
7
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
8
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade A · Top 5%
9
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 7% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
10
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 6% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B
11
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 9% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
12
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B+ · Top 25%
13
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
14
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 5% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
15
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 5% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
16
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 12% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
17
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B
18
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · Public
Top 8% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade A+ · Top 2%
19
Biola University
La Mirada, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 24% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade C+
20
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 12% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B-
21
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 8% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B
22
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 18% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade B · Top 36%
23
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · Public
Top 20% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade A · Top 5%
24
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public
Top 8% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
25
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · Public
Top 3% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in accounting
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Claremont McKenna College	$28,849	$13,500	$104,736	91%
University of Southern California	$32,740	$18,000	$92,498	92%
Harvey Mudd College	$35,924	$25,000	$138,687	92%
Scripps College	$36,294	$13,500	$77,539	83%
Pitzer College	$34,191	$16,750	$69,512	83%
Santa Clara University	$50,062	$19,162	$109,183	88%
Loyola Marymount University	$48,381	$19,500	$78,349	79%
San Diego State University	$15,364	$15,000	$64,909	76%
Pepperdine University	$58,098	$23,510	$82,939	83%
University of San Diego	$30,365	$22,940	$86,522	84%
Chapman University	$46,555	$20,500	$70,070	82%
University of the Pacific	$25,447	$19,500	$78,445	69%
California State University-Long Beach	$10,440	$14,289	$64,403	69%
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses	$5,524	$35,500	$39,248	62%
University of San Francisco	$41,431	$23,000	$89,812	70%
Point Loma Nazarene University	$38,729	$22,990	$63,998	77%
California Lutheran University	$30,109	$21,669	$68,712	70%
San Jose State University	$13,760	$15,000	$78,988	69%
Biola University	$31,495	$23,875	$56,778	68%
University of Redlands	$30,031	$26,000	$72,690	67%
Saint Mary's College of California	$30,378	$23,691	$78,812	70%
Azusa Pacific University	$22,212	$23,219	$66,677	62%
California State University-Chico	$14,480	$16,552	$64,172	63%
California State University-Fresno	$7,000	$14,505	$61,244	57%
California State University-San Bernardino	$4,564	$14,715	$59,977	55%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Best colleges for accounting in California

How this list is made

Claremont McKenna College

University of Southern California

Harvey Mudd College

Scripps College

Pitzer College

Santa Clara University

Loyola Marymount University

San Diego State University

Pepperdine University

University of San Diego

Chapman University

University of the Pacific

California State University-Long Beach

Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses

University of San Francisco

Point Loma Nazarene University

California Lutheran University

San Jose State University

Biola University

University of Redlands

Saint Mary's College of California

Azusa Pacific University

California State University-Chico

California State University-Fresno

California State University-San Bernardino

Compare cost and outcomes

This list in other states

What would it cost your family?

Reach, Target or Likely?

Will you get in?