52 Best Pharmacology schools in California, US

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Pharmacology. A graph of 5.67M citations received by 112K academic papers made by 52 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 - San Francisco

San Francisco

For Pharmacology

#3 in the United States

#3 in North America

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

2. Stanford University

Stanford

For Pharmacology

#5 in the United States

#6 in North America

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

3. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

For Pharmacology

#10 in the United States

#11 in North America

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

4. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Pharmacology

#11 in the United States

#12 in North America

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

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

For Pharmacology

#39 in the United States

#43 in North America

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

6. University of California - Davis

Davis

For Pharmacology

#46 in the United States

#51 in North America

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

7. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

For Pharmacology

#51 in the United States

#57 in North America

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

8. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

For Pharmacology

#80 in the United States

#93 in North America

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

9. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

For Pharmacology

#109 in the United States

#123 in North America

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

10. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

For Pharmacology

#134 in the United States

#149 in North America

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

11. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

For Pharmacology

#151 in the United States

#169 in North America

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

12. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

For Pharmacology

#153 in the United States

#171 in North America

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

13. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

For Pharmacology

#155 in the United States

#174 in North America

Enrollment: 52
Male:Female: 32:68

14. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

For Pharmacology

#162 in the United States

#181 in North America

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

15. West Los Angeles College

Culver

For Pharmacology

#185 in the United States

#204 in North America

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

16. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

For Pharmacology

#186 in the United States

#205 in North America

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

17. San Diego State University

San Diego

For Pharmacology

#199 in the United States

#220 in North America

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

18. University of the Pacific

Stockton

For Pharmacology

#202 in the United States

#223 in North America

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

19. Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

Duarte

For Pharmacology

#220 in the United States

#243 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 90
Founded: 1994

20. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles

For Pharmacology

#236 in the United States

#261 in North America

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

21. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

For Pharmacology

#246 in the United States

#274 in North America

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

22. Touro University California

Vallejo

For Pharmacology

#252 in the United States

#280 in North America

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

23. Humboldt State University

Arcata

For Pharmacology

#262 in the United States

#291 in North America

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

24. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

For Pharmacology

#278 in the United States

#307 in North America

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

25. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

For Pharmacology

#303 in the United States

#336 in North America

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

26. Chapman University

Orange

For Pharmacology

#313 in the United States

#346 in North America

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

27. Pomona College

Claremont

For Pharmacology

#330 in the United States

#363 in North America

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

28. San Jose State University

San Jose

For Pharmacology

#344 in the United States

#377 in North America

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

29. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

For Pharmacology

#345 in the United States

#378 in North America

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

30. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

For Pharmacology

#355 in the United States

#389 in North America

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

31. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

For Pharmacology

#357 in the United States

#391 in North America

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

32. University of California - Merced

Merced

For Pharmacology

#360 in the United States

#395 in North America

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

33. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Pharmacology

#374 in the United States

#410 in North America

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

34. University of San Diego

San Diego

For Pharmacology

#375 in the United States

#411 in North America

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

35. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

For Pharmacology

#397 in the United States

#434 in North America

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

36. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

For Pharmacology

#398 in the United States

#435 in North America

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

37. Keck Graduate Institute

Claremont

For Pharmacology

#399 in the United States

#436 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 622
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1997

38. Alliant International University - San Diego

San Diego

For Pharmacology

#405 in the United States

#442 in North America

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

39. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

For Pharmacology

#443 in the United States

#482 in North America

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

40. Claremont Graduate University

Claremont

For Pharmacology

#451 in the United States

#491 in North America

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

41. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

For Pharmacology

#462 in the United States

#502 in North America

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

42. Marshall B Ketchum University

Fullerton

For Pharmacology

#505 in the United States

#549 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 653
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1904

43. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

For Pharmacology

#520 in the United States

#565 in North America

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

44. California State University - East Bay

Hayward

For Pharmacology

#522 in the United States

#567 in North America

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

45. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

For Pharmacology

#534 in the United States

#579 in North America

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

46. Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey

For Pharmacology

#546 in the United States

#592 in North America

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

47. Pepperdine University

Malibu

For Pharmacology

#555 in the United States

#602 in North America

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

48. Dominican University of California

San Rafael

For Pharmacology

#564 in the United States

#613 in North America

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

49. Fielding Graduate University

Santa Barbara

For Pharmacology

#569 in the United States

#618 in North America

Enrollment: 915
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1974

50. University of the West

Rosemead

For Pharmacology

#573 in the United States

#622 in North America

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

51. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

For Pharmacology

#588 in the United States

#638 in North America

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

52. West Coast University - Orange County

Anaheim

For Pharmacology

#593 in the United States

#643 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $28,081
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $5,020

Closest to California states to learn Pharmacology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Nevada	4	183
Oregon	7	35
Utah	3	34
Arizona	5	37
Idaho	3	270
Washington	7	6
Colorado	11	36
New Mexico	3	87
Nebraska	4	71
South Dakota	4	205
Kansas	5	78
Texas	39	14
Oklahoma	8	105
North Dakota	3	174
Minnesota	5	18
Iowa	4	48
Missouri	11	25
Arkansas	6	77
Louisiana	10	90
Wisconsin	7	28
Illinois	19	21
Mississippi	7	82
Indiana	13	42
Michigan	14	4
Tennessee	19	24
Alabama	13	32
Kentucky	9	41
Ohio	23	26
Georgia	14	17
West Virginia	6	99
South Carolina	7	50
North Carolina	19	12
Virginia	17	52
Pennsylvania	37	7
Florida	21	16
District of Columbia	5	56
Maryland	12	2
New York	57	13
New Jersey	13	23
Vermont	3	103
Hawaii	3	148
Connecticut	10	8
Massachusetts	28	1
New Hampshire	5	116
Rhode Island	4	67
Maine	4	284
Puerto Rico	6	271