Best Private Colleges in California 2025

Badge for BEST IN CALIFORNIA PRIVATE COLLEGES

Updated: Oct 3, 2024

Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in California.

Key Takeaways

One of the best states to study in is California. Home to so many prestigious colleges and universities, the state always remains one of the top choices of college students for their college degrees.
Private colleges are undeniably expensive. However, there are many ways to minimize your cost of attendance—through grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid.
Despite the hefty price tag of a private college, students can still enjoy numerous advantages to attending a top private college in California.

Table of Contents

10 Best Private Colleges in California in 2025

Stanford University
California Institute of Technology
+1
University of Southern California
–1
Pomona College
+3
Santa Clara University
–1
Pepperdine University
University of San Francisco
–2
Chapman University
Loyola Marymount University
+4
Occidental College
+4

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.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best private colleges in California saw some shifts for various reasons. Loyola Marymount University, for example, was able to move up four ranking positions as a result of the university launching the Creativity and Innovation Hub, a collaborative space that fosters entrepreneurship and cross-disciplinary projects in fields such as business, film, and engineering. The university has also expanded its sustainability initiatives, incorporating new solar energy projects and eco-friendly campus infrastructure.

Additionally, LMU has enhanced its student wellness programs, providing expanded mental health resources, fitness facilities, and holistic wellness services. These updates reflect LMU’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and student well-being.

This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 24 private universities in California. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in California, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.

Best Private Colleges in California

Exploring California’s Excellent Private Colleges

There are so many great reasons why California is an amazing place to study:

World-class colleges and universities
A welcoming attitude towards international students
An undisputed position as a leader in the technology sector
Something for everyone, including beaches, mountains, forests, and deserts
An assortment of cultural riches and diversity, to name a few.

Key Point: California is a great place to attend college and pursue a career upon graduation.

California is also known for its numerous prestigious universities, including the world-famous Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, the California Institute of Technology or Caltech, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

The Advantages of Enrolling in a Private College

Attending a private university is expensive. But many college students in California still prefer to enroll in a private institution. Despite the cost, there are defintely some advantages to attending these types of schools.

Private Colleges Have Shorter Average Completion Time

On average, undergraduate students attending a private college only take roughly four and a half years to graduate, while those at a public college typically need over six years to earn their degree.

According to the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, students in private colleges enjoy other advantages like higher graduation rates and smaller class sizes.

Private Colleges Provide Personal Attention

Private colleges are often smaller institutions, which means professors and instructors are able to give more individual focus to their students.

Additionally, many private colleges focus on developing the whole student, which requires faculty to mentor students both professionally and personally, according to the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia. When faculty members give personal attention to students, this will allow them to personalize their education.

More Extracurricular Opportunities

Those who attend private colleges sometimes have the chance to experience perks like the opportunity to study abroad. They are also more likely to get involved in campus organizations and have better chances of landing leadership positions and service opportunities, primarily because of lower enrollment numbers.

Additionally, students in private colleges are committed to their academic success

Financial Incentives

While the average tuition cost at private colleges is higher than at public colleges and universities, students can still qualify for incentives to help offset their total tuition.

Once you have identified which private college to enroll in, start scouting for merit-based scholarships and grants and other financial aid available at the school. Many private colleges offer generous scholarship packages to help qualified students who cannot afford to pay the full tuition on their own.

Some alum members and supporters of an institution also set up scholarships specifically for students in their school. Check these options to see if you can meet their requirements for any possible scholarships.

Also, when the college is interested in you, the financial and admission counselors can help you look for other ways to pay for school.

Tight-Knit Community

In a smaller and private college, you will experience what true college life is with campus activities and dorm living. If you wish to make the most out of your college life, get involved as much as possible. Join clubs that spark your interest, create study groups with your classmates, or develop relationships with your professors.

Are you itching to attend Stanford, the #1 private college in California? Find out how you can get into Stanford.

California’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

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

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

Best Private Colleges in California 2025

Key Takeaways

10 Best Private Colleges in California in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Best Private Colleges in California

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for degree at Stanford University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at California Institute of Technology

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern California

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Pomona College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Santa Clara University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Pepperdine University

Most Influential Alumni

Pepperdine University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of San Francisco

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Chapman University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Loyola Marymount University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Occidental College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of the Pacific

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Harvey Mudd College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of San Diego

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Claremont McKenna College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Biola University

Most Influential Alumni

Biola University’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 University of Redlands

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Scripps College

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 Azusa Pacific University

Most Influential Alumni

Azusa Pacific University’s Online Degrees

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

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of La Verne

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Mills College at Northeastern University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Dominican University of California

Exploring California’s Excellent Private Colleges

The Advantages of Enrolling in a Private College

Private Colleges Have Shorter Average Completion Time

Private Colleges Provide Personal Attention

More Extracurricular Opportunities

Financial Incentives

Tight-Knit Community

California’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest