2021 California Best College Rankings
At a Glance
Stanford University ranked first and California Institute of Technology ranked second in California college rankings. The 2020 average tuition & fees of the California best colleges is $25,708 for California residents and $32,567 for out-of-state students. The average acceptance rate is 57.63% and the average SAT score is 1,192. The average number of student population is 11,000 and the average student to faculty ratio is 15 to 1.
Below statements summarize the average statistics of tuition, admission, and more academic factors for California best colleges. For the statistics, we only include 4 years colleges such as national universities and liberal arts colleges.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $32,567 and University of Southern California has the highest tuition & fees of $60,275 and California University of Management and Sciences has the lowest tuition & fees of $6,330.
- The average graduate tuition & fees is $23,074 and Claremont McKenna College has the highest tuition & fees of $64,288 and United States University has the lowest tuition & fees of $5,850.
- The average SAT score is 1,192 and California Institute of Technology has the highest SAT score of 1,545 and Holy Names University has the lowest score of 800.
- The average acceptance rate is 57.63% and Stanford University has the tightest (lowest) rate of 4% and Notre Dame de Namur University has the loosest (lowest) rate of 100%.
- The average student population is 11,000 and University of Southern California has the most students of 47,310 and California University of Management and Sciences has the fewest students of 20.
- The average graduation rate is 65.30% and American Jewish University has the highest rate of 100% and Ashford University has the lowest rate of 8%.
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California Best Colleges Comparison Table
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $56,169 | $53,151 | 1,505 | 4.00% | 17,381 | 94% | 5 to 1 |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA | $56,862 | $56,649 | 1,545 | 6.00% | 2,233 | 94% | 3 to 1 |
| 3 | Pomona College Claremont, CA | $54,774 | - | 1,465 | 7.00% | 1,573 | 93% | 7 to 1 |
| 4 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | $56,475 | $64,288 | 1,435 | 10.00% | 1,327 | 91% | 8 to 1 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $43,003 | $28,131 | 1,415 | 12.00% | 44,537 | 92% | 18 to 1 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | $44,066 | $29,347 | 1,430 | 16.00% | 42,501 | 93% | 20 to 1 |
| 7 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $60,275 | $48,715 | 1,445 | 11.00% | 47,310 | 92% | 9 to 1 |
| 8 | Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA | $58,660 | - | 1,530 | 14.00% | 902 | 92% | 8 to 1 |
| 9 | Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA | $33,962 | $33,962 | 1,335 | 40.00% | 442 | 89% | 8 to 1 |
| 10 | Scripps College Claremont, CA | $57,188 | $46,774 | 1,412 | 32.00% | 1,071 | 90% | 10 to 1 |
| 11 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | $44,402 | $28,631 | 1,370 | 31.00% | 37,887 | 87% | 19 to 1 |
| 12 | Thomas Aquinas College Santa Paula, CA | $26,000 | - | 1,270 | 79.00% | 407 | 84% | 11 to 1 |
| 13 | Pitzer College Claremont, CA | $55,878 | - | - | 14.00% | 1,072 | 85% | 10 to 1 |
| 14 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | $44,160 | $28,656 | 1,355 | 30.00% | 25,976 | 83% | 22 to 1 |
| 15 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | $43,507 | $28,456 | 1,295 | 27.00% | 36,032 | 84% | 18 to 1 |
| 16 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | $44,351 | $28,700 | 1,290 | 39.00% | 38,167 | 87% | 20 to 1 |
| 17 | Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | $52,998 | $23,507 | 1,360 | 49.00% | 8,642 | 91% | 10 to 1 |
| 18 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | $58,002 | $36,320 | 1,340 | 32.00% | 7,961 | 86% | 14 to 1 |
| 19 | Chapman University Orange, CA | $57,214 | $35,105 | 1,285 | 56.00% | 9,608 | 81% | 13 to 1 |
| 20 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CA | $56,576 | $56,576 | 1,390 | 37.00% | 1,930 | 86% | 9 to 1 |
| 21 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | $43,779 | $28,952 | 1,290 | 51.00% | 19,700 | 75% | 19 to 1 |
| 22 | University of San Diego San Diego, CA | $52,864 | $28,410 | 1,280 | 49.00% | 9,073 | 81% | 14 to 1 |
| 23 | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Monterey, CA | $41,764 | $41,764 | - | - | 670 | - | 1 to 1 |
| 24 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | $25,971 | $20,881 | 1,340 | 28.00% | 22,013 | 82% | 21 to 1 |
| 25 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA | $52,977 | $19,756 | 1,320 | 44.00% | 9,838 | 80% | 10 to 1 |
| 26 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA | $19,600 | $18,658 | 1,215 | 34.00% | 35,303 | 73% | 27 to 1 |
| 27 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA | $43,778 | $28,686 | 1,230 | 57.00% | 23,922 | 76% | 23 to 1 |
| 28 | University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA | $52,482 | $26,710 | 1,230 | 64.00% | 10,713 | 75% | 13 to 1 |
| 29 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | $18,714 | $17,784 | 1,145 | 39.00% | 37,466 | 74% | 23 to 1 |
| 30 | Biola University La Mirada, CA | $43,512 | $11,772 | 1,195 | 70.00% | 6,109 | 74% | 14 to 1 |
| 31 | The Master's University Santa Clarita, CA | $28,740 | $10,590 | 1,120 | 67.00% | 2,057 | 70% | 10 to 1 |
| 32 | Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CA | $50,660 | $33,509 | 1,150 | 81.00% | 3,881 | 78% | 11 to 1 |
| 33 | University of Redlands Redlands, CA | $52,500 | $22,852 | 1,170 | 76.00% | 4,598 | 76% | 12 to 1 |
| 34 | Mills College Oakland, CA | $30,770 | $36,263 | 1,148 | 76.00% | 1,257 | 57% | 11 to 1 |
| 35 | California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | $19,378 | $18,437 | - | 81.00% | 10,816 | 43% | 24 to 1 |
| 36 | University of the Pacific Stockton, CA | $51,094 | $49,374 | 1,240 | 66.00% | 6,493 | 71% | 13 to 1 |
| 37 | University of California-Merced Merced, CA | $43,854 | $43,854 | 1,090 | 72.00% | 8,544 | 69% | 20 to 1 |
| 38 | Dominican University of California San Rafael, CA | $47,910 | $16,520 | 1,125 | 91.00% | 1,779 | 70% | 9 to 1 |
| 39 | California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA | $18,833 | $17,892 | 1,115 | 53.00% | 40,280 | 69% | 25 to 1 |
| 40 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA | $19,318 | $18,377 | 1,140 | 55.00% | 26,598 | 69% | 28 to 1 |
| 41 | University of La Verne La Verne, CA | $45,850 | $14,526 | 1,115 | 55.00% | 8,064 | 73% | 14 to 1 |
| 42 | San Jose State University San Jose, CA | $19,732 | $18,790 | 1,140 | 64.00% | 35,400 | 64% | 26 to 1 |
| 43 | California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA | $18,832 | $17,936 | 1,000 | 69.00% | 20,238 | 55% | 29 to 1 |
| 44 | California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA | $18,523 | $17,581 | 1,035 | 58.00% | 25,137 | 56% | 23 to 1 |
| 45 | Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CA | $36,550 | $16,180 | 1,065 | 49.00% | 2,169 | 59% | 15 to 1 |
| 46 | Westmont College Santa Barbara, CA | $48,180 | - | 1,215 | 65.00% | 1,277 | 79% | 11 to 1 |
| 47 | California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $18,661 | $17,723 | 985 | 48.00% | 28,036 | 52% | 24 to 1 |
| 48 | Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA | $38,300 | $11,880 | 1,225 | 74.00% | 4,592 | 75% | 14 to 1 |
| 49 | California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA | $18,897 | $17,955 | 1,020 | 59.00% | 40,212 | 55% | 26 to 1 |
| 50 | California State University-Chico Chico, CA | $19,744 | $18,802 | 1,090 | 72.00% | 17,578 | 67% | 24 to 1 |
| 51 | Trident University International Cypress, CA | $9,240 | $6,120 | - | 49.00% | 6,861 | 11% | 16 to 1 |
| 52 | California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, CA | $19,592 | $18,661 | 1,045 | 62.00% | 15,972 | 54% | 25 to 1 |
| 53 | Simpson University Redding, CA | $33,630 | $13,140 | 1,035 | 52.00% | 834 | 45% | 11 to 1 |
| 54 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA | $18,886 | $17,944 | 1,045 | 67.00% | 29,778 | 57% | 23 to 1 |
| 55 | Whittier College Whittier, CA | $49,514 | $14,742 | 1,129 | 57.00% | 1,852 | 72% | 11 to 1 |
| 56 | California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA | $19,298 | $18,356 | 1,040 | 82.00% | 31,902 | 55% | 26 to 1 |
| 57 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CA | $45,982 | $20,600 | 1,160 | 71.00% | 4,383 | 68% | 16 to 1 |
| 58 | La Sierra University Riverside, CA | $35,208 | $14,070 | 1,030 | 55.00% | 2,339 | 47% | 12 to 1 |
| 59 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA | $33,452 | $15,000 | 1,040 | 66.00% | 4,292 | 67% | 13 to 1 |
| 60 | Woodbury University Burbank, CA | $42,596 | $41,670 | 1,080 | 66.00% | 1,173 | 54% | 9 to 1 |
| 61 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA | $19,832 | $18,890 | 1,070 | 91.00% | 9,459 | 62% | 23 to 1 |
| 62 | California Baptist University Riverside, CA | $36,340 | $14,140 | 1,100 | 78.00% | 10,486 | 63% | 14 to 1 |
| 63 | Brandman University Irvine, CA | $12,480 | $12,320 | - | 89.00% | 8,766 | 60% | 17 to 1 |
| 64 | California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, CA | $19,027 | $18,081 | 1,063 | 75.00% | 7,540 | 63% | 24 to 1 |
| 65 | Providence Christian College Pasadena, CA | $33,396 | - | - | 42.00% | 171 | 41% | 15 to 1 |
| 66 | Holy Names University Oakland, CA | $40,904 | $18,590 | 800 | 63.00% | 960 | 48% | 7 to 1 |
| 67 | Concordia University-Irvine Irvine, CA | $38,000 | $8,121 | 1,100 | 71.00% | 4,162 | 63% | 16 to 1 |
| 68 | DeVry University-California Ontario, CA | $17,808 | $17,552 | - | 95.00% | 2,499 | 28% | 17 to 1 |
| 69 | Humboldt State University Arcata, CA | $19,738 | $18,802 | 1,085 | 92.00% | 7,972 | 49% | 21 to 1 |
| 70 | Hope International University Fullerton, CA | $34,450 | $14,916 | 990 | 37.00% | 1,253 | 54% | 13 to 1 |
| 71 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA | $41,410 | $16,571 | 1,145 | 67.00% | 10,095 | 68% | 11 to 1 |
| 72 | Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles, CA | $44,474 | $12,612 | 1,045 | 90.00% | 2,965 | 65% | 9 to 1 |
| 73 | American Jewish University Los Angeles, CA | $32,404 | $32,301 | - | 96.00% | 168 | 100% | 7 to 1 |
| 74 | California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, CA | $19,464 | $18,540 | - | 89.00% | 10,577 | 59% | 22 to 1 |
| 75 | California State University-East Bay Hayward, CA | $18,770 | $17,828 | - | 76.00% | 15,628 | 50% | 26 to 1 |
| 76 | California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA | $18,821 | $17,884 | - | 77.00% | 16,732 | 44% | 25 to 1 |
| 77 | California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo, CA | $18,682 | $17,755 | - | 86.00% | 7,488 | 54% | 22 to 1 |
| 78 | Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont, CA | $36,596 | $17,362 | 985 | 100.00% | 1,492 | 52% | 11 to 1 |
| 79 | Alliant International University San Diego, CA | $13,680 | $24,615 | - | 67.00% | 3,780 | 16% | 13 to 1 |
| 80 | Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA | - | - | - | - | 2,737 | - | - |
| 81 | Claremont Graduate University Claremont, CA | $35,639 | $36,380 | - | - | 1,882 | - | - |
| 82 | National University La Jolla, CA | $13,320 | $15,480 | 960 | 89.00% | 16,930 | 29% | 19 to 1 |
| 83 | Northcentral University La Jolla, CA | $12,474 | $18,095 | - | - | 10,535 | - | 1 to 1 |
| 84 | Antioch University-Los Angeles Culver City, CA | $20,670 | $16,716 | - | - | 802 | - | 3 to 1 |
| 85 | Golden Gate University-San Francisco San Francisco, CA | $16,095 | $19,705 | - | - | 2,515 | - | 14 to 1 |
| 86 | Touro University Worldwide Los Alamitos, CA | $14,600 | $9,000 | - | - | 1,672 | 100% | 9 to 1 |
| 87 | Keck Graduate Institute Claremont, CA | $39,389 | $38,808 | - | - | 617 | - | - |
| 89 | Antioch University-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | $18,120 | $19,283 | - | - | 344 | - | 3 to 1 |
| 90 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA | $24,664 | $27,688 | - | - | 10,616 | 45% | 14 to 1 |
| 91 | California Institute of Integral Studies San Francisco, CA | $20,980 | $22,188 | - | - | 1,452 | - | 12 to 1 |
| 92 | John F. Kennedy University Pleasant Hill, CA | $8,500 | $8,500 | - | 100.00% | 975 | - | 6 to 1 |
| 93 | Ashford University San Diego, CA | $14,278 | $14,664 | - | - | 34,710 | 8% | 14 to 1 |
| 94 | Los Angeles Pacific University San Dimas, CA | $10,800 | $10,800 | - | - | 2,360 | 22% | 23 to 1 |
| 95 | California University of Management and Sciences Anaheim, CA | $6,330 | $8,010 | - | - | 20 | - | 24 to 1 |
| 96 | United States University San Diego, CA | $6,480 | $5,850 | - | - | 790 | - | 13 to 1 |
| 97 | Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, CA | $17,295 | $17,292 | - | - | 989 | - | - |
| 98 | International Technological University San Jose, CA | $18,199 | $21,842 | - | - | 558 | - | - |
| 99 | Marymount California University Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | $36,908 | $15,375 | - | - | 761 | 33% | 17 to 1 |
| 101 | University of Phoenix-California Ontario, CA | $9,552 | $16,752 | - | - | 6,952 | 22% | 17 to 1 |
| 102 | University of the West Rosemead, CA | $13,556 | $12,800 | - | - | 291 | 17% | 10 to 1 |
| 105 | Presidio Graduate School San Francisco, CA | $28,864 | $27,200 | - | - | 120 | - | - |
| Average | $32,567 | $23,074 | 1,192 | 57.63% | 11,000 | 65% | 15 to 1 |
