100 Best Political Science schools in California, US

Updated:

EduRank

Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 26.5M citations received by 676K 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

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
4%
Average SAT
1545
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$25,078

2. University of California - Berkeley

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
11%
Receiving Aid
63%
Average Aid
$29,608
Enrollment
45,882

3. University of California - Los Angeles

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
9%
Receiving Aid
59%
Average Aid
$25,627
Enrollment
47,335

4. University of Southern California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
10%
Average SAT
1500
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$43,412

5. University of California-San Diego

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
27%
Receiving Aid
66%
Average Aid
$25,757
Enrollment
44,256

6. University of California - San Francisco

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
3,007
Male:Female
36:64
Founded
1864

7. University of California - Davis

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
42%
Receiving Aid
65%
Average Aid
$24,591
Enrollment
40,065

8. University of California - Irvine

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
29%
Receiving Aid
61%
Average Aid
$23,110
Enrollment
37,297

9. University of California - Santa Barbara

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
33%
Receiving Aid
61%
Average Aid
$24,695
Enrollment
26,133

10. California Institute of Technology

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
3%
Net Price
$14,513
Receiving Aid
70%
Average Aid
$72,373

11. University of California - Riverside

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
76%
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$24,355
Enrollment
26,384

12. University of California - Santa Cruz

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
66%
Receiving Aid
64%
Average Aid
$22,774
Enrollment
19,938

13. San Diego State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
36%
Receiving Aid
62%
Average Aid
$12,053
Enrollment
41,137

14. San Jose State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
85%
Receiving Aid
69%
Average Aid
$12,353
Enrollment
37,661

15. Santa Clara University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
48%
Average SAT
1420
Average ACT
32
Net Price
$53,883

16. Loyola Marymount University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
45%
Average SAT
1345
Average ACT
30
Net Price
$59,926

17. San Francisco State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
96%
Receiving Aid
81%
Average Aid
$12,996
Enrollment
22,563

18. California State University - Long Beach

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
46%
Receiving Aid
82%
Average Aid
$11,795
Enrollment
42,003

19. California State University - Fullerton

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
91%
Receiving Aid
83%
Average Aid
$11,234
Enrollment
43,662

20. John F. Kennedy University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
100%
Founded
1964

21. Claremont Graduate University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
1,771
Male:Female
41:59
Founded
1925

22. University of San Francisco

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
62%
Average SAT
1290
Average ACT
28
Net Price
$45,443

23. Naval Postgraduate School

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
23%
Enrollment
2,441
Male:Female
79:21
Founded
1909

24. University of San Diego

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
52%
Net Price
$37,918
Receiving Aid
87%
Average Aid
$40,965

25. Pepperdine University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
63%
Average SAT
1370
Average ACT
31
Net Price
$66,585

26. California State University - Northridge

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
93%
Receiving Aid
86%
Average Aid
$12,825
Enrollment
38,313

27. California State University - Los Angeles

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
91%
Receiving Aid
95%
Average Aid
$13,824
Enrollment
23,163

28. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
31%
Receiving Aid
62%
Average Aid
$14,338
Enrollment
23,069

29. Chapman University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
65%
Average SAT
1350
Average ACT
30
Net Price
$47,902

30. California State University - San Bernardino

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
94%
Receiving Aid
91%
Average Aid
$12,167
Enrollment
18,492

31. Humboldt State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
98%
Receiving Aid
74%
Average Aid
$10,748
Enrollment
6,237

32. California State University - Fresno

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
95%
Receiving Aid
88%
Average Aid
$12,326
Enrollment
24,427

33. California State University - Sacramento

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
94%
Receiving Aid
86%
Average Aid
$12,767
Enrollment
31,943

34. Loma Linda University

For Political Science

Enrollment
4,210
Male:Female
34:66
Founded
1905

35. University of California - Merced

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
91%
Receiving Aid
91%
Average Aid
$27,292
Enrollment
9,110

36. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
75%
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$11,833
Enrollment
27,636

37. Claremont McKenna College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
10%
Average SAT
1515
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$33,895

38. Palo Alto University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
12%
Enrollment
1,065
Male:Female
16:84
Founded
1975

39. Pomona College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
7%
Average SAT
1525
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$19,938

40. California State University - Chico

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
93%
Receiving Aid
75%
Average Aid
$11,509
Enrollment
15,257

41. California State University - San Marcos

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
95%
Receiving Aid
79%
Average Aid
$11,123
Enrollment
16,237

42. Alliant International University - San Diego

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
0%
Net Price
$25,481
Receiving Aid
33%
Average Aid
$9,411

43. University of the Pacific

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
71%
Average SAT
1332
Average ACT
28
Net Price
$31,670

44. Sonoma State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
93%
Receiving Aid
87%
Average Aid
$9,094
Enrollment
5,891

45. Occidental College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
44%
Average SAT
1450
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$48,400

46. California State University - Dominguez Hills

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
93%
Receiving Aid
95%
Average Aid
$13,951
Enrollment
15,182

47. California State University - East Bay

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
97%
Receiving Aid
82%
Average Aid
$12,369
Enrollment
12,326

48. California State University - Bakersfield

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
94%
Receiving Aid
93%
Average Aid
$12,966
Enrollment
10,419

49. Golden Gate University - San Francisco

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
83%
Enrollment
3,098
Male:Female
53:47
Founded
1901

50. Mills College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
17%
Average SAT
1470
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$27,473

51. Western University of Health Sciences

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
8%
Enrollment
3,665
Male:Female
35:65
Founded
1977

52. Saint Mary's College of California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
87%
Net Price
$35,332
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$42,407

53. Azusa Pacific University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
88%
Average SAT
1111
Average ACT
28
Net Price
$26,143

54. University of Redlands

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
83%
Average SAT
1229
Average ACT
25
Net Price
$28,482

55. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
39%
Net Price
$35,558
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$4,276

56. California State University - Monterey Bay

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
97%
Receiving Aid
76%
Average Aid
$12,185
Enrollment
7,713

57. California State University Maritime Academy

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
95%
Receiving Aid
68%
Average Aid
$11,038
Enrollment
837

58. Fuller Theological Seminary

For Political Science

Enrollment
1,890
Male:Female
53:47

59. University of the West

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
100%
Net Price
$14,713
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$9,445

60. California State University - Stanislaus

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
98%
Receiving Aid
89%
Average Aid
$12,492
Enrollment
9,724

61. California Western School of Law

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
46%
Enrollment
650
Male:Female
38:62
Founded
1924

62. Pitzer College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
25%
Net Price
$34,979
Receiving Aid
45%
Average Aid
$51,487

63. Biola University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
74%
Average SAT
1265
Average ACT
27
Net Price
$34,082

64. Fielding Graduate University

For Political Science

Enrollment
915
Male:Female
18:82
Founded
1974

65. West Los Angeles College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
100%
Receiving Aid
83%
Average Aid
$5,857
Enrollment
9,255

66. Harvey Mudd College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
13%
Average SAT
1535
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$43,966

67. Scripps College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
38%
Average SAT
1490
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$44,396

68. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
46%
Net Price
$39,401
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$2,599

69. University of La Verne

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
71%
Average SAT
1111
Average ACT
22
Net Price
$21,530

70. California State University - Channel Islands

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
95%
Receiving Aid
83%
Average Aid
$12,528
Enrollment
5,592

71. Saybrook University

For Political Science

Enrollment
1,057
Male:Female
17:83
Founded
1971

72. Whittier College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
81%
Net Price
$28,101
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$36,176

73. Antioch University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
81%
Enrollment
910
Male:Female
32:68

75. Dominican University of California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
83%
Average SAT
1255
Net Price
$37,456
Receiving Aid
100%

76. Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
230
Male:Female
58:42
Founded
1970

77. Soka University of America

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
43%
Average SAT
1422
Net Price
$15,691
Receiving Aid
100%

78. Graduate Theological Union

For Political Science

Enrollment
150
Male:Female
46:54

79. Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
262
Male:Female
35:65
Founded
1969

80. California Institute of Integral Studies

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
90%
Enrollment
1,874
Male:Female
19:81
Founded
1968

81. Master's University and Seminary

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
84%
Net Price
$37,919
Receiving Aid
98%
Average Aid
$16,990

82. Northcentral University

For Political Science

Enrollment
9,489
Male:Female
26:74

83. Menlo College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
68%
Net Price
$32,563
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$39,174

84. Touro University California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
0%
Enrollment
1,144
Male:Female
36:64
Founded
1997

85. Point Loma Nazarene University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
84%
Average SAT
1270
Average ACT
29
Net Price
$39,696

86. California Lutheran University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
76%
Average SAT
1240
Average ACT
28
Net Price
$32,774

87. Southwestern Law School

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
31%
Enrollment
1,006
Male:Female
40:60
Founded
1911

88. Woodbury University

For Political Science

#1004 in North America
Acceptance Rate
82%
Net Price
$37,258
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$22,081

89. Wright Institute

For Political Science

#1008 in North America
Enrollment
518
Male:Female
21:79
Founded
1969

90. United States University

For Political Science

#1032 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Net Price
$20,197
Receiving Aid
32%
Average Aid
$8,161

91. Keck Graduate Institute

For Political Science

#1043 in North America
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
622
Male:Female
29:71
Founded
1997

92. Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Political Science

#1047 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Net Price
$55,265
Receiving Aid
88%
Average Aid
$7,862

93. Ashford University

For Political Science

#1068 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Net Price
$32,265
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$5,648

94. Trident University International

For Political Science

#1099 in North America
Net Price
$13,916
Receiving Aid
94%
Average Aid
$4,188

95. Skyline College

For Political Science

#1120 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Receiving Aid
79%
Average Aid
$4,341
Enrollment
9,572

96. Westmont College

For Political Science

#1132 in North America
Acceptance Rate
77%
Average SAT
1345
Average ACT
29
Net Price
$32,172

97. Samuel Merritt University

For Political Science

#1152 in North America
Acceptance Rate
66%
Enrollment
1,926
Male:Female
22:78
Founded
1909

98. La Sierra University

For Political Science

#1164 in North America
Acceptance Rate
91%
Net Price
$23,848
Receiving Aid
99%
Average Aid
$27,646

99. Brandman University

For Political Science

#1177 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Net Price
$26,346
Receiving Aid
59%
Average Aid
$3,616

100. Pacifica Graduate Institute

For Political Science

#1221 in North America
Acceptance Rate
75%
Enrollment
833
Male:Female
27:73
Founded
1974

Closest to California states to learn Political Science

State
Universities
Unis
Best university country rank
Best uni United States Flag rank
Nevada 6 133
Oregon 19 106
Utah 11 50
Arizona 10 24
Idaho 7 240
Washington 32 6
Colorado 22 57
New Mexico 8 105
Montana 8 202
Nebraska 13 83
South Dakota 9 338
Kansas 17 68
Texas 82 22
Oklahoma 20 92
North Dakota 8 229
Minnesota 29 18
Iowa 31 49
Missouri 40 43
Arkansas 17 130
Louisiana 26 84
Wisconsin 34 16
Illinois 78 9
Mississippi 14 178
Indiana 35 39
Michigan 43 2
Tennessee 37 46
Alabama 26 97
Kentucky 28 63
Ohio 63 19
Georgia 50 45
West Virginia 17 123
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 13
New York 139 5
Delaware 4 86
New Jersey 28 21
Vermont 11 129
Hawaii 7 113
Connecticut 21 7
Massachusetts 71 1
New Hampshire 12 75
Rhode Island 9 66
Maine 14 227
Puerto Rico 13 527