Best Small Colleges in California 2023

Best Small Colleges in California 2023

By James Barham

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

Small colleges in California are a great option for students interested in a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Whether the focus is on the technical or on the liberal arts, small colleges give you the chance to pursue a well-rounded education while working closely with classmates and professors in a dynamic community atmosphere.

10 Best Small Colleges in California 2022

California Institute of Technology

76%

51%

Occidental College

46%

Harvey Mudd College

44%

Claremont McKenna College

43%

37%

University of Redlands

37%

Whittier College

36%

Scripps College

36%

Golden Gate University

35%

Holy Names University

95%

Dominican University of California

93%

Point Loma Nazarene University

84%

University of Redlands

83%

Thomas Aquinas College

83%

California Lutheran University

82%

Whittier College

82%

Concordia University Irvine

81%

Mills College at Northeastern University

80%

Westmont College

79%

Concordia University Irvine

20 to 1

John Paul the Great Catholic University

19 to 1

Marymount California University

18 to 1

La Sierra University

16 to 1

Point Loma Nazarene University

15 to 1

California Lutheran University

14 to 1

Hope International University

13 to 1

Simpson University

13 to 1

Pacific Union College

13 to 1

University of Redlands

12 to 1

Harvey Mudd College

$60,703

California Institute of Technology

$58,680

Scripps College

$58,442

Occidental College

$58,426

Claremont McKenna College

$58,111

$57,978

$56,686

University of Redlands

$54,066

Saint Mary's College of California

$51,768

Whittier College

$49,514

Claremont McKenna College

$64,288

Occidental College

$57,830

California Institute of Technology

$56,364

Scripps College

$46,774

Woodbury University

$41,924

Mills College at Northeastern University

$34,833

Saint Mary's College of California

$33,357

Soka University of America

$32,250

American Jewish University

$31,394

Pacific Union College

$31,101

Simpson University

18%

Hope International University

20%

John Paul the Great Catholic University

20%

Holy Names University

21%

University of the West

22%

Concordia University Irvine

22%

Thomas Aquinas College

23%

Mills College at Northeastern University

23%

Marymount California University

24%

California Lutheran University

24%

California Institute of Technology

4%

7%

Harvey Mudd College

10%

Claremont McKenna College

11%

18%

Scripps College

30%

Occidental College

38%

Hope International University

40%

Soka University of America

52%

Pacific Union College

58%

California Institute of Technology

3 to 1

American Jewish University

4 to 1

University of the West

5 to 1

6 to 1

Holy Names University

7 to 1

Soka University of America

7 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

Golden Gate University

$11,088

University of the West

$13,604

Thomas Aquinas College

$26,000

John Paul the Great Catholic University

$28,000

Mills College at Northeastern University

$30,950

American Jewish University

$31,394

Pacific Union College

$32,103

Soka University of America

$34,166

La Sierra University

$34,218

Hope International University

$35,450

Concordia University Irvine

$8,564

Simpson University

$10,710

University of the West

$11,772

Point Loma Nazarene University

$11,880

Hope International University

$14,256

Marymount California University

$14,400

Whittier College

$14,742

La Sierra University

$15,067

Dominican University of California

$16,048

Holy Names University

$18,054

Key Takeaways

California’s strategic location, prestigious colleges, great weather, and diverse culture are very appealing to university students.
Attending a small college in California will appeal to students who are looking for a strong sense of community, personalized attention from the faculty and staff members, and excellent access to support services are among its benefits.
Earning a degree from one of the top small colleges in the state could lead to a career in the state. California is one of the leading tech centers in the United States.

Exploring Small Colleges in the Golden State

California is notably cultural, with many cities spread across its pacific coastline. The state is also home to some of the best public university systems in the world, rivaling the Ivy Leagues of the East Coast!

The state is also known for Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Elite institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles, or the University of California, Berkeley, are great options for students from across the globe, particularly through their online programs.

Study Options in California

Some of California’s small college standout features are student and population diversity, geographical advantage, numerous academic opportunities, and the presence of environmentally-conscious industries.

Situated in the Bay Area, Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the US. Most of its residents are either Hispanics, Blacks, or Asians. Oakland is home to many schools, including the California College of Arts and Mills College. Because of its proximity to San Francisco and Berkeley, students from Oakland can easily commute between these two cities.

On the other hand, San Diego has beautiful and consistently warm weather, with annual temperatures averaging 72 degrees. The city’s coastal location offers access to many fine beaches, perfect for students to chill occasionally.

Claremont, located just outside Los Angeles, is home to the Claremont Colleges, an association of seven prestigious private schools. It draws seven distinct institutions in less than a square mile. The Claremont Consortium includes Pomona College, Claremont Graduate University, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Pitzer College, and Keck Graduate Institute

Best Green Industries: Berkeley

Best known for its progressive values, Berkeley is ranked among the top cities for green jobs. Students who are interested in pursuing green jobs can enjoy the different academic and professional opportunities UC Berkeley offers. Neighboring cities, including Hayward, Oakland, and San Francisco, also offer many green employment opportunities.

Best for Entertainment: Los Angeles

Los Angeles is the cultural hub of the West Coast, offering unmatched opportunities for nightlife and entertainment. The city’s culture and economy are driven mostly by film, music, and other entertainment industries. Major colleges in LA include the University of Southern California, UCLA, and the California Institute of the Arts.

Academic Opportunities for Small Public or Private School Options in California

Some of the best schools in the US are found in California. It is home to the California State University System, with more than 485,500 enrolled students across 23 campuses. UCLA and Berkeley, two of the best public colleges in the US, are also found in California.

While the University of Southern California, Stanford, and the California Institute of Technology attract many students both nationally and internationally the more selective and smaller liberal arts colleges like Harvey Mudd and Pomona are also great options.

Those planning to enroll in vocational schools, coding boot camps, and other community and small colleges can also enjoy many options in California.

Tech Opportunities in California

California is a tech hub. This city offers many educational and professional opportunities for students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Berkeley and Stanford University are known for having top figures in the tech industry. Some of the most successful startup technology ventures also come from these schools.

Students studying in California have internships and learning opportunities at some of the country’s biggest tech companies, like Google and Apple. With these professional connections and internships, students can still land their dream jobs right after college. Coding boot camps, another route into the tech industry, are also plenty in California.

The Cost of Studying in California

California has a high cost of living. Out-of-state tuition rates are potential financial barriers, especially for students not living in California.

The state does have several top-ranked public colleges, and some institutions that are members of the UC system qualify as Public Ivies. Stanford, USC, and other private colleges add to California’s academic prestige.

While the options are varied, out-of-state students must weigh the pros and cons of attending a college in California against living and tuition costs.

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

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

The following list of the best small colleges and universities in California is composed mainly of four-year undergraduate schools (though a handful also offer graduate programs). We’ve identified 50 small colleges in California. The list below of the 30 best small colleges in California. To be included schools must fully accredited, and must have student body populations below 5,000 students.

How do we determine California's best small 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.

Best Small Colleges in California 2022

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California’s Best Small College in Your Area of 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.