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 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
- 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 - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $22,042
- Enrollment
- 26,809
12. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $21,202
- Enrollment
- 19,478
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. Santa Clara University
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Average SAT
- 1385
- Average ACT
- 31
- Net Price
- $50,551
17. Loyola Marymount University
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Average SAT
- 1380
- Average ACT
- 31
- Net Price
- $52,815
18. California State University - Fullerton
- Acceptance Rate
- 67%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $9,194
- Enrollment
- 40,386
19. California State University - Long Beach
- Acceptance Rate
- 40%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $9,478
- Enrollment
- 38,973
20. John F. Kennedy University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Founded
- 1964
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. Naval Postgraduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Enrollment
- 2,670
- Male:Female
- 78:22
- Founded
- 1909
24. California State University - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
- Average Aid
- $10,907
- Enrollment
- 26,460
25. University of San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Net Price
- $36,008
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
- Average Aid
- $36,408
26. California State University - Northridge
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $10,511
- Enrollment
- 37,579
27. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
- Acceptance Rate
- 30%
- Receiving Aid
- 57%
- Average Aid
- $10,065
- Enrollment
- 22,000
28. California State University - San Bernardino
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $9,871
- Enrollment
- 19,803
29. Chapman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Average SAT
- 1300
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $45,033
30. California State University - Sacramento
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $9,590
- Enrollment
- 31,818
31. California State University - Fresno
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $9,968
- Enrollment
- 23,999
32. Loma Linda University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Enrollment
- 4,280
- Male:Female
- 33:67
- Founded
- 1905
33. Pepperdine University
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Average SAT
- 1383
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $47,804
34. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
- Average Aid
- $9,040
- Enrollment
- 27,503
35. Palo Alto University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Enrollment
- 1,129
- Male:Female
- 14:86
- Founded
- 1975
36. Claremont McKenna College
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1495
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $28,701
37. University of California - Merced
- Acceptance Rate
- 89%
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $25,868
- Enrollment
- 9,103
38. Humboldt State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Receiving Aid
- 76%
- Average Aid
- $9,262
- Enrollment
- 6,025
39. California State University - Chico
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 72%
- Average Aid
- $9,162
- Enrollment
- 14,183
40. Pomona College
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $19,962
41. California State University - San Marcos
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
- Average Aid
- $8,922
- Enrollment
- 15,109
42. University of the Pacific
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Average SAT
- 1272
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $28,164
43. Alliant International University - San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 0%
- Net Price
- $25,481
- Receiving Aid
- 33%
- Average Aid
- $9,411
44. Sonoma State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
- Average Aid
- $7,287
- Enrollment
- 6,637
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. California State University - East Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $8,659
- Enrollment
- 13,673
48. Mills College
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Net Price
- $25,283
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $22,278
49. California State University - Bakersfield
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
- Average Aid
- $10,750
- Enrollment
- 9,613
50. Golden Gate University - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Enrollment
- 2,661
- Male:Female
- 55:45
- Founded
- 1901
51. California State University - Monterey Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
- Average Aid
- $8,702
- Enrollment
- 7,045
52. University of Redlands
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1196
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $28,157
53. Western University of Health Sciences
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Enrollment
- 3,724
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1977
54. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Net Price
- $27,637
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
- Average Aid
- $11,419
55. Fuller Theological Seminary
- Enrollment
- 2,089
- Male:Female
- 53:47
56. California State University - Stanislaus
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $9,696
- Enrollment
- 10,154
57. University of the West
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Net Price
- $19,028
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $8,190
58. Azusa Pacific University
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1110
- Average ACT
- 25
- Net Price
- $26,666
59. California State University Maritime Academy
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 62%
- Average Aid
- $9,529
- Enrollment
- 849
60. Pitzer College
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Net Price
- $39,809
- Receiving Aid
- 39%
- Average Aid
- $39,594
61. California Western School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Enrollment
- 623
- Male:Female
- 38:62
- Founded
- 1924
62. Saint Mary's College of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Net Price
- $32,129
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $39,139
63. Biola University
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $31,522
64. Harvey Mudd College
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $39,850
65. Fielding Graduate University
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Male:Female
- 21:79
- Founded
- 1974
66. West Los Angeles College
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
- Average Aid
- $6,951
- Enrollment
- 8,656
67. Whittier College
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $28,368
68. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Enrollment
- 44
- Male:Female
- 45:55
69. Antioch University
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Enrollment
- 867
- Male:Female
- 26:74
70. Saybrook University
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Male:Female
- 16:84
- Founded
- 1971
71. Dominican University of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Average SAT
- 1162
- Average ACT
- 24
- Net Price
- $49,907
72. University of La Verne
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Average SAT
- 1137
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $25,103
73. Scripps College
- Acceptance Rate
- 28%
- Average SAT
- 1450
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $43,923
74. Pardee RAND Graduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 126
- Male:Female
- 58:42
- Founded
- 1970
75. California State University - Channel Islands
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 76%
- Average Aid
- $9,412
- Enrollment
- 6,128
76. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Net Price
- $39,401
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $2,599
77. California Institute of Integral Studies
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Male:Female
- 18:82
- Founded
- 1968
78. Point Loma Nazarene University
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Net Price
- $34,933
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $19,422
79. Graduate Theological Union
- Enrollment
- 172
- Male:Female
- 48:52
80. Touro University California
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Male:Female
- 37:63
- Founded
- 1997
81. Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 271
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1969
82. California Lutheran University
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Average SAT
- 1235
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $30,416
83. Soka University of America
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Net Price
- $17,928
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
84. Woodbury University
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Net Price
- $32,182
- Receiving Aid
- 96%
- Average Aid
- $23,816
85. Wright Institute
- Enrollment
- 520
- Male:Female
- 20:80
- Founded
- 1969
86. Southwestern Law School
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Enrollment
- 927
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1911
87. Newschool of Architecture and Design
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Net Price
- $50,126
- Receiving Aid
- 64%
- Average Aid
- $6,832
88. Westmont College
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1369
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $33,112
89. Northcentral University
- Enrollment
- 11,578
- Male:Female
- 24:76
90. Menlo College
- Acceptance Rate
- 62%
- Net Price
- $29,151
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $34,632
91. Keck Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 668
- Male:Female
- 30:70
- Founded
- 1997
92. Samuel Merritt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Enrollment
- 1,911
- Male:Female
- 23:77
- Founded
- 1909
93. Trident University International
- Net Price
- $13,916
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $4,188
94. Ashford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $25,104
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $5,121
96. Brandman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $26,346
- Receiving Aid
- 67%
- Average Aid
- $1,878
97. La Sierra University
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Net Price
- $25,076
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $21,867
98. Pacifica Graduate Institute
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Enrollment
- 851
- Male:Female
- 26:74
- Founded
- 1974
99. Vanguard University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Net Price
- $24,279
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $28,914
100. Master's University and Seminary
- 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 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 |