100 Best Political Science schools in California, US
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 25.1M citations received by 661K academic papers made by 133 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 Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $41,496
5. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $24,176
- Enrollment
- 42,376
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 - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
- Average Aid
- $21,566
- Enrollment
- 26,426
12. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $21,564
- Enrollment
- 19,764
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. Santa Clara University
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1420
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $49,651
16. Loyola Marymount University
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Net Price
- $54,471
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $21,575
17. San Francisco State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $11,498
- Enrollment
- 23,908
18. California State University - Long Beach
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $10,512
- Enrollment
- 40,278
19. California State University - Fullerton
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $10,445
- Enrollment
- 41,962
20. John F. Kennedy University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Founded
- 1964
21. Claremont Graduate University
- Acceptance Rate
- 35%
- Enrollment
- 1,763
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1925
22. University of San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 51%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $44,104
23. Naval Postgraduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Enrollment
- 2,600
- Male:Female
- 79:21
- Founded
- 1909
24. University of San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Net Price
- $37,675
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $37,444
25. Pepperdine University
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Average SAT
- 1350
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $52,216
26. California State University - Northridge
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
- Average Aid
- $12,000
- Enrollment
- 37,760
27. California State University - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $12,478
- Enrollment
- 25,080
28. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
- Acceptance Rate
- 30%
- Receiving Aid
- 60%
- Average Aid
- $12,707
- Enrollment
- 22,485
29. Chapman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 56%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $48,037
30. California State University - San Bernardino
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $10,421
- Enrollment
- 18,925
31. Humboldt State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 99%
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
- Average Aid
- $10,046
- Enrollment
- 6,156
32. California State University - Fresno
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $11,412
- Enrollment
- 23,986
33. California State University - Sacramento
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $11,503
- Enrollment
- 31,172
34. Loma Linda University
- Enrollment
- 4,202
- Male:Female
- 33:67
- Founded
- 1905
35. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Receiving Aid
- 78%
- Average Aid
- $10,441
- Enrollment
- 26,848
36. Claremont McKenna College
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1505
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $29,978
37. University of California - Merced
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $24,868
- Enrollment
- 9,147
38. Palo Alto University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Enrollment
- 1,223
- Male:Female
- 15:85
- Founded
- 1975
39. Pomona College
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $17,423
40. California State University - Chico
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
- Average Aid
- $10,331
- Enrollment
- 14,523
41. California State University - San Marcos
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $10,247
- Enrollment
- 15,431
42. Alliant International University - San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 0%
- Net Price
- $25,481
- Receiving Aid
- 33%
- Average Aid
- $9,411
43. University of the Pacific
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $30,975
44. Sonoma State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $8,546
- Enrollment
- 5,990
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. California State University - East Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $10,886
- Enrollment
- 13,333
48. California State University - Bakersfield
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $12,437
- Enrollment
- 9,787
49. Golden Gate University - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Enrollment
- 2,262
- Male:Female
- 62:38
- Founded
- 1901
50. Mills College
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1455
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $25,283
51. Western University of Health Sciences
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Enrollment
- 3,625
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1977
52. Saint Mary's College of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Net Price
- $31,615
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $42,080
53. Azusa Pacific University
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1154
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $26,117
54. University of Redlands
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1201
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $28,054
55. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Net Price
- $27,789
- Receiving Aid
- 43%
- Average Aid
- $6,184
56. California State University Maritime Academy
- Acceptance Rate
- 99%
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
- Average Aid
- $11,063
- Enrollment
- 805
57. California State University - Monterey Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $10,480
- Enrollment
- 6,742
58. Fuller Theological Seminary
- Enrollment
- 1,935
- Male:Female
- 52:48
59. University of the West
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $11,137
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $13,807
60. California State University - Stanislaus
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $11,362
- Enrollment
- 9,841
61. California Western School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Enrollment
- 625
- Male:Female
- 38:62
- Founded
- 1924
62. Pitzer College
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Net Price
- $34,801
- Receiving Aid
- 39%
- Average Aid
- $48,031
63. Biola University
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Average SAT
- 1245
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $30,510
64. Fielding Graduate University
- Enrollment
- 937
- Male:Female
- 19:81
- Founded
- 1974
65. West Los Angeles College
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $6,817
- Enrollment
- 9,299
66. Harvey Mudd College
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $42,720
67. Scripps College
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Average SAT
- 1475
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $45,505
68. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Net Price
- $39,401
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $2,599
69. University of La Verne
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Average SAT
- 1137
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $27,216
70. Saybrook University
- Enrollment
- 1,055
- Male:Female
- 16:84
- Founded
- 1971
71. Whittier College
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Net Price
- $32,436
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $32,008
72. Antioch University
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Enrollment
- 888
- Male:Female
- 28:72
73. California State University - Channel Islands
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
- Average Aid
- $12,804
- Enrollment
- 5,688
74. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Enrollment
- 48
- Male:Female
- 37:63
75. Dominican University of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Average SAT
- 1181
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $51,292
76. Pardee RAND Graduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 131
- Male:Female
- 58:42
- Founded
- 1970
77. Graduate Theological Union
- Enrollment
- 178
- Male:Female
- 50:50
78. Soka University of America
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Net Price
- $18,807
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
79. Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 244
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1969
80. California Institute of Integral Studies
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Enrollment
- 2,047
- Male:Female
- 18:82
- Founded
- 1968
81. Master's University and Seminary
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Net Price
- $33,463
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
- Average Aid
- $15,528
82. Northcentral University
- Enrollment
- 10,518
- Male:Female
- 24:76
83. Menlo College
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Net Price
- $28,158
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $41,775
84. Touro University California
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Enrollment
- 1,090
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1997
85. Point Loma Nazarene University
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $36,370
86. Southwestern Law School
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Enrollment
- 951
- Male:Female
- 39:61
- Founded
- 1911
87. Wright Institute
- Enrollment
- 511
- Male:Female
- 20:80
- Founded
- 1969
88. California Lutheran University
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Average SAT
- 1227
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $27,080
89. Woodbury University
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Net Price
- $31,257
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $27,165
90. United States University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $20,197
- Receiving Aid
- 32%
- Average Aid
- $8,161
91. Keck Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 602
- Male:Female
- 30:70
- Founded
- 1997
92. Newschool of Architecture and Design
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $50,190
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $7,452
93. Ashford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $25,771
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $5,234
94. Trident University International
- Net Price
- $13,916
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $4,188
95. Skyline College
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $5,069
- Enrollment
- 9,428
96. Westmont College
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1315
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $36,412
97. Samuel Merritt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Enrollment
- 1,894
- Male:Female
- 21:79
- Founded
- 1909
98. La Sierra University
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Net Price
- $28,076
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $21,762
99. Brandman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $26,346
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
- Average Aid
- $2,333
100. Pacifica Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Enrollment
- 882
- Male:Female
- 25:75
- Founded
- 1974
Closest to California states to learn Political Science
State | Universities Unis | Best university country rank Best uni |
---|---|---|
Nevada | 6 | 134 |
Oregon | 19 | 105 |
Utah | 11 | 50 |
Arizona | 10 | 24 |
Idaho | 7 | 242 |
Washington | 32 | 6 |
Colorado | 21 | 57 |
New Mexico | 8 | 104 |
Montana | 8 | 203 |
Nebraska | 13 | 82 |
South Dakota | 9 | 338 |
Kansas | 17 | 68 |
Texas | 82 | 22 |
Oklahoma | 20 | 92 |
North Dakota | 8 | 230 |
Minnesota | 29 | 18 |
Iowa | 31 | 48 |
Missouri | 40 | 43 |
Arkansas | 16 | 131 |
Louisiana | 26 | 84 |
Wisconsin | 34 | 16 |
Illinois | 78 | 9 |
Mississippi | 14 | 181 |
Indiana | 35 | 39 |
Michigan | 43 | 2 |
Tennessee | 37 | 47 |
Alabama | 26 | 97 |
Kentucky | 27 | 63 |
Ohio | 63 | 19 |
Georgia | 50 | 45 |
West Virginia | 17 | 122 |
South Carolina | 31 | 61 |
North Carolina | 47 | 20 |
Virginia | 42 | 32 |
Alaska | 4 | 331 |
Pennsylvania | 101 | 8 |
Florida | 64 | 34 |
District of Columbia | 12 | 41 |
Maryland | 28 | 14 |
New York | 140 | 5 |
Delaware | 4 | 86 |
New Jersey | 28 | 21 |
Vermont | 11 | 127 |
Hawaii | 7 | 111 |
Connecticut | 21 | 7 |
Massachusetts | 71 | 1 |
New Hampshire | 12 | 75 |
Rhode Island | 9 | 66 |
Maine | 14 | 229 |
Puerto Rico | 13 | 528 |