Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2025

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN CALIFORNIA LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Published: Mar 11, 2021
Updated: Oct 17, 2024

Key Takeaways

Students seeking an education in California will have smaller class sizes and more direct engagement with professors.
Many of the best liberal arts colleges in California are also some of the most affordable education options for students.
Liberal arts colleges in California offer a well-rounded education, a diverse selection of degree programs, and typically a more individualized education than a larger public university.

10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California

San Francisco State University
Pomona College
San Jose State University
California State University, Northridge
Occidental College
California State University, Los Angeles
Harvey Mudd College
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Fullerton
Claremont McKenna College

San Francisco State University
Pomona College
San Jose State University
Occidental College
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Fullerton
Harvey Mudd College
California State University, Long Beach
Claremont McKenna College

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt 98%
California State University, East Bay 96%
California State University, Chico 95%
San Francisco State University 94%
Sonoma State University 94%
California State University, Sacramento 93%
Dominican University of California 93%
California State University, Northridge 91%
California State University, San Bernardino 91%
California State University, Dominguez Hills 89%

Santa Monica College 26 to 1
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 25 to 1
Foothill College 25 to 1
California State University, Sacramento 24 to 1
California State University, Northridge 24 to 1
California State University, Fullerton 24 to 1
California State University, San Bernardino 23 to 1
California State University, Dominguez Hills 22 to 1
California State University, Los Angeles 22 to 1
California State University, Long Beach 22 to 1

Harvey Mudd College $62,817
Claremont McKenna College $60,715
Scripps College $60,712
Pitzer College $60,578
Occidental College $60,566
Pomona College $59,238
University of Redlands $55,678
Saint Mary's College of California $53,932
Whittier College $49,864
Dominican University of California $49,426

Claremont McKenna College $65,574
Occidental College $59,970
Scripps College $48,598
Saint Mary's College of California $32,335
University of Redlands $24,060
Golden Gate University $19,620
Dominican University of California $16,272
National University $15,912
Whittier College $14,742
California State University, Chico $7,176

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Dominican University of California
California State University, San Bernardino
National University
Mills College at Northeastern University
Foothill College
Saint Mary's College of California
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Santa Monica College

California State University, Dominguez Hills
Dominican University of California
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
California State University, San Bernardino
National University
Foothill College
Mills College at Northeastern University
Saint Mary's College of California
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Santa Monica College

Pomona College 7%
Claremont McKenna College 10%
Harvey Mudd College 13%
Pitzer College 18%
Scripps College 28%
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo 30%
Occidental College 39%
California State University, Long Beach 40%
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 55%
California State University, Fullerton 67%

Pomona College 7 to 1
Claremont McKenna College 8 to 1
Harvey Mudd College 8 to 1
Occidental College 9 to 1
Saint Mary's College of California 9 to 1
Dominican University of California 9 to 1
University of Redlands 10 to 1
Scripps College 10 to 1
Pitzer College 10 to 1
Whittier College 10 to 1

Santa Monica College $1,104
Foothill College $1,395
California State University, Chico $5,742
California State University, Dominguez Hills $5,742
California State University, San Bernardino $5,742
California State University, Sacramento $5,742
California State University, Northridge $5,742
California State University, Fullerton $5,742
San Francisco State University $5,742
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt $5,742

California State University, Chico $7,176
California State University, Dominguez Hills $7,176
California State University, San Bernardino $7,176
California State University, Sacramento $7,176
California State University, Northridge $7,176
California State University, Fullerton $7,176
San Francisco State University $7,176
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt $7,176
California State University, Los Angeles $7,176
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona $7,176

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

San Francisco State University remained in the top position for 2025. Occidental College moved up an impressive 5 positions to the number 5 position. Harvey Mudd and Claremont McKenna Colleges both slipped to the number 7 and number 10 positions, respectively.

SF State has a state of the art hall specifically for liberal and creative arts. This state-of-the-art facility offers cutting-edge resources like a high-definition broadcast news studio, sound design studios, and multimedia spaces, ensuring students remain at the forefront of media and creative technologies.

Pomona College has created a new Center for Global Engagement, which fosters global learning. The center focuses on language immersion, cross-disciplinary engagement, experiential learning, and global partnerships.

Occidental has implemented several key improvements for 2025, including its strategic focus on leveraging its location in Los Angeles through the development of a Center for Los Angeles, designed to deepen partnerships with local communities and industries. This aligns with the college’s commitment to immersive, community-engaged learning.

Table of Contents

How do we determine California's best colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 84 liberal arts colleges in California. To be ranked among the 30 best liberal arts colleges in California, schools must fully accredited institutions.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California

California’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2025

Key Takeaways

10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California

2025 Ranking Update

Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California

Career Outlook for degree at San Francisco State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Pomona College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at San Jose State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Northridge

Most Influential Alumni

California State University, Northridge’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Occidental College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Los Angeles

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Harvey Mudd College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Long Beach

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Fullerton

Most Influential Alumni

California State University, Fullerton’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Claremont McKenna College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Sacramento

Most Influential Alumni

California State University, Sacramento’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Whittier College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Pitzer College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Redlands

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Scripps College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Chico

Most Influential Alumni

California State University, Chico’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Sonoma State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Golden Gate University

Most Influential Alumni

Golden Gate University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, East Bay

Most Influential Alumni

California State University, East Bay’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Santa Monica College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Saint Mary's College of California

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Foothill College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Mills College at Northeastern University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at National University

Most Influential Alumni

National University ’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, San Bernardino

Most Influential Alumni

California State University, San Bernardino’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Dominican University of California

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Dominguez Hills