2026 Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools in California
[Organizational Leadership](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/organizational-leadership/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools to find the best return on investment for organizational leadership students.
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2026 Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the organizational leadership degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Organizational Leadership Schools
Leading the list is California State University Dominguez Hills, our #1 best value for organizational leadership in California. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $65,257. Set against $15,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes California State University Stanislaus one of the best values for organizational leadership. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,242, while out-of-state students pay about $20,842. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $14,158. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $62,204. That is a strong return on a $14,158 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Fresno Pacific University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,660. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $55,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fresno Pacific University admits about 64% of applicants.
San Diego Christian College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. Set in the suburb of Santee, San Diego Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,012. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $38,213. San Diego Christian College admits about 31% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in organizational leadership will find it at Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses, which ranked #5. Humphreys College Stockton And Modesto Campuses is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,500. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $44,638 in student loans. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $60,322. That is a strong return on a $44,638 median debt.
Vanguard University Of Southern California came in at #6 for value in organizational leadership this year. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,700. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $58,539. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Azusa Pacific University placed #7 among the best values for organizational leadership. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,458. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $24,891. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,461. That is a strong return on a $24,891 median debt. Azusa Pacific University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Redlands placed #8 among the best values for organizational leadership. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,878. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $74,537. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Azusa Pacific University College earned the #9 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Set in the suburb of San Dimas, Azusa Pacific University College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,360. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $33,052 in student loans. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University College generally make around $73,937.
Mount St Marys College placed #10 among the best values for organizational leadership. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,564. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $35,859 in student loans. Organizational Leadership graduates of Mount St Marys College earn a median of $69,277 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
William Jessup University placed #11 among the best values for organizational leadership. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, William Jessup University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $23,738 in student loans. Organizational Leadership graduates of William Jessup University earn a median of $57,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,738 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California Lutheran University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. Students from in state pay about $52,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $23,250. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $81,211. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Ashford University came in at #13 for value in organizational leadership this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,960. Students borrow a median of $35,861 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Ashford University generally make around $67,902. Set against $35,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of La Verne landed the #14 spot for organizational leadership value this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $57,154. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of La Verne admits about 71% of applicants.
California Baptist University earned the #15 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,228. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $49,129 in student loans. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $67,912. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Simpson University landed the #16 spot for organizational leadership value this year. Set in the city of Redding, Simpson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,708. Students borrow a median of $20,708 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Simpson University generally make around $59,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Irvine earned the #17 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $43,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,822 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Early-career organizational leadership graduates make about $60,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
National University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value organizational leadership schools. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $26,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from National University generally make around $68,991. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earned the #19 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,540 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $37,207. Organizational Leadership graduates of Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn a median of $74,001 early in their careers. Set against $37,207 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The Masters College And Seminary earned the #20 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, The Masters College And Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,020. Typical student debt for organizational leadership graduates is $20,889. Organizational Leadership graduates of The Masters College And Seminary earn a median of $54,397 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,889 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Pepperdine University placed #21 among the best values for organizational leadership. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,918. Organizational Leadership graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Organizational Leadership graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $90,910 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #22 position for value in organizational leadership this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,250. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the organizational leadership program here. Soon after graduation, organizational leadership degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $63,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Point Loma Nazarene University admits about 84% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
