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 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
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1545
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $25,078
2. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
- Average Aid
- $29,608
- Enrollment
- 45,882
3. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $25,627
- Enrollment
- 47,335
4. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1500
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $43,412
5. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 27%
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
- Average Aid
- $25,757
- Enrollment
- 44,256
6. University of California - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 3,007
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1864
7. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
- 42%
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
- Average Aid
- $24,591
- Enrollment
- 40,065
8. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $23,110
- Enrollment
- 37,297
9. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
- 33%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $24,695
- Enrollment
- 26,133
10. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
- 3%
- Net Price
- $14,513
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $72,373
11. University of California - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $24,355
- Enrollment
- 26,384
12. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Receiving Aid
- 64%
- Average Aid
- $22,774
- Enrollment
- 19,938
13. San Diego State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 36%
- Receiving Aid
- 62%
- Average Aid
- $12,053
- Enrollment
- 41,137
14. San Jose State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Receiving Aid
- 69%
- Average Aid
- $12,353
- Enrollment
- 37,661
15. Santa Clara University
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Average SAT
- 1420
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $53,883
16. Loyola Marymount University
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $59,926
17. San Francisco State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
- Average Aid
- $12,996
- Enrollment
- 22,563
18. California State University - Long Beach
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $11,795
- Enrollment
- 42,003
19. California State University - Fullerton
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
- Average Aid
- $11,234
- Enrollment
- 43,662
20. John F. Kennedy University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Founded
- 1964
21. Claremont Graduate University
- Acceptance Rate
- 35%
- Enrollment
- 1,771
- Male:Female
- 41:59
- Founded
- 1925
22. University of San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 62%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $45,443
23. Naval Postgraduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Enrollment
- 2,441
- Male:Female
- 79:21
- Founded
- 1909
24. University of San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Net Price
- $37,918
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
- Average Aid
- $40,965
25. Pepperdine University
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Average SAT
- 1370
- Average ACT
- 31
- Net Price
- $66,585
26. California State University - Northridge
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $12,825
- Enrollment
- 38,313
27. California State University - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
- Average Aid
- $13,824
- Enrollment
- 23,163
28. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Receiving Aid
- 62%
- Average Aid
- $14,338
- Enrollment
- 23,069
29. Chapman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Average SAT
- 1350
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $47,902
30. California State University - San Bernardino
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $12,167
- Enrollment
- 18,492
31. Humboldt State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $10,748
- Enrollment
- 6,237
32. California State University - Fresno
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
- Average Aid
- $12,326
- Enrollment
- 24,427
33. California State University - Sacramento
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 86%
- Average Aid
- $12,767
- Enrollment
- 31,943
34. Loma Linda University
- Enrollment
- 4,210
- Male:Female
- 34:66
- Founded
- 1905
35. University of California - Merced
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 91%
- Average Aid
- $27,292
- Enrollment
- 9,110
36. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $11,833
- Enrollment
- 27,636
37. Claremont McKenna College
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1515
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $33,895
38. Palo Alto University
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Enrollment
- 1,065
- Male:Female
- 16:84
- Founded
- 1975
39. Pomona College
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1525
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $19,938
40. California State University - Chico
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
- Average Aid
- $11,509
- Enrollment
- 15,257
41. California State University - San Marcos
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $11,123
- Enrollment
- 16,237
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
- 71%
- Average SAT
- 1332
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $31,670
44. Sonoma State University
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 87%
- Average Aid
- $9,094
- Enrollment
- 5,891
45. Occidental College
- Acceptance Rate
- 44%
- Average SAT
- 1450
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $48,400
46. California State University - Dominguez Hills
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
- Average Aid
- $13,951
- Enrollment
- 15,182
47. California State University - East Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $12,369
- Enrollment
- 12,326
48. California State University - Bakersfield
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $12,966
- Enrollment
- 10,419
49. Golden Gate University - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Enrollment
- 3,098
- Male:Female
- 53:47
- Founded
- 1901
50. Mills College
- Acceptance Rate
- 17%
- Average SAT
- 1470
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $27,473
51. Western University of Health Sciences
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Enrollment
- 3,665
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1977
52. Saint Mary's College of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Net Price
- $35,332
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $42,407
53. Azusa Pacific University
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Average SAT
- 1111
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $26,143
54. University of Redlands
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Average SAT
- 1229
- Average ACT
- 25
- Net Price
- $28,482
55. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Acceptance Rate
- 39%
- Net Price
- $35,558
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $4,276
56. California State University - Monterey Bay
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 76%
- Average Aid
- $12,185
- Enrollment
- 7,713
57. California State University Maritime Academy
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 68%
- Average Aid
- $11,038
- Enrollment
- 837
58. Fuller Theological Seminary
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Male:Female
- 53:47
59. University of the West
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $14,713
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $9,445
60. California State University - Stanislaus
- Acceptance Rate
- 98%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $12,492
- Enrollment
- 9,724
61. California Western School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Enrollment
- 650
- Male:Female
- 38:62
- Founded
- 1924
62. Pitzer College
- Acceptance Rate
- 25%
- Net Price
- $34,979
- Receiving Aid
- 45%
- Average Aid
- $51,487
63. Biola University
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Average SAT
- 1265
- Average ACT
- 27
- Net Price
- $34,082
64. Fielding Graduate University
- Enrollment
- 915
- Male:Female
- 18:82
- Founded
- 1974
65. West Los Angeles College
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
- Average Aid
- $5,857
- Enrollment
- 9,255
66. Harvey Mudd College
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1535
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $43,966
67. Scripps College
- Acceptance Rate
- 38%
- Average SAT
- 1490
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $44,396
68. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Net Price
- $39,401
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $2,599
69. University of La Verne
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Average SAT
- 1111
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $21,530
70. California State University - Channel Islands
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
- Average Aid
- $12,528
- Enrollment
- 5,592
71. Saybrook University
- Enrollment
- 1,057
- Male:Female
- 17:83
- Founded
- 1971
72. Whittier College
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Net Price
- $28,101
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $36,176
73. Antioch University
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Enrollment
- 910
- Male:Female
- 32:68
74. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Enrollment
- 52
- Male:Female
- 32:68
75. Dominican University of California
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Average SAT
- 1255
- Net Price
- $37,456
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
76. Pardee RAND Graduate School
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Enrollment
- 230
- Male:Female
- 58:42
- Founded
- 1970
77. Soka University of America
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Average SAT
- 1422
- Net Price
- $15,691
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
78. Graduate Theological Union
- Enrollment
- 150
- Male:Female
- 46:54
79. Thomas Jefferson School of Law
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 262
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1969
80. California Institute of Integral Studies
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Enrollment
- 1,874
- Male:Female
- 19:81
- Founded
- 1968
81. Master's University and Seminary
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Net Price
- $37,919
- Receiving Aid
- 98%
- Average Aid
- $16,990
82. Northcentral University
- Enrollment
- 9,489
- Male:Female
- 26:74
83. Menlo College
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Net Price
- $32,563
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $39,174
84. Touro University California
- Acceptance Rate
- 0%
- Enrollment
- 1,144
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1997
85. Point Loma Nazarene University
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Average SAT
- 1270
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $39,696
86. California Lutheran University
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Average SAT
- 1240
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $32,774
87. Southwestern Law School
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Enrollment
- 1,006
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1911
88. Woodbury University
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Net Price
- $37,258
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $22,081
89. Wright Institute
- Enrollment
- 518
- Male:Female
- 21:79
- Founded
- 1969
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
- 622
- Male:Female
- 29:71
- Founded
- 1997
92. Newschool of Architecture and Design
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $55,265
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
- Average Aid
- $7,862
93. Ashford University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $32,265
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $5,648
94. Trident University International
- Net Price
- $13,916
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $4,188
95. Skyline College
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $4,341
- Enrollment
- 9,572
96. Westmont College
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Average SAT
- 1345
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $32,172
97. Samuel Merritt University
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Enrollment
- 1,926
- Male:Female
- 22:78
- Founded
- 1909
98. La Sierra University
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Net Price
- $23,848
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $27,646
99. Brandman University
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $26,346
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $3,616
100. Pacifica Graduate Institute
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |