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 3.48M specialized research publications which collectively generated 168.52M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Field of Study

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1

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

#5 in United States #5 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

#2 in United States #2 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

#11 in United States #11 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

Davis

University of California – Davis

#28 in United States #30 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

#20 in United States #21 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

#22 in United States #23 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

#43 in United States #46 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

#32 in United States #35 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

#55 in United States #59 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

#46 in United States #50 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

#84 in United States #96 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

#89 in United States #101 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

#124 in United States #143 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

#231 in United States #260 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

#205 in United States #232 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

#266 in United States #297 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

#881 in United States #951 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

18

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

#517 in United States #568 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

19

Irvine

Brandman University

#1620 in United States #1707 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

2009 Founded

20

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

#785 in United States #853 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

21

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

#316 in United States #351 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

22

Los Angeles

Pacific States University

#1867 in United States #1958 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

23

Fresno

Fresno Pacific University

#1068 in United States #1142 in North America

64% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1944 Founded

24

Oakland

#625 in United States #684 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

25

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

#234 in United States #264 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

26

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

#880 in United States #950 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

27

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

#452 in United States #500 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

28

San Diego

United States University

#1724 in United States #1812 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

29

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

#769 in United States #837 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

30

Stockton

University of the Pacific

#312 in United States #346 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

31

Los Angeles

American Jewish University

#1321 in United States #1399 in North America

71% Acceptance

40 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

32

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

#1023 in United States #1096 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

33

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

#599 in United States #656 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

34

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

#221 in United States #249 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

35

Santa Monica

Santa Monica College

#874 in United States #943 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,592 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

36

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

#440 in United States #487 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

37

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

#1570 in United States #1656 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

38

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

#759 in United States #827 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

39

Claremont, CA

#304 in United States #337 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

40

Burbank

Woodbury University

#1014 in United States #1087 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

41

Redlands

University of Redlands

#583 in United States #640 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

42

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

#216 in United States #244 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

43

Santa Clarita

California Institute of the Arts

#871 in United States #940 in North America

32% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

44

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

#433 in United States #480 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

45

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

#1220 in United States #1297 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

46

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

#745 in United States #813 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

47

Arcata

Humboldt State University

#297 in United States #328 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

48

Riverside

La Sierra University

#997 in United States #1070 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

49

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

#577 in United States #632 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

50

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

#211 in United States #238 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

51

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

#844 in United States #912 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

52

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

#430 in United States #477 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

53

San Diego

Northcentral University

#1211 in United States #1288 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

54

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

#1116 in United States #1191 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

55

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

#728 in United States #795 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

56

Merced

University of California – Merced

#296 in United States #327 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

57

Oakland

Saybrook University

#950 in United States #1022 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

58

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

#568 in United States #623 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

59

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

#209 in United States #236 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

60

Culver, CA

Antioch University

#812 in United States #880 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

61

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

#418 in United States #464 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

62

Cypress

Trident University International

#1450 in United States #1535 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

63

Berkeley

Wright Institute

#1108 in United States #1183 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

64

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

#727 in United States #794 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

65

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

#287 in United States #318 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

66

San Diego

California Western School of Law

#941 in United States #1013 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

67

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

#567 in United States #622 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

68

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

#206 in United States #233 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

69

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

#809 in United States #877 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

70

Los Angeles

Occidental College

#381 in United States #427 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

71

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

#1143 in United States #1218 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

72

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

#1094 in United States #1169 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

73

La Verne

University of La Verne

#717 in United States #784 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

74

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

#282 in United States #313 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

75

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

#911 in United States #983 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

76

La Mirada

Biola University

#564 in United States #619 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

77

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

#184 in United States #208 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

78

San Diego

Ashford University

#808 in United States #876 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

79

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

#372 in United States #416 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

80

San Anselmo

San Francisco Theological Seminary

#1767 in United States #1856 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

81

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

#1088 in United States #1163 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

82

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

#697 in United States #762 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

83

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

#278 in United States #309 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

84

San Francisco

California College of the Arts

#902 in United States #973 in North America

91% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

85

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

#563 in United States #618 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

86

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

#168 in United States #192 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

87

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

#801 in United States #869 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

88

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

#331 in United States #368 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

89

Vallejo

Touro University California

#1333 in United States #1411 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

90

Rosemead

University of the West

#1086 in United States #1161 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

91

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

#691 in United States #755 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

92

Malibu

Pepperdine University

#275 in United States #306 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

93

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

#894 in United States #964 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

94

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

#548 in United States #603 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

95

Atherton

#1241 in United States #1319 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

96

Riverside

California Baptist University

#794 in United States #862 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

97

Chico

California State University – Chico

#324 in United States #360 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

98

Berkeley

Church Divinity School of the Pacific

#1793 in United States #1882 in North America

82% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

99

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

#1081 in United States #1156 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

100

Claremont, CA

#644 in United States #704 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded