Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in California for Archaeology

Focusing specifically on Archaeology, our data science engine identified the 100 most influential universities in California. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.46M specialized research publications which collectively generated 167.8M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Archaeology California Clear All

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1

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Archaeology

#1 in United States #1 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Archaeology

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#9 in United States #10 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Archaeology

#21 in United States #23 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Archaeology

#23 in United States #25 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Archaeology

#29 in United States #31 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Archaeology

#39 in United States #43 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Archaeology

#47 in United States #52 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Archaeology

#49 in United States #54 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Archaeology

#56 in United States #65 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Archaeology

#80 in United States #96 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Archaeology

#89 in United States #105 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Archaeology

#119 in United States #141 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Archaeology

#178 in United States #205 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Archaeology

#204 in United States #235 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Archaeology

#252 in United States #287 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Archaeology

#625 in United States #687 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

18

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Archaeology

#347 in United States #392 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

19

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Archaeology

#964 in United States #1038 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

20

Rosemead

University of the West

For Archaeology

#561 in United States #619 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

21

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Archaeology

#648 in United States #710 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

22

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Archaeology

#338 in United States #383 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

23

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Archaeology

#736 in United States #803 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

24

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Archaeology

#636 in United States #698 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

25

Atherton

For Archaeology

#1028 in United States #1103 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

26

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Archaeology

#990 in United States #1065 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

27

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Archaeology

#351 in United States #396 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

28

Berkeley

Church Divinity School of the Pacific

For Archaeology

#1335 in United States #1421 in North America

82% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

29

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

For Archaeology

#1199 in United States #1277 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

30

Claremont, CA

For Archaeology

#700 in United States #767 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

31

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Archaeology

#318 in United States #360 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

32

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Archaeology

#245 in United States #280 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

33

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Archaeology

#463 in United States #515 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

34

Costa Mesa

Vanguard University of Southern California

For Archaeology

#947 in United States #1020 in North America

62% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

35

Whittier

Whittier College

For Archaeology

#719 in United States #786 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

36

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Archaeology

#315 in United States #357 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

37

Berkeley

Pacific School of Religion

For Archaeology

#1208 in United States #1287 in North America

97% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

38

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Archaeology

#812 in United States #881 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

39

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Archaeology

#808 in United States #877 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

40

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Archaeology

#320 in United States #363 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

41

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Archaeology

#571 in United States #630 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

42

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Archaeology

#495 in United States #548 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

43

Irvine

Brandman University

For Archaeology

#1213 in United States #1292 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

2009 Founded

44

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

For Archaeology

#949 in United States #1022 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

45

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Archaeology

#277 in United States #316 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

46

Los Angeles

Pacific States University

For Archaeology

#1245 in United States #1326 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

47

Fresno

Fresno Pacific University

For Archaeology

#1141 in United States #1218 in North America

64% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1944 Founded

48

Oakland

For Archaeology

#651 in United States #713 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

49

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Archaeology

#243 in United States #276 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

50

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Archaeology

#421 in United States #471 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

51

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Archaeology

#387 in United States #434 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

52

San Diego

United States University

For Archaeology

#1012 in United States #1087 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

53

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Archaeology

#1008 in United States #1083 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

54

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Archaeology

#401 in United States #450 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

55

Los Angeles

American Jewish University

For Archaeology

#783 in United States #851 in North America

71% Acceptance

40 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

56

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Archaeology

#984 in United States #1059 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

57

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Archaeology

#647 in United States #709 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

58

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Archaeology

#282 in United States #321 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

59

Santa Monica

Santa Monica College

For Archaeology

#1285 in United States #1368 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,592 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

60

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Archaeology

#411 in United States #461 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

61

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Archaeology

#664 in United States #727 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

62

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Archaeology

#468 in United States #520 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

63

Claremont, CA

For Archaeology

#369 in United States #414 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

64

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Archaeology

#1015 in United States #1090 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

65

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Archaeology

#577 in United States #636 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

66

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Archaeology

#214 in United States #245 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

67

Santa Clarita

California Institute of the Arts

For Archaeology

#1348 in United States #1434 in North America

32% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

68

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Archaeology

#530 in United States #586 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

69

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Archaeology

#1029 in United States #1104 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

70

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Archaeology

#929 in United States #1002 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

71

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Archaeology

#294 in United States #335 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

72

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Archaeology

#880 in United States #953 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

73

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Archaeology

#638 in United States #700 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

74

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Archaeology

#219 in United States #250 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

75

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Archaeology

#717 in United States #784 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

76

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Archaeology

#455 in United States #506 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

77

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Archaeology

#919 in United States #992 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

78

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

For Archaeology

#1043 in United States #1118 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

79

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

For Archaeology

#809 in United States #878 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

80

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Archaeology

#220 in United States #251 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

81

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Archaeology

#601 in United States #661 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

82

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Archaeology

#520 in United States #573 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

83

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Archaeology

#221 in United States #252 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

84

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Archaeology

#863 in United States #935 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

85

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Archaeology

#590 in United States #649 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

86

Cypress

Trident University International

For Archaeology

#1198 in United States #1276 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

87

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Archaeology

#960 in United States #1034 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

88

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Archaeology

#394 in United States #443 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

89

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Archaeology

#297 in United States #338 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

90

San Diego

California Western School of Law

For Archaeology

#888 in United States #961 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

91

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Archaeology

#536 in United States #593 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

92

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Archaeology

#246 in United States #281 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

93

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Archaeology

#839 in United States #909 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

94

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Archaeology

#474 in United States #526 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

95

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Archaeology

#924 in United States #997 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

96

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

For Archaeology

#1070 in United States #1145 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

97

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Archaeology

#774 in United States #842 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

98

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Archaeology

#306 in United States #348 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

99

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Archaeology

#678 in United States #742 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

100

La Mirada

Biola University

For Archaeology

#710 in United States #777 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded