47 Best Public Policy / Administration schools in California, US

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Public Policy / Administration. A graph of 668K citations received by 21.7K academic papers made by 47 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. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

For Public Policy / Administration

#1 in the United States

#1 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

2. Stanford University

Stanford

For Public Policy / Administration

#6 in the United States

#6 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

3. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#19 in the United States

#20 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

4. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

For Public Policy / Administration

#21 in the United States

#22 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#24 in the United States

#25 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

6. University of California - Davis

Davis

For Public Policy / Administration

#48 in the United States

#52 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

7. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

For Public Policy / Administration

#56 in the United States

#63 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

8. University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco

For Public Policy / Administration

#65 in the United States

#76 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

9. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

For Public Policy / Administration

#88 in the United States

#101 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

10. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

For Public Policy / Administration

#115 in the United States

#133 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

11. John F. Kennedy University

Pleasant Hill

For Public Policy / Administration

#120 in the United States

#139 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1964

12. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

For Public Policy / Administration

#138 in the United States

#160 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

13. Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey

For Public Policy / Administration

#141 in the United States

#163 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,600
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

14. San Diego State University

San Diego

For Public Policy / Administration

#144 in the United States

#166 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

15. Claremont Graduate University

Claremont

For Public Policy / Administration

#157 in the United States

#180 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,763
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1925

16. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#165 in the United States

#189 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Net Price: $54,471
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $21,575

17. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

For Public Policy / Administration

#170 in the United States

#195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

18. Pepperdine University

Malibu

For Public Policy / Administration

#172 in the United States

#197 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $52,216

19. San Jose State University

San Jose

For Public Policy / Administration

#186 in the United States

#212 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $11,311
Enrollment: 36,062

20. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

For Public Policy / Administration

#188 in the United States

#214 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $44,104

21. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

For Public Policy / Administration

#190 in the United States

#216 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $11,498
Enrollment: 23,908

22. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

For Public Policy / Administration

#196 in the United States

#222 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $11,503
Enrollment: 31,172

23. University of San Diego

San Diego

For Public Policy / Administration

#211 in the United States

#239 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Net Price: $37,675
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $37,444

24. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

For Public Policy / Administration

#234 in the United States

#262 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $10,445
Enrollment: 41,962

25. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

For Public Policy / Administration

#246 in the United States

#274 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $49,651

26. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

For Public Policy / Administration

#252 in the United States

#280 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $10,512
Enrollment: 40,278

27. Chapman University

Orange

For Public Policy / Administration

#253 in the United States

#281 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $48,037

28. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#289 in the United States

#321 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $12,000
Enrollment: 37,760

29. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

For Public Policy / Administration

#294 in the United States

#328 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $12,707
Enrollment: 22,485

30. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#296 in the United States

#330 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $12,478
Enrollment: 25,080

31. University of California - Merced

Merced

For Public Policy / Administration

#300 in the United States

#335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $24,868
Enrollment: 9,147

32. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

For Public Policy / Administration

#301 in the United States

#336 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,421
Enrollment: 18,925

33. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont

For Public Policy / Administration

#306 in the United States

#342 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,978

34. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

For Public Policy / Administration

#322 in the United States

#359 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $11,412
Enrollment: 23,986

35. Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco

For Public Policy / Administration

#366 in the United States

#405 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 2,262
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1901

36. California State University - Chico

Chico

For Public Policy / Administration

#370 in the United States

#409 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $10,331
Enrollment: 14,523

37. Occidental College

Los Angeles

For Public Policy / Administration

#373 in the United States

#412 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,113

38. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

For Public Policy / Administration

#377 in the United States

#417 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $10,441
Enrollment: 26,848

39. Humboldt State University

Arcata

For Public Policy / Administration

#378 in the United States

#418 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $10,046
Enrollment: 6,156

40. University of the Pacific

Stockton

For Public Policy / Administration

#388 in the United States

#428 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $30,975

41. Pomona College

Claremont

For Public Policy / Administration

#410 in the United States

#452 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,423

42. University of Redlands

Redlands

For Public Policy / Administration

#424 in the United States

#467 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1201
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $28,054

43. University of La Verne

La Verne

For Public Policy / Administration

#426 in the United States

#469 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1137
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $27,216

44. California State University - East Bay

Hayward

For Public Policy / Administration

#429 in the United States

#472 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 13,333

45. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

For Public Policy / Administration

#433 in the United States

#476 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,223
Male:Female: 15:85
Founded: 1975

46. University of the West

Rosemead

For Public Policy / Administration

#465 in the United States

#512 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $11,137
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $13,807

47. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson

For Public Policy / Administration

#477 in the United States

#525 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $11,074
Enrollment: 15,181

Closest to California states to learn Public Policy / Administration

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Oregon	7	111
Utah	4	66
Arizona	3	25
Idaho	3	169
Washington	6	9
Colorado	9	59
Nebraska	4	79
South Dakota	3	317
Kansas	5	54
Texas	27	42
Oklahoma	4	77
North Dakota	2	236
Minnesota	10	28
Iowa	4	58
Missouri	6	16
Arkansas	6	118
Louisiana	6	99
Wisconsin	10	18
Illinois	19	12
Mississippi	5	177
Indiana	10	38
Michigan	9	4
Tennessee	11	45
Alabama	8	131
Kentucky	6	60
Ohio	17	17
Georgia	13	47
South Carolina	8	10
North Carolina	15	8
Virginia	15	32
Pennsylvania	24	7
Florida	15	33
District of Columbia	6	22
Maryland	11	11
New York	52	5
New Jersey	10	23
Connecticut	8	2
Massachusetts	26	3
New Hampshire	3	80
Rhode Island	4	108
Maine	6	203