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 17.6M citations received by 572K academic papers made by 130 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
1540
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$18,279

2. University of California - Berkeley

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
11%
Receiving Aid
60%
Average Aid
$21,669
Enrollment
45,307

3. University of California - Los Angeles

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
9%
Receiving Aid
57%
Average Aid
$21,766
Enrollment
46,430

4. University of Southern California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
12%
Average SAT
1500
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$36,808

5. University of California-San Diego

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
24%
Receiving Aid
61%
Average Aid
$20,782
Enrollment
42,006

6. University of California - San Francisco

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
3,140
Male:Female
35:65
Founded
1864

7. University of California - Davis

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
37%
Receiving Aid
63%
Average Aid
$20,548
Enrollment
39,679

8. University of California - Irvine

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
21%
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$17,411
Enrollment
35,937

9. University of California - Santa Barbara

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
26%
Receiving Aid
59%
Average Aid
$20,389
Enrollment
26,420

10. California Institute of Technology

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
3%
Net Price
$20,755
Receiving Aid
71%
Average Aid
$59,192

11. University of California - Riverside

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
69%
Receiving Aid
79%
Average Aid
$22,042
Enrollment
26,809

12. University of California - Santa Cruz

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
47%
Receiving Aid
74%
Average Aid
$21,202
Enrollment
19,478

13. San Diego State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
39%
Receiving Aid
98%
Average Aid
$9,934
Enrollment
37,402

14. San Jose State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
77%
Receiving Aid
65%
Average Aid
$9,210
Enrollment
35,751

15. San Francisco State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
94%
Receiving Aid
78%
Average Aid
$9,830
Enrollment
25,282

16. Santa Clara University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
52%
Average SAT
1385
Average ACT
31
Net Price
$50,551

17. Loyola Marymount University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
41%
Average SAT
1380
Average ACT
31
Net Price
$52,815

18. California State University - Fullerton

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
67%
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$9,194
Enrollment
40,386

19. California State University - Long Beach

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
40%
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$9,478
Enrollment
38,973

20. John F. Kennedy University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
100%
Founded
1964

21. University of San Francisco

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
71%
Average SAT
1310
Average ACT
29
Net Price
$42,953

22. Claremont Graduate University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
35%
Enrollment
1,903
Male:Female
40:60
Founded
1925

23. Naval Postgraduate School

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
23%
Enrollment
2,670
Male:Female
78:22
Founded
1909

24. California State University - Los Angeles

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
87%
Receiving Aid
92%
Average Aid
$10,907
Enrollment
26,460

25. University of San Diego

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
53%
Net Price
$36,008
Receiving Aid
84%
Average Aid
$36,408

26. California State University - Northridge

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
91%
Receiving Aid
85%
Average Aid
$10,511
Enrollment
37,579

27. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
30%
Receiving Aid
57%
Average Aid
$10,065
Enrollment
22,000

28. California State University - San Bernardino

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
91%
Receiving Aid
89%
Average Aid
$9,871
Enrollment
19,803

29. Chapman University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
73%
Average SAT
1300
Average ACT
29
Net Price
$45,033

30. California State University - Sacramento

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
93%
Receiving Aid
82%
Average Aid
$9,590
Enrollment
31,818

31. California State University - Fresno

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
95%
Receiving Aid
89%
Average Aid
$9,968
Enrollment
23,999

32. Loma Linda University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
100%
Enrollment
4,280
Male:Female
33:67
Founded
1905

33. Pepperdine University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
49%
Average SAT
1383
Average ACT
30
Net Price
$47,804

34. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
55%
Receiving Aid
77%
Average Aid
$9,040
Enrollment
27,503

35. Palo Alto University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
12%
Enrollment
1,129
Male:Female
14:86
Founded
1975

36. Claremont McKenna College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
10%
Average SAT
1495
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$28,701

37. University of California - Merced

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
89%
Receiving Aid
86%
Average Aid
$25,868
Enrollment
9,103

38. Humboldt State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
98%
Receiving Aid
76%
Average Aid
$9,262
Enrollment
6,025

39. California State University - Chico

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
95%
Receiving Aid
72%
Average Aid
$9,162
Enrollment
14,183

40. Pomona College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
7%
Average SAT
1520
Average ACT
34
Net Price
$19,962

41. California State University - San Marcos

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
95%
Receiving Aid
75%
Average Aid
$8,922
Enrollment
15,109

42. University of the Pacific

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
93%
Average SAT
1272
Average ACT
29
Net Price
$28,164

43. Alliant International University - San Diego

For Political Science

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

44. Sonoma State University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
94%
Receiving Aid
81%
Average Aid
$7,287
Enrollment
6,637

45. Occidental College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
39%
Average SAT
1440
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$44,853

46. California State University - Dominguez Hills

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
89%
Receiving Aid
91%
Average Aid
$9,819
Enrollment
16,426

47. California State University - East Bay

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
96%
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$8,659
Enrollment
13,673

48. Mills College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
87%
Net Price
$25,283
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$22,278

49. California State University - Bakersfield

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
87%
Receiving Aid
90%
Average Aid
$10,750
Enrollment
9,613

50. Golden Gate University - San Francisco

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
83%
Enrollment
2,661
Male:Female
55:45
Founded
1901

51. California State University - Monterey Bay

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
92%
Receiving Aid
77%
Average Aid
$8,702
Enrollment
7,045

52. University of Redlands

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
82%
Average SAT
1196
Average ACT
28
Net Price
$28,157

53. Western University of Health Sciences

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
8%
Enrollment
3,724
Male:Female
36:64
Founded
1977

54. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
80%
Net Price
$27,637
Receiving Aid
73%
Average Aid
$11,419

55. Fuller Theological Seminary

For Political Science

Enrollment
2,089
Male:Female
53:47

56. California State University - Stanislaus

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
97%
Receiving Aid
89%
Average Aid
$9,696
Enrollment
10,154

57. University of the West

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
78%
Net Price
$19,028
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$8,190

58. Azusa Pacific University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
87%
Average SAT
1110
Average ACT
25
Net Price
$26,666

59. California State University Maritime Academy

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
96%
Receiving Aid
62%
Average Aid
$9,529
Enrollment
849

60. Pitzer College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
18%
Net Price
$39,809
Receiving Aid
39%
Average Aid
$39,594

61. California Western School of Law

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
46%
Enrollment
623
Male:Female
38:62
Founded
1924

62. Saint Mary's College of California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
88%
Net Price
$32,129
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$39,139

63. Biola University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
57%
Average SAT
1235
Average ACT
27
Net Price
$31,522

64. Harvey Mudd College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
13%
Average SAT
1520
Average ACT
35
Net Price
$39,850

65. Fielding Graduate University

For Political Science

Enrollment
1,000
Male:Female
21:79
Founded
1974

66. West Los Angeles College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
100%
Receiving Aid
65%
Average Aid
$6,951
Enrollment
8,656

67. Whittier College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
75%
Average SAT
1240
Average ACT
27
Net Price
$28,368

69. Antioch University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
81%
Enrollment
867
Male:Female
26:74

70. Saybrook University

For Political Science

Enrollment
1,013
Male:Female
16:84
Founded
1971

71. Dominican University of California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
93%
Average SAT
1162
Average ACT
24
Net Price
$49,907

72. University of La Verne

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
74%
Average SAT
1137
Average ACT
22
Net Price
$25,103

73. Scripps College

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
28%
Average SAT
1450
Average ACT
33
Net Price
$43,923

74. Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
13%
Enrollment
126
Male:Female
58:42
Founded
1970

75. California State University - Channel Islands

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
90%
Receiving Aid
76%
Average Aid
$9,412
Enrollment
6,128

76. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
54%
Net Price
$39,401
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$2,599

77. California Institute of Integral Studies

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
90%
Enrollment
2,145
Male:Female
18:82
Founded
1968

78. Point Loma Nazarene University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
82%
Net Price
$34,933
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$19,422

79. Graduate Theological Union

For Political Science

Enrollment
172
Male:Female
48:52

80. Touro University California

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
49%
Enrollment
1,144
Male:Female
37:63
Founded
1997

81. Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
271
Male:Female
36:64
Founded
1969

82. California Lutheran University

For Political Science

Acceptance Rate
87%
Average SAT
1235
Average ACT
28
Net Price
$30,416

83. Soka University of America

For Political Science

#1000 in North America
Acceptance Rate
57%
Average SAT
1340
Net Price
$17,928
Receiving Aid
100%

84. Woodbury University

For Political Science

#1022 in North America
Acceptance Rate
63%
Net Price
$32,182
Receiving Aid
96%
Average Aid
$23,816

85. Wright Institute

For Political Science

#1030 in North America
Enrollment
520
Male:Female
20:80
Founded
1969

86. Southwestern Law School

For Political Science

#1048 in North America
Acceptance Rate
31%
Enrollment
927
Male:Female
40:60
Founded
1911

87. Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Political Science

#1058 in North America
Acceptance Rate
45%
Net Price
$50,126
Receiving Aid
64%
Average Aid
$6,832

88. Westmont College

For Political Science

#1064 in North America
Acceptance Rate
82%
Average SAT
1369
Average ACT
32
Net Price
$33,112

89. Northcentral University

For Political Science

#1066 in North America
Enrollment
11,578
Male:Female
24:76

90. Menlo College

For Political Science

#1070 in North America
Acceptance Rate
62%
Net Price
$29,151
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$34,632

91. Keck Graduate Institute

For Political Science

#1072 in North America
Acceptance Rate
50%
Enrollment
668
Male:Female
30:70
Founded
1997

92. Samuel Merritt University

For Political Science

#1081 in North America
Acceptance Rate
66%
Enrollment
1,911
Male:Female
23:77
Founded
1909

93. Trident University International

For Political Science

#1107 in North America
Net Price
$13,916
Receiving Aid
94%
Average Aid
$4,188

94. Ashford University

For Political Science

#1134 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Net Price
$25,104
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$5,121

95. Skyline College

For Political Science

#1154 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Receiving Aid
80%
Average Aid
$6,408
Enrollment
8,523

96. Brandman University

For Political Science

#1162 in North America
Acceptance Rate
100%
Net Price
$26,346
Receiving Aid
67%
Average Aid
$1,878

97. La Sierra University

For Political Science

#1172 in North America
Acceptance Rate
92%
Net Price
$25,076
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$21,867

98. Pacifica Graduate Institute

For Political Science

#1187 in North America
Acceptance Rate
75%
Enrollment
851
Male:Female
26:74
Founded
1974

99. Vanguard University of Southern California

For Political Science

#1199 in North America
Acceptance Rate
75%
Net Price
$24,279
Receiving Aid
100%
Average Aid
$28,914

100. Master's University and Seminary

For Political Science

#1205 in North America
Acceptance Rate
78%
Net Price
$30,783
Receiving Aid
62%
Average Aid
$13,010

Closest to California states to learn Political Science

State
Universities
Unis
Best university country rank
Best uni United States Flag rank
Nevada 6 132
Oregon 18 102
Utah 11 47
Arizona 9 25
Idaho 7 240
Washington 30 6
Colorado 21 62
New Mexico 7 98
Montana 8 197
Nebraska 13 87
South Dakota 9 334
Kansas 17 69
Texas 79 20
Oklahoma 20 93
North Dakota 7 215
Minnesota 28 18
Iowa 32 45
Missouri 39 43
Arkansas 17 136
Louisiana 26 82
Wisconsin 34 16
Illinois 76 7
Mississippi 13 183
Indiana 35 52
Michigan 42 2
Tennessee 35 46
Alabama 25 97
Kentucky 26 60
Ohio 62 19
Georgia 48 44
West Virginia 17 124
South Carolina 28 59
North Carolina 47 21
Virginia 42 30
Alaska 4 322
Pennsylvania 101 10
Florida 61 34
District of Columbia 11 42
Maryland 27 15
New York 136 5
Delaware 3 86
New Jersey 28 23
Vermont 11 130
Hawaii 6 110
Connecticut 21 8
Massachusetts 71 1
New Hampshire 12 78
Rhode Island 9 74
Maine 14 222
Puerto Rico 13 544