Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in California for Linguistics

Focusing specifically on Linguistics, our data science engine identified the 100 most influential universities in California. Based on 3.49M scholarly articles and 168.45M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Linguistics. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Field of Study

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1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Linguistics

#1 in United States #1 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Linguistics

#3 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 Linguistics

#12 in United States #13 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Linguistics

#17 in United States #19 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Linguistics

#21 in United States #23 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Linguistics

#31 in United States #34 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Linguistics

#38 in United States #42 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Linguistics

#41 in United States #46 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Linguistics

#46 in United States #52 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Linguistics

#55 in United States #64 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Linguistics

#86 in United States #99 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Linguistics

#100 in United States #117 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Linguistics

#125 in United States #146 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Linguistics

#223 in United States #254 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Linguistics

#256 in United States #289 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Linguistics

#299 in United States #334 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Linguistics

#703 in United States #766 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

18

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Linguistics

#379 in United States #421 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

19

San Diego

Southern States University

For Linguistics

#950 in United States #1023 in North America

95% Acceptance

41,137 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

$2,640 Net Price

20

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Linguistics

#1069 in United States #1144 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

21

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Linguistics

#436 in United States #482 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

22

Los Angeles

Pacific States University

For Linguistics

#1191 in United States #1270 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

23

Fresno

Fresno Pacific University

For Linguistics

#1288 in United States #1370 in North America

64% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1944 Founded

24

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Linguistics

#470 in United States #519 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

25

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Linguistics

#274 in United States #308 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

26

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Linguistics

#656 in United States #714 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

27

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Linguistics

#388 in United States #433 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

28

San Diego

United States University

For Linguistics

#845 in United States #913 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

29

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Linguistics

#597 in United States #654 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

30

Claremont, CA

For Linguistics

#301 in United States #337 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

31

Los Angeles

American Jewish University

For Linguistics

#1063 in United States #1138 in North America

71% Acceptance

40 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

32

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Linguistics

#912 in United States #984 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

33

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Linguistics

#607 in United States #665 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

34

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Linguistics

#197 in United States #228 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

35

Santa Clarita

California Institute of the Arts

For Linguistics

#1287 in United States #1369 in North America

32% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

36

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Linguistics

#526 in United States #580 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

37

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Linguistics

#886 in United States #955 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

38

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Linguistics

#967 in United States #1041 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

39

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Linguistics

#313 in United States #350 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

40

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Linguistics

#1132 in United States #1209 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

41

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Linguistics

#610 in United States #668 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

42

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Linguistics

#219 in United States #250 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

43

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Linguistics

#594 in United States #651 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

44

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Linguistics

#476 in United States #525 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

45

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Linguistics

#962 in United States #1036 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

46

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

For Linguistics

#874 in United States #943 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

47

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Linguistics

#224 in United States #255 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

48

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Linguistics

#1044 in United States #1119 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

49

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Linguistics

#584 in United States #641 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

50

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Linguistics

#312 in United States #349 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

51

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Linguistics

#792 in United States #858 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

52

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Linguistics

#556 in United States #611 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

53

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Linguistics

#904 in United States #975 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

54

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

For Linguistics

#1190 in United States #1269 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

55

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Linguistics

#340 in United States #381 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

56

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Linguistics

#300 in United States #336 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

57

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Linguistics

#870 in United States #939 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

58

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Linguistics

#574 in United States #631 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

59

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Linguistics

#277 in United States #311 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

60

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Linguistics

#576 in United States #633 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

61

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Linguistics

#551 in United States #606 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

62

Cypress

Trident University International

For Linguistics

#1174 in United States #1252 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

63

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Linguistics

#883 in United States #952 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

64

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Linguistics

#848 in United States #916 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

65

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Linguistics

#278 in United States #312 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

66

San Diego

California Western School of Law

For Linguistics

#1016 in United States #1090 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

67

La Mirada

Biola University

For Linguistics

#567 in United States #622 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

68

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Linguistics

#183 in United States #210 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

69

San Diego

Ashford University

For Linguistics

#1004 in United States #1078 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

70

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Linguistics

#529 in United States #583 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

71

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Linguistics

#1157 in United States #1235 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

72

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

For Linguistics

#1207 in United States #1286 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

73

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Linguistics

#663 in United States #721 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

74

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Linguistics

#279 in United States #313 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

75

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Linguistics

#701 in United States #763 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

76

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Linguistics

#879 in United States #948 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

77

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Linguistics

#160 in United States #185 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

78

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Linguistics

#535 in United States #589 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

79

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Linguistics

#287 in United States #322 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

80

Belmont, CA

Notre Dame de Namur University

For Linguistics

#1127 in United States #1203 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

81

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Linguistics

#986 in United States #1060 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

82

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Linguistics

#675 in United States #734 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

83

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Linguistics

#370 in United States #412 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

84

San Francisco

California College of the Arts

For Linguistics

#1176 in United States #1254 in North America

91% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

85

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Linguistics

#617 in United States #675 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

86

Atherton

For Linguistics

#1169 in United States #1247 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

87

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Linguistics

#1140 in United States #1217 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

88

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Linguistics

#434 in United States #480 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

89

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Linguistics

#961 in United States #1035 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

90

Rosemead

University of the West

For Linguistics

#585 in United States #642 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

91

Claremont, CA

For Linguistics

#538 in United States #592 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

92

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Linguistics

#303 in United States #339 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

93

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Linguistics

#725 in United States #788 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

94

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Linguistics

#400 in United States #445 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

95

Costa Mesa

Vanguard University of Southern California

For Linguistics

#1054 in United States #1129 in North America

62% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

96

Whittier

Whittier College

For Linguistics

#799 in United States #865 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

97

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Linguistics

#395 in United States #440 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

98

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Linguistics

#919 in United States #991 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

99

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

For Linguistics

#1270 in United States #1351 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

100

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Linguistics

#789 in United States #855 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded