The Best Business Schools in Riverside for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Riverside
- University of California-Riverside ranks #1 in the Riverside area on an 88.1 Program Score, with a 76% graduation rate.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, California State University-San Bernardino, ranks #5.
- Programs analyzed
- 65
- Schools ranked
- 8
- Tuition range
- $6,084-$60,128
- Average graduation rate
- 57%
We analyzed 65 accredited business programs in Riverside and the surrounding metro and ranked 8 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 8 ranked schools runs from $6,084 to $60,128 a year, a $54,044 spread for the same credential.
University of California-Riverside leads with an 88.1 Program Score on a 76% graduation rate, at $12,260 a year. Across all 8 ranked business schools in Riverside the average graduation rate is 57%, ranging from 22% to 76%. 2 of the 8 are public and 6 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
The Top Business Schools in Riverside at a Glance
California-Riverside leads at 88.1, and DeVry-California closes the chart at 64.3. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Business Schools in Riverside Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 8 Best Business Schools in Riverside, Ranked for 2027
The 8 best Business Schools in Riverside, ranked by outcomes.
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 76%
- Admit rate
- 76%
- In-state
- $12,260
- Out-of-state
- $44,148
Students pick one of seven concentrations inside a 77-unit upper-division business major, including an Accelerated Finance option.
- 76% graduation rate
- Program Score 88.1
- $12,260 in-state tuition
- Seven concentrations
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of California, Riverside is built around 77 upper-division units. The major consists of eleven core courses, six concentration courses and two upper-division business electives. Students select one concentration, and the degree plans listed on the page cover Accounting, Business Analytics, Finance, Accelerated Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, and Operations and Supply Chain Management. The Accounting and Auditing concentration, for example, runs 24 units and draws on intermediate financial accounting, auditing, taxation and forensic and fraud auditing. The Finance concentration lets students follow an investment track or a corporate finance track, and the page says a track does not appear on the transcript. The school recommends consulting an academic advisor each quarter to stay on schedule for graduation.
UC Riverside graduates 76% of its students and admits 76% of applicants. In-state tuition is $12,260, against $44,148 for out-of-state students. The program earns a Program Score of 88.1 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who already lean toward a specialty such as accounting, analytics or supply chain and are ready to commit to a concentration, and who will use the quarter system and its advising structure to plan a path to graduation.
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 83%
- In-state
- $60,128
- Out-of-state
- $60,128
The University of Redlands' on-campus BS in Business Administration covers corporate, nonprofit and governmental organizations, with paid internship opportunities.
- 67% graduation rate
- Program Score 83.6
- $60,128 in-state tuition
- On-campus, small classes, paid internships
The University of Redlands offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through its College of Arts and Sciences, taught on campus. The page describes a view of corporate, non-profit and governmental organizations and the legal and strategic environments they work in. Prerequisites include economics, global marketing, financial and managerial accounting, statistics and business law, and the department encourages students to finish most of them by the end of sophomore year. The page states a 2.7 cumulative GPA requirement to enroll in BUS 226. Upper-level work includes management, financial management, human resource management, ethics and a business policy and strategy course, plus an advanced analysis elective. The page cites small classes, in-person advising and opportunities for paid internships.
Redlands graduates 67% of its students and admits 83% of applicants. Tuition is $60,128 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 83.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a residential liberal arts setting, small classes and a broad grounding that keeps graduate study in fields such as healthcare, law or human resources open. Students on a tighter budget should compare the sticker price against the aid the school offers.
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 62%
- Admit rate
- 85%
- In-state
- $39,078
- Out-of-state
- $39,078
A 60-unit business administration major with eight concentrations, where students start a micro-enterprise in an early course.
- Program Score 82
- 62% graduation rate
- $39,078 tuition
- Eight concentrations, 60 units
California Baptist University offers a Business Administration, BS through the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business. The page lists 60 units and eight concentrations, including Management, Real Estate Management, Social Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Business Analysis and Insights. In BUS 101, students create a micro-enterprise and donate the profits to charity. Students can enter the Bob Goodrich Business Plan Competition, join a mentoring program with business executives, or take a two-week summer program at Oxford University. The school reports ACBSP accreditation for several majors and notes that its faculty teach ethics from a Christian perspective.
Federal data shows a 62% graduation rate at California Baptist and an 85% admit rate. Tuition is $39,078 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The Program Score of 82 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want a hands-on, faith-based business degree with room to specialize, and who are comfortable with private-university pricing in exchange for campus experiences such as internships and competitions. The page also lists careers such as sales manager, business analyst and operations manager.
Platt College-Riverside
Riverside, CA · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $14,847
- Out-of-state
- $14,847
A hybrid business management program at Riverside that can run as little as 13 months for the associate degree or 25 months on the ground for the bachelor's.
- 58% graduation rate
- Program Score 75.5
- $14,847 in-state tuition
- Hybrid online and on-ground
Platt College Riverside teaches business management as a hybrid program, with each course set in advance as either online or on the ground. The page lists the associate degree as possible in as little as 13 months and says a bachelor's degree in business management is available through the Riverside campus 25-month on-ground program. Coursework covers business planning, business law, marketing, finance and accounting, human resources, eCommerce and ethics, and the program ends with a capstone that includes a business plan. Projects and case studies apply the material to real situations. There is no clinical or externship component. The college is institutionally accredited by the ACCSC and has full-time on-site career services.
Federal data shows a 58% graduation rate, and the college is open admission. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same, $14,847. The Program Score of 75.5 is the basis of the ranking of this program. The program fits students in the Inland Empire who want a structured, cohort-style sequence with a mix of online and campus classes and no admission screening.
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · Public
- Grad rate
- 55%
- Admit rate
- 94%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
A Jack H. Brown College MBA that the school reports as AACSB accredited, offered with evening, weekend and online course options.
- 55% graduation rate
- Program Score 75.2
- Evening, weekend and online courses
- AACSB accreditation reported by the school
California State University, San Bernardino offers a Master of Business Administration through its Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration. The school reports AACSB accreditation for the MBA. The program states that it prepares students for positions of responsibility and leadership, with learning outcomes in specialized business knowledge, written and oral communication, ethical reasoning in a global context, and problem solving with information technology. Courses are offered in evening, weekend and online options, which suits students who work while they study. The page also lists a merit scholarship, graduate assistantships, professional development funds, study abroad opportunities, a dedicated internship coordinator and a career counselor.
The federal numbers add context. Cal State San Bernardino reports a 55% graduation rate and admits 94% of applicants, so entry is broad rather than tightly selective. The program earns a Program Score of 75.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals who want an AACSB-accredited MBA on a flexible schedule and who value access to scholarships, assistantships and a dedicated internship coordinator.
Platt College-Ontario
Ontario, CA · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $14,847
- Out-of-state
- $14,847
Platt College's hybrid Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration can be finished in as little as 15 months by students who already hold an associate degree.
- Program Score 74.9
- 58% graduation rate
- $14,847 in-state tuition
- Hybrid format, as little as 15 months
Platt College offers a hybrid Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration for students who come from a healthcare background and hold an academic associate degree or higher. Courses are taught through a combination of online and on-campus sessions, and each course is set in advance as either online or on-ground. The school says the program supplements clinical knowledge with a foundation in business and management fundamentals, and that class schedules are flexible for working professionals. Platt states that students can earn the bachelor's in as little as 15 months, with cohort start times varying by campus. The program is offered at the Alhambra, Anaheim, Ontario and Riverside campuses. The college reports accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Platt College-Ontario is open admission and reports a 58% graduation rate. Tuition is $14,847 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 74.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits healthcare workers with an associate credential who want a path into administrative roles without leaving their current jobs, and who are comfortable with a mix of classroom and online study in Southern California.
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 91%
- In-state
- $36,720
- Out-of-state
- $36,720
A School of Business with majors from finance and marketing to health care management, small classes and internship opportunities.
- Program Score 70.4
- 60% graduation rate
- $36,720 in-state tuition
- Majors from finance to health care management
La Sierra University's Zapara School of Business lists majors including Business and Society, Finance, Health Care Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Management and Marketing, plus Digital Media and Marketing, with minors in management and marketing. Program fact sheets on the page give a four year completion time and unit totals such as 72 for finance and 62 for health care management. The school describes small classes, professors with business experience, a values-driven curriculum that ties business practice to ethics and social entrepreneurship, and internship opportunities in a range of business settings. Students can also join the university's Enactus team.
Federal data show a 60% graduation rate and a 91% admit rate, with tuition of $36,720 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program's Program Score of 70.4 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want a faith-linked business education in a small school, and who want room to choose among several specializations after a shared foundation. Students who prefer a single narrowly defined major should check which of the listed majors matches their goal.
DeVry University-California
Ontario, CA · For-profit
- Grad rate
- 22%
- Admit rate
- 99%
- In-state
- $16,448
- Out-of-state
- $16,448
A 120-credit bachelor's in business administration with multiple specializations and an immersive senior business-plan project.
- 22% graduation rate
- Program Score 64.3
- $16,448 in-state tuition
- Multiple specializations
DeVry University's Bachelor's in Business Administration is a 120-credit degree with 37 to 39 classes, offered with a class start every eight weeks. The curriculum covers management and leadership, business strategy and analytics, finance, project management and communication, and includes classes such as Contemporary Business, Managerial Accounting, Project Management and Introduction to AI and Business Analytics. Students work with case studies, business simulations and real-world software, and finish with a senior project that builds a mock business plan with target markets, customer needs and financials. Specializations listed include accounting, business intelligence and analytics management, finance, global supply chain management, health services management and hospitality management. The page describes the degree as accredited. Classes start every eight weeks.
For the California campus, federal data shows a 22% graduation rate and a 99% admit rate. In-state and out-of-state tuition are the same, $16,448. The Program Score of 64.3 is the basis of the ranking of this program. The program fits students who want a specialization early, flexible online scheduling and a project-based finish, and who will compare completion figures before enrolling.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Riverside
The median school on this list graduates 59% of its students. The highest rates belong to University of California-Riverside (76%) and University of Redlands (67%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 University of California-Riverside76% graduation rate
- #2 University of Redlands67% graduation rate
- #3 California Baptist University62% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Riverside?
On this list, 2 of 8 schools are open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 88%.
- #1 University of California-Riverside76% admitted
- #2 University of Redlands83% admitted
- #3 California Baptist University85% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Riverside
Enrollment on this list runs from 413 at Platt College-Riverside to 26,384 at University of California-Riverside. Of the 8, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 5 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Riverside Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of California-RiversideCalifornia-Riverside | $72,027 | $12,672 |
| #2 | University of RedlandsRedlands | $85,066 | $30,924 |
| #3 | California Baptist UniversityCalifornia Baptist | $80,632 | $24,138 |
| #5 | California State University-San BernardinoCalifornia State-San Bernardino | $109,028 | $3,946 |
| #6 | Platt College-OntarioPlatt College-Ontario | $42,114 | $23,246 |
| #8 | DeVry University-CaliforniaDeVry-California | $68,231 | $36,531 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $42,114 at Platt College-Ontario to $109,028 at California State-San Bernardino.
The highest-ranked school in the table, California-Riverside (#1), reports $72,027, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at California State-San Bernardino, $3,946 a year, and most at DeVry-California, $36,531.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Riverside Cost
Tuition across the 8 ranked schools runs from $6,084 to $60,128 a year. California State University-San Bernardino anchors the low end at $6,084 a year, while University of Redlands sits at the top at $60,128. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Riverside is California State University-San Bernardino at $6,084; the cheapest private is Platt College-Riverside at $14,847.
Over the four years a bachelor's takes, that is roughly $24,336 in tuition at California State University-San Bernardino against about $240,512 at University of Redlands. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Riverside from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Riverside
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Riverside do not all offer the same ones. Across the 65 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Riverside are business administration (8 schools), healthcare administration (8 schools), accounting (6 schools), finance (3 schools), and marketing (2 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 6 of the schools analyzed in Riverside run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Riverside
2 of the 8 ranked business schools in Riverside are public and 6 are private, and that split drives most of the $54,044 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: California State University-San Bernardino charges $6,084 in-state and $18,684 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Riverside
The 8 ranked schools sit across 4 towns in the metro, among them Riverside, Redlands, and San Bernardino, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Riverside: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Riverside?
By Program Score, University of California-Riverside ranks first among the 8 ranked business schools in Riverside, with an 88.1 score and a 76% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Riverside?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Riverside, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Riverside?
Tuition among the ranked Riverside schools runs from $6,084 to $60,128 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Riverside living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Riverside does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 65 accredited business programs across Riverside and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 8 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Riverside metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Riverside instead of online?
None of the 8 ranked schools lists a confirmed online option, so studying in Riverside means being on campus. An accredited online program from elsewhere carries identical standing on a transcript; what a local campus adds is proximity to the employers its school recruits into.