Best Private Colleges in California 2023

Best Private Colleges in California 2023

By James Barham

Published: Mar 11, 2021
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

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.

10 Best Private Colleges in California

Stanford University

86%

California Institute of Technology

76%

University of Southern California

72%

Santa Clara University

52%

51%

Pepperdine University

50%

University of San Francisco

50%

Chapman University

47%

Occidental College

46%

University of the Pacific

45%

Azusa Pacific University

94%

Dominican University of California

93%

University of Redlands

83%

Whittier College

82%

Mills College at Northeastern University

80%

University of the Pacific

79%

University of La Verne

72%

University of San Francisco

71%

Saint Mary's College of California

70%

Biola University

61%

University of La Verne

15 to 1

Biola University

14 to 1

University of the Pacific

14 to 1

Pepperdine University

13 to 1

University of San Diego

13 to 1

University of Redlands

12 to 1

University of San Francisco

12 to 1

Golden Gate University

12 to 1

Chapman University

12 to 1

Whittier College

11 to 1

University of Southern California

$61,503

Harvey Mudd College

$60,703

Pepperdine University

$59,702

California Institute of Technology

$58,680

Chapman University

$58,634

Scripps College

$58,442

Occidental College

$58,426

Claremont McKenna College

$58,111

$57,978

$56,686

Claremont McKenna College

$64,288

University of Southern California

$60,446

Occidental College

$57,830

California Institute of Technology

$56,364

Stanford University

$54,315

University of the Pacific

$50,128

Scripps College

$46,774

Chapman University

$37,538

Pepperdine University

$37,300

Mills College at Northeastern University

$34,833

Mills College at Northeastern University

23%

Dominican University of California

28%

University of La Verne

29%

Azusa Pacific University

31%

Saint Mary's College of California

32%

Golden Gate University

35%

Scripps College

36%

Whittier College

36%

University of Redlands

37%

37%

Stanford University

4%

California Institute of Technology

4%

7%

Harvey Mudd College

10%

Claremont McKenna College

11%

University of Southern California

13%

18%

Scripps College

30%

Occidental College

38%

Loyola Marymount University

46%

California Institute of Technology

3 to 1

Stanford University

4 to 1

6 to 1

Occidental College

8 to 1

Mills College at Northeastern University

8 to 1

Claremont McKenna College

8 to 1

Harvey Mudd College

8 to 1

University of Southern California

9 to 1

9 to 1

Scripps College

9 to 1

Golden Gate University

$11,088

Mills College at Northeastern University

$30,950

Azusa Pacific University

$41,510

Biola University

$44,382

University of La Verne

$45,850

Dominican University of California

$47,910

Whittier College

$49,514

Saint Mary's College of California

$51,768

University of the Pacific

$52,352

University of San Diego

$52,864

Biola University

$12,006

University of La Verne

$14,340

Whittier College

$14,742

Dominican University of California

$16,048

Azusa Pacific University

$16,571

Golden Gate University

$19,620

Loyola Marymount University

$19,642

University of Redlands

$23,360

Santa Clara University

$25,170

University of San Francisco

$27,180

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.

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.

Colleges and Universities in California

California’s higher education institutes span across the entire state, allowing students to study by the beach, in the forest, in small towns, and in large cities. There are over 30 high quality online programs that would allow you to earn a degree from literally anywhere in California, or the world.

The state’s largest university is the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). UCLA serves nearly 44,000 students and offers a tuition rate around $13,000. This isn’t the only school with a large student body though. California is home to 23 colleges and universities with student populations of over 20,000 students.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

However, more than half of the state’s schools serve smaller student populations, offering plenty of options for students who crave a more intimate campus experience. Additionally, California boasts 50 religiously affiliated schools. Many of these schools have high graduation rates. However, tuition costs can range greatly, from $8,000 at Bethesda University up to $54,000 at Pepperdine University.

Additionally, many of California’s colleges and universities boast influential faculty and alumni, including Neil Armstrong, Jerry Lewis, and Weird Al Yankovic. In addition to famous alumni and professors, California’s schools are also home to some of the country’s top degree programs, including nursing, business, religious studies, education, literature, and law. Many of these schools offer online courses and complete online programs in these same disciplines.

Though Hollywood has given us an inside look into California’s most popular landmarks and attractions, these one-of-a-kind places aren’t the only reason people flock to The Golden State. With hundreds of colleges and universities, as well as community and junior colleges, to choose from, students have countless opportunities to further their education in California.

Many of these opportunities are also accessible through online courses and online colleges. A growing number of online programs in California have received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools, which means online students have a higher level of quality assurance than ever before. It’s also worth noting that students who live in California can still get an in-state discount on their associate degree or bachelor’s degree even when completing online courses or online programs.

To learn more about earning your degree in California, check out some of the state’s top programs and career paths.

What are California’s Colleges & Universities?

California’s Best Overall

What is the difference between public and private colleges?

Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.

Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.

California's Best Private Colleges and Universities Badge — Download Badge

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

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.

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

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 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 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.