Best Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Universities in California [2026 Rankings]

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#2 in United States #2 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#4 in United States #4 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#11 in United States #12 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#23 in United States #25 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#24 in United States #26 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#33 in United States #37 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#35 in United States #39 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#43 in United States #49 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#49 in United States #59 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#73 in United States #87 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#95 in United States #112 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#98 in United States #116 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#119 in United States #140 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#173 in United States #201 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

15

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#186 in United States #214 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

16

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#202 in United States #232 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

17

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#206 in United States #236 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

18

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#208 in United States #239 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

19

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#223 in United States #254 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

20

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#235 in United States #268 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

21

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#239 in United States #272 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

22

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#246 in United States #279 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

23

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#266 in United States #299 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

24

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#269 in United States #302 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

25

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#270 in United States #303 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

26

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#276 in United States #311 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

27

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#278 in United States #313 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

28

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#280 in United States #315 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

29

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#284 in United States #319 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

30

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#287 in United States #322 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

31

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#300 in United States #338 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

32

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#307 in United States #346 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

33

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#308 in United States #347 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

34

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#318 in United States #359 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

35

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#320 in United States #361 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

36

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#338 in United States #379 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

37

Claremont, CA

Pomona College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#347 in United States #389 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

38

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#356 in United States #399 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

39

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#361 in United States #406 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

40

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#379 in United States #425 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

41

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#382 in United States #430 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

42

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#398 in United States #446 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

43

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#422 in United States #471 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

44

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#439 in United States #490 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

45

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#470 in United States #521 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

46

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#473 in United States #524 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

47

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#492 in United States #545 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

48

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#511 in United States #565 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

49

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#523 in United States #578 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

50

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#539 in United States #594 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

51

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#542 in United States #597 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

52

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#555 in United States #610 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

53

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#561 in United States #616 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

54

Oakland

Mills College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#574 in United States #630 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

55

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#576 in United States #632 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

56

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#580 in United States #636 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

57

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#585 in United States #641 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

58

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#590 in United States #647 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

59

Rosemead

University of the West

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#600 in United States #657 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

60

La Mirada

Biola University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#601 in United States #658 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

61

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#616 in United States #676 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

62

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#620 in United States #680 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

63

Claremont, CA

Pitzer College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#623 in United States #683 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

64

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#629 in United States #690 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

65

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#644 in United States #707 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

66

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#651 in United States #716 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

67

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#674 in United States #740 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

68

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#696 in United States #762 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

69

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#720 in United States #786 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

70

San Diego

California Western School of Law

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#728 in United States #794 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

71

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#771 in United States #840 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

72

Whittier

Whittier College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#778 in United States #847 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

73

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#781 in United States #850 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

74

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#801 in United States #870 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

75

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#812 in United States #882 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

76

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#820 in United States #890 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

77

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#823 in United States #893 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

78

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#832 in United States #902 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

79

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#879 in United States #949 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

80

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#896 in United States #968 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

81

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#903 in United States #975 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

82

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#918 in United States #990 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

83

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#925 in United States #997 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

84

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#926 in United States #998 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

85

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#931 in United States #1003 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

86

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#939 in United States #1011 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

87

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#941 in United States #1013 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

88

Los Angeles

American Jewish University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#988 in United States #1061 in North America

71% Acceptance

40 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

89

San Diego

United States University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#995 in United States #1071 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

90

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#996 in United States #1072 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

91

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1003 in United States #1079 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

92

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1005 in United States #1081 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

93

San Diego

Ashford University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1029 in United States #1105 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

94

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1049 in United States #1126 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

95

Atherton

Menlo College

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1074 in United States #1151 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

96

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1100 in United States #1178 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

97

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1127 in United States #1205 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

98

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1136 in United States #1214 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

99

Costa Mesa

Vanguard University of Southern California

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1141 in United States #1219 in North America

62% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

100

Cypress

Trident University International

For Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

#1208 in United States #1286 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

100 Best Universities in California for Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

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