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 59.8M citations received by 1.38M academic papers made by 146 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
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $17,998
2. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $25,951
- Enrollment
- 45,699
3. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $22,441
- Enrollment
- 46,678
4. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $24,176
- Enrollment
- 42,376
5. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $41,496
6. University of California - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 3,126
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1864
7. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $21,258
- Enrollment
- 39,707
8. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 26%
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $21,533
- Enrollment
- 36,582
9. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 28%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $21,732
- Enrollment
- 26,068
10. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $23,397
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
- Average Aid
- $60,201
11. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $21,564
- Enrollment
- 19,764
12. University of California - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
- Average Aid
- $21,566
- Enrollment
- 26,426
13. San Diego State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
- Average Aid
- $5,459
- Enrollment
- 39,241
14. San Jose State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Receiving Aid
- 67%
- Average Aid
- $11,311
- Enrollment
- 36,062
15. San Francisco State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $11,498
- Enrollment
- 23,908
16. Santa Clara University
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1420
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $49,651
17. California State University - Fullerton
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $10,445
- Enrollment
- 41,962
18. California State University - Long Beach
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $10,512
- Enrollment
- 40,278
19. Loyola Marymount University
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Net Price
- $54,471
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $21,575
20. University of San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 51%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $44,104
21. Claremont Graduate University
- Acceptance Rate
- 35%
- Enrollment
- 1,763
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1925
22. Naval Postgraduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Enrollment
- 2,600
- Male:Female
- 79:21
- Founded
- 1909
23. John F. Kennedy University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Founded
- 1964
24. California State University - Northridge
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
- Average Aid
- $12,000
- Enrollment
- 37,760
25. Loma Linda University
- Enrollment
- 4,202
- Male:Female
- 33:67
- Founded
- 1905
26. University of San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Net Price
- $37,675
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $37,444
27. California State University - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $12,478
- Enrollment
- 25,080
28. Pepperdine University
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Average SAT
- 1350
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $52,216
29. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
- Acceptance Rate
- 30%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $12,707
- Enrollment
- 22,485
30. University of California - Merced
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $24,868
- Enrollment
- 9,147
31. Chapman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 56%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $48,037
32. California State University - Sacramento
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $11,503
- Enrollment
- 31,172
33. Humboldt State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 99%
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
- Average Aid
- $10,046
- Enrollment
- 6,156
34. California State University - Fresno
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $11,412
- Enrollment
- 23,986
35. California State University - San Bernardino
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $10,421
- Enrollment
- 18,925
36. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Receiving Aid
- 78%
- Average Aid
- $10,441
- Enrollment
- 26,848
37. Pomona College
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $17,423
38. Palo Alto University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Enrollment
- 1,223
- Male:Female
- 15:85
- Founded
- 1975
39. Claremont McKenna College
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1505
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $29,978
40. California State University - Chico
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
- Average Aid
- $10,331
- Enrollment
- 14,523
41. Sonoma State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $8,546
- Enrollment
- 5,990
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
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $10,247
- Enrollment
- 15,431
44. University of the Pacific
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $30,975
45. Occidental College
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Average SAT
- 1430
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $47,113
46. California State University - Dominguez Hills
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
- Average Aid
- $11,074
- Enrollment
- 15,181
47. University of Redlands
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1201
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $28,054
48. Fuller Theological Seminary
- Enrollment
- 1,935
- Male:Female
- 52:48
49. Saint Mary's College of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Net Price
- $31,615
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $42,080
50. Western University of Health Sciences
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Enrollment
- 3,625
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1977
51. California State University - East Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $10,886
- Enrollment
- 13,333
52. Golden Gate University - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Enrollment
- 2,262
- Male:Female
- 62:38
- Founded
- 1901
53. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Net Price
- $27,789
- Receiving Aid
- 43%
- Average Aid
- $6,184
54. Mills College
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1455
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $25,283
55. Azusa Pacific University
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1154
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $26,117
56. Saybrook University
- Enrollment
- 1,055
- Male:Female
- 16:84
- Founded
- 1971
57. California State University Maritime Academy
- Acceptance Rate
- 99%
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
- Average Aid
- $11,063
- Enrollment
- 805
58. California State University - Bakersfield
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $12,437
- Enrollment
- 9,787
59. University of the West
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $11,137
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $13,807
60. Biola University
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $30,510
61. Pitzer College
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Net Price
- $34,801
- Receiving Aid
- 39%
- Average Aid
- $48,031
62. California State University - Monterey Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $10,480
- Enrollment
- 6,742
63. West Los Angeles College
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $6,817
- Enrollment
- 9,299
64. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Enrollment
- 48
- Male:Female
- 37:63
65. Fielding Graduate University
- Enrollment
- 937
- Male:Female
- 19:81
- Founded
- 1974
66. California State University - Stanislaus
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $11,362
- Enrollment
- 9,841
67. Harvey Mudd College
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $42,720
68. Graduate Theological Union
- Enrollment
- 178
- Male:Female
- 50:50
69. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Net Price
- $39,401
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $2,599
70. California Western School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Enrollment
- 625
- Male:Female
- 38:62
- Founded
- 1924
71. Scripps College
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Average SAT
- 1475
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $45,505
72. Whittier College
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Net Price
- $32,436
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $32,008
73. University of La Verne
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Average SAT
- 1137
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $27,216
74. California Institute of Integral Studies
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Enrollment
- 2,047
- Male:Female
- 18:82
- Founded
- 1968
75. Antioch University
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Enrollment
- 888
- Male:Female
- 28:72
76. California State University - Channel Islands
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
- Average Aid
- $12,804
- Enrollment
- 5,688
77. Soka University of America
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Net Price
- $18,807
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
78. Master's University and Seminary
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Net Price
- $33,463
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
- Average Aid
- $15,528
79. Dominican University of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Average SAT
- 1181
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $51,292
80. Pardee RAND Graduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 131
- Male:Female
- 58:42
- Founded
- 1970
81. Point Loma Nazarene University
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $36,370
82. Westmont College
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $36,412
83. Wright Institute
- Enrollment
- 511
- Male:Female
- 20:80
- Founded
- 1969
84. Northcentral University
- Enrollment
- 10,518
- Male:Female
- 24:76
85. Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 244
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1969
86. Newschool of Architecture and Design
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $50,190
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $7,452
87. California Lutheran University
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1227
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $27,080
88. Touro University California
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Enrollment
- 1,090
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1997
89. American Jewish University
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Net Price
- $18,651
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $25,048
90. Woodbury University
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Net Price
- $31,257
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $27,165
91. Southwestern Law School
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Enrollment
- 951
- Male:Female
- 39:61
- Founded
- 1911
92. United States University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $20,197
- Receiving Aid
- 32%
- Average Aid
- $8,161
93. La Sierra University
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Net Price
- $28,076
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $21,762
94. Ashford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $25,771
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $5,234
95. Keck Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 602
- Male:Female
- 30:70
- Founded
- 1997
96. Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Enrollment
- 90
- Founded
- 1994
97. Menlo College
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Net Price
- $28,158
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $41,775
99. Pacifica Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Enrollment
- 882
- Male:Female
- 25:75
- Founded
- 1974
100. Samuel Merritt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Enrollment
- 1,894
- Male:Female
- 21:79
- Founded
- 1909
Closest to California states to learn Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
| State | Universities Unis | Best university country rank Best uni  rank |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 8 | 152 |
| Oregon | 21 | 97 |
| Utah | 11 | 45 |
| Arizona | 10 | 30 |
| Idaho | 7 | 194 |
| Washington | 39 | 5 |
| Colorado | 24 | 52 |
| New Mexico | 9 | 100 |
| Montana | 9 | 166 |
| Nebraska | 15 | 87 |
| South Dakota | 11 | 330 |
| Kansas | 22 | 74 |
| Texas | 89 | 21 |
| Oklahoma | 22 | 104 |
| North Dakota | 9 | 215 |
| Minnesota | 30 | 18 |
| Iowa | 32 | 44 |
| Missouri | 44 | 40 |
| Arkansas | 18 | 146 |
| Louisiana | 27 | 79 |
| Wisconsin | 36 | 14 |
| Illinois | 79 | 12 |
| Mississippi | 15 | 178 |
| Indiana | 38 | 39 |
| Michigan | 47 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 39 | 46 |
| Alabama | 29 | 84 |
| Kentucky | 29 | 59 |
| Ohio | 67 | 19 |
| Georgia | 52 | 42 |
| West Virginia | 21 | 119 |
| South Carolina | 32 | 69 |
| North Carolina | 50 | 20 |
| Virginia | 42 | 37 |
| Alaska | 4 | 233 |
| Pennsylvania | 114 | 8 |
| Florida | 70 | 31 |
| District of Columbia | 13 | 50 |
| Maryland | 28 | 10 |
| New York | 146 | 6 |
| Delaware | 4 | 96 |
| New Jersey | 29 | 22 |
| Vermont | 12 | 122 |
| Hawaii | 7 | 107 |
| Connecticut | 22 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | 75 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 13 | 82 |
| Rhode Island | 9 | 56 |
| Maine | 16 | 200 |
| Puerto Rico | 15 | 415 |