The Best Bachelor's in Marketing Programs in California for 2027

The University of San Francisco offers a bachelor's degree in marketing through its McLaren School of Management. The curriculum builds a foundation in the principles and tools of marketing, teaching students to understand and prioritize consumer needs when building products and services. Coursework explores social media and digital marketing, branding, public relations and advertising strategy, and it examines the role marketing plays in society. The school also describes community-engaged learning, where students apply what they know to help local leaders and nonprofit organizations improve their operations. Students can join the Marketing Club or a Women in Business meeting, and career services supports internship searches with career fairs, resume writing and interview workshops.

The federal numbers show a 70% graduation rate and a 62% admit rate, so admission is selective but not extreme. In-state tuition is $59,950, and out-of-state tuition is the same $59,950, as at many private nonprofit schools. The program earns a Program Score of 89.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking here. It fits students who want a broad marketing foundation with a digital and community-service flavor, and who are comfortable with a private-college price tag.

Point Loma Nazarene University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a marketing major through the Fermanian School of Business. Coursework covers marketing principles, consumer behavior, research, social and digital media, and marketing strategy, complemented by personalized internships. The school says students earn relevant certifications and become proficient with current marketing tools. Student groups include the Marketing Club and the American Marketing Association. A Marketing Advisory Board of more than 40 marketing professionals supports the program, and students can join international trips. The stated objectives are preparing responsible and ethical marketers, encouraging inventive ideas with real-world applications, and building market-oriented skills in uncovering customer needs and measuring results.

Federal data show PLNU graduates 77% of its students and admits 84% of applicants. Tuition is listed at $45,300 for both in-state and out-of-state students, since it is a private university. The program has a Program Score of 82.9 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a values-driven approach to marketing, hands-on internship experience and a professional network built during college. Prospective students comparing majors may also read the school's guidance on choosing between marketing and communications.

Vanguard University of Southern California offers a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing that pairs marketing principles with a faith-based perspective on ethics and responsible leadership. The curriculum covers consumer behavior, branding and strategic marketing, and the school points to career paths ranging from brand management to social media strategy. Students gain practical experience through internships, industry partnerships and hands-on projects that connect theory to practice. Marketing majors can join the Vanguard chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America, and each graduating class of the Business and Management Department is automatically considered for Sigma Beta Delta, the international business honors society. Some courses taken through study abroad programs can count toward major requirements.

Federal data shows a 57% graduation rate and a 62% admit rate at Vanguard. Tuition is $40,800 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 78.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a values-oriented business education on a private campus in Costa Mesa and who plan to use internships and student organizations to build a professional network before graduating.

Menlo College's Marketing major is part of its Bachelor of Science in Business and covers sales, product development, digital marketing, advertising and marketing research. Required courses total 12 units: strategic marketing management, marketing research, consumer behavior and digital marketing. A required internship track adds 6 units, including a 4 unit internship completed in the summer. Students choose four electives from a list that includes integrated marketing communications, customer experience, price management, entrepreneurial marketing, sustainable product development, data visualization and a Silicon Valley immersion. The page points to careers such as marketing manager, product manager and sales manager.

Federal data show a 54% graduation rate and a 68% admit rate, with tuition of $52,700 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program's Program Score of 76.5 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The major fits students who want applied marketing practice and an employer placement built into the degree, in a small college setting. Students who want a larger program with many sections may find the scale different, and the internship requirement means planning a summer around work experience.

California State University-Northridge (CSUN) offers marketing as an option within its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics. All business majors share 27 units of lower division core and 18 units of upper division core, including a capstone. The Marketing option adds nine required units in marketing research, consumer behavior and marketing strategy, plus 11 to 12 units of electives, at least nine of them in marketing. Elective choices include digital marketing, social media marketing, pricing strategy, professional selling, retail management and international marketing. An experiential requirement of three units is met through an internship or a small business consulting course. The page describes the option as flexible enough to take courses outside marketing.

Federal data shows a 57% graduation rate at CSUN and a 93% admit rate. In-state tuition is $6,084 and out-of-state tuition is $18,684. The program earns a Program Score of 73.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a broad business foundation with a marketing emphasis and hands-on experience, and California residents benefit most from the lower in-state price. Transfer students should note that the college accepts no grade lower than a C from another institution for department requirements.

California Baptist University offers a Marketing, BS. The course page shows a lower-division business core that includes accounting, economics, financial management, statistics, business law and a Business IT Application course in which students can earn the Microsoft Office Specialist Excel Analyst certification. Upper-division marketing work includes Principles of Marketing, Marketing Research, Integrated Marketing Communications, a retail management course, and a course on visual analysis of business data using tools such as Tableau. Management Based on Biblical Principles is also part of the core. The page lists courses and class sections rather than total credit hours.

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 71.1 out of 100 is the basis of its ranking. The program fits students who want a business foundation underneath their marketing training, including research methods and data presentation, and who are looking for a faith-integrated campus experience at a private university. Students should check the current schedule of sections each term before planning their course sequence.

Woodbury University offers its marketing degree as a Bachelor of Business Administration in Fashion Marketing, through the Woodbury Business Institute. The page describes marketing for creative industries, pairing core business courses with fashion electives in buying, luxury brand marketing, management for e-commerce entrepreneurs and trend science for forecasting fashion trends. Majors study marketing theory, consumer behavior, brand marketing, digital strategy and international business, using case studies and industry collaborative research. Early courses include Fashion Fundamentals, Trend Analysis, Fundamentals of Business, Principles of Marketing and Legal Environment of Business. The page notes that up to 57 units can transfer in. A BBA-MBA accelerated program is also listed.

Woodbury graduates 60% of its students and admits 82% of applicants. Tuition is $45,562 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The Program Score is 70.3 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The program fits students drawn to fashion and creative industries who want a business credential, and transfer students who can use the 57-unit allowance. Students seeking a general marketing curriculum should note the fashion focus.