100 Best colleges for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences in California, US
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. A graph of 42.7M citations received by 1.2M academic papers made by 143 universities in California was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.
We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.
1. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1540
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $18,279
2. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $21,669
- Enrollment
- 45,307
3. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 57%
- Average Aid
- $21,766
- Enrollment
- 46,430
4. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $36,808
5. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 24%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $20,782
- Enrollment
- 42,006
6. University of California - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 3,140
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1864
7. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
- Average Aid
- $20,548
- Enrollment
- 39,679
8. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 21%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $17,411
- Enrollment
- 35,937
9. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $20,389
- Enrollment
- 26,420
10. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $20,755
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $59,192
11. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $21,202
- Enrollment
- 19,478
12. University of California - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $22,042
- Enrollment
- 26,809
13. San Diego State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
- Average Aid
- $9,934
- Enrollment
- 37,402
14. San Jose State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
- Average Aid
- $9,210
- Enrollment
- 35,751
15. San Francisco State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 78%
- Average Aid
- $9,830
- Enrollment
- 25,282
16. California State University - Fullerton
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $9,194
- Enrollment
- 40,386
17. Santa Clara University
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Average SAT
- 1385
- Average ACT
- 31
- Net Price
- $50,551
18. California State University - Long Beach
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $9,478
- Enrollment
- 38,973
19. Loyola Marymount University
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1380
- Average ACT
- 31
- Net Price
- $52,815
20. Naval Postgraduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Enrollment
- 2,670
- Male:Female
- 78:22
- Founded
- 1909
21. University of San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Average SAT
- 1310
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $42,953
22. Claremont Graduate University
- Acceptance Rate
- 35%
- Enrollment
- 1,903
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1925
23. California State University - Northridge
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $10,511
- Enrollment
- 37,579
24. Loma Linda University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Enrollment
- 4,280
- Male:Female
- 33:67
- Founded
- 1905
25. California State University - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
- Average Aid
- $10,907
- Enrollment
- 26,460
26. John F. Kennedy University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Founded
- 1964
27. University of San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Net Price
- $36,008
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
- Average Aid
- $36,408
28. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
- Acceptance Rate
- 30%
- Receiving Aid
- 57%
- Average Aid
- $10,065
- Enrollment
- 22,000
29. California State University - Sacramento
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $9,590
- Enrollment
- 31,818
30. Chapman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $45,033
31. California State University - San Bernardino
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $9,871
- Enrollment
- 19,803
32. California State University - Fresno
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $9,968
- Enrollment
- 23,999
33. University of California - Merced
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $25,868
- Enrollment
- 9,103
34. Palo Alto University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Enrollment
- 1,129
- Male:Female
- 14:86
- Founded
- 1975
35. Humboldt State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Receiving Aid
- 76%
- Average Aid
- $9,262
- Enrollment
- 6,025
36. Pepperdine University
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1383
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $47,804
37. Pomona College
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $19,962
38. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
- Average Aid
- $9,040
- Enrollment
- 27,503
39. California State University - Chico
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 72%
- Average Aid
- $9,162
- Enrollment
- 14,183
40. Claremont McKenna College
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $28,701
41. Sonoma State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
- Average Aid
- $7,287
- Enrollment
- 6,637
42. Alliant International University - San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 0%
- Net Price
- $25,481
- Receiving Aid
- 33%
- Average Aid
- $9,411
43. California State University - San Marcos
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
- Average Aid
- $8,922
- Enrollment
- 15,109
44. University of the Pacific
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Average SAT
- 1272
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $28,164
45. Occidental College
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Average SAT
- 1440
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $44,853
46. California State University - Dominguez Hills
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $9,819
- Enrollment
- 16,426
47. Fuller Theological Seminary
- Enrollment
- 2,089
- Male:Female
- 53:47
48. Golden Gate University - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Enrollment
- 2,661
- Male:Female
- 55:45
- Founded
- 1901
49. Mills College
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Net Price
- $25,283
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $22,278
50. California State University - East Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $8,659
- Enrollment
- 13,673
51. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Net Price
- $27,637
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
- Average Aid
- $11,419
52. University of Redlands
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1196
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $28,157
53. California State University - Bakersfield
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
- Average Aid
- $10,750
- Enrollment
- 9,613
54. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Enrollment
- 44
- Male:Female
- 45:55
55. Azusa Pacific University
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1110
- Average ACT
- 25
- Net Price
- $26,666
56. Saybrook University
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Male:Female
- 16:84
- Founded
- 1971
57. Western University of Health Sciences
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Enrollment
- 3,724
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1977
58. University of the West
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Net Price
- $19,028
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $8,190
59. West Los Angeles College
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
- Average Aid
- $6,951
- Enrollment
- 8,656
60. Biola University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $31,522
61. California State University - Monterey Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
- Average Aid
- $8,702
- Enrollment
- 7,045
62. Pitzer College
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Net Price
- $39,809
- Receiving Aid
- 39%
- Average Aid
- $39,594
63. Fielding Graduate University
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Male:Female
- 21:79
- Founded
- 1974
64. California State University Maritime Academy
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 62%
- Average Aid
- $9,529
- Enrollment
- 849
65. California State University - Stanislaus
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $9,696
- Enrollment
- 10,154
66. Harvey Mudd College
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $39,850
67. Saint Mary's College of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Net Price
- $32,129
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $39,139
68. Graduate Theological Union
- Enrollment
- 172
- Male:Female
- 48:52
69. Whittier College
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $28,368
70. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Net Price
- $39,401
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $2,599
71. California Western School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Enrollment
- 623
- Male:Female
- 38:62
- Founded
- 1924
72. Scripps College
- Acceptance Rate
- 28%
- Average SAT
- 1450
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $43,923
73. California Institute of Integral Studies
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Male:Female
- 18:82
- Founded
- 1968
74. Antioch University
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Enrollment
- 867
- Male:Female
- 26:74
75. Dominican University of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Average SAT
- 1162
- Average ACT
- 24
- Net Price
- $49,907
76. University of La Verne
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Average SAT
- 1137
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $25,103
77. California State University - Channel Islands
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 76%
- Average Aid
- $9,412
- Enrollment
- 6,128
78. Westmont College
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1369
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $33,112
79. Point Loma Nazarene University
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Net Price
- $34,933
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $19,422
80. Pardee RAND Graduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 126
- Male:Female
- 58:42
- Founded
- 1970
81. Wright Institute
- Enrollment
- 520
- Male:Female
- 20:80
- Founded
- 1969
82. Touro University California
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Male:Female
- 37:63
- Founded
- 1997
83. Newschool of Architecture and Design
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Net Price
- $50,126
- Receiving Aid
- 64%
- Average Aid
- $6,832
84. California Lutheran University
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $30,416
85. Soka University of America
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Net Price
- $17,928
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
86. American Jewish University
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Net Price
- $18,651
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $25,048
87. Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Enrollment
- 90
- Founded
- 1994
89. Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 271
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1969
90. Woodbury University
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Net Price
- $32,182
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
- Average Aid
- $23,816
91. La Sierra University
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Net Price
- $25,076
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $21,867
92. Southwestern Law School
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Enrollment
- 927
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1911
93. Keck Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 668
- Male:Female
- 30:70
- Founded
- 1997
94. Samuel Merritt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Enrollment
- 1,911
- Male:Female
- 23:77
- Founded
- 1909
95. Northcentral University
- Enrollment
- 11,578
- Male:Female
- 24:76
96. Master's University and Seminary
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Net Price
- $30,783
- Receiving Aid
- 62%
- Average Aid
- $13,010
97. Ashford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $25,104
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $5,121
98. Pacifica Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Enrollment
- 851
- Male:Female
- 26:74
- Founded
- 1974
100. Vanguard University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Net Price
- $24,279
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $28,914
Closest to California states to learn Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
| State | Universities Unis | Best university country rank Best uni  rank |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 8 | 148 |
| Oregon | 20 | 96 |
| Utah | 11 | 44 |
| Arizona | 10 | 28 |
| Idaho | 7 | 192 |
| Washington | 37 | 5 |
| Colorado | 24 | 53 |
| New Mexico | 9 | 95 |
| Montana | 9 | 165 |
| Nebraska | 14 | 88 |
| South Dakota | 10 | 324 |
| Kansas | 20 | 75 |
| Texas | 85 | 20 |
| Oklahoma | 22 | 108 |
| North Dakota | 9 | 211 |
| Minnesota | 30 | 18 |
| Iowa | 33 | 43 |
| Missouri | 41 | 39 |
| Arkansas | 18 | 143 |
| Louisiana | 26 | 76 |
| Wisconsin | 35 | 13 |
| Illinois | 79 | 14 |
| Mississippi | 15 | 180 |
| Indiana | 36 | 54 |
| Michigan | 45 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 39 | 45 |
| Alabama | 28 | 82 |
| Kentucky | 29 | 57 |
| Ohio | 66 | 19 |
| Georgia | 51 | 41 |
| West Virginia | 20 | 121 |
| South Carolina | 32 | 66 |
| North Carolina | 49 | 21 |
| Virginia | 42 | 38 |
| Alaska | 4 | 227 |
| Pennsylvania | 113 | 11 |
| Florida | 69 | 29 |
| District of Columbia | 13 | 52 |
| Maryland | 27 | 9 |
| New York | 144 | 6 |
| Delaware | 4 | 97 |
| New Jersey | 29 | 24 |
| Vermont | 12 | 123 |
| Hawaii | 7 | 107 |
| Connecticut | 22 | 10 |
| Massachusetts | 74 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 13 | 90 |
| Rhode Island | 9 | 60 |
| Maine | 16 | 200 |
| Puerto Rico | 15 | 406 |