Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in California for Philosophy

We ranked the top 100 universities for Philosophy in California based on strict academic metrics. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.42M specialized research publications which collectively generated 167.04M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

#2 in United States #2 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

#5 in United States #5 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 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

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

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

#22 in United States #23 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

#28 in United States #30 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

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

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

#43 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

#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

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

#205 in United States #232 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

#266 in United States #297 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

16

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

#231 in United States #260 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

17

Riverside

California Baptist University

#794 in United States #862 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

18

Chico

California State University – Chico

#324 in United States #360 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

19

Anaheim

Bethesda University

#1919 in United States #2011 in North America

100% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

20

Berkeley

Church Divinity School of the Pacific

#1793 in United States #1882 in North America

82% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

21

Fresno

Fresno Pacific University

#1068 in United States #1142 in North America

64% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1944 Founded

22

Claremont, CA

#644 in United States #704 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

23

Orange, CA

Chapman University

#251 in United States #282 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

24

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

#888 in United States #958 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

25

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

#528 in United States #580 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

26

Costa Mesa

Vanguard University of Southern California

#1125 in United States #1200 in North America

62% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

27

Whittier

Whittier College

#786 in United States #854 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

28

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

#321 in United States #357 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

29

Anaheim

West Coast University – Orange County

#1588 in United States #1675 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,926 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

30

Berkeley

Pacific School of Religion

#1439 in United States #1524 in North America

97% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

31

Los Altos Hills

Foothill College

#1060 in United States #1134 in North America

100% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

32

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

#631 in United States #690 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

33

San Diego

University of San Diego

#248 in United States #279 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

34

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

#881 in United States #951 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

35

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

#517 in United States #568 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

36

Irvine

Brandman University

#1620 in United States #1707 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

2009 Founded

37

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

#785 in United States #853 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

38

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

#316 in United States #351 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

39

Cypress

Trident University International

#1450 in United States #1535 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

40

Los Angeles

Pacific States University

#1867 in United States #1958 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

41

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

#1023 in United States #1096 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

42

Oakland

#625 in United States #684 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

43

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

#234 in United States #264 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

44

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

#880 in United States #950 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

45

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

#452 in United States #500 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

46

Redding

Simpson University

#1395 in United States #1479 in North America

86% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

47

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

#1116 in United States #1191 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

48

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

#769 in United States #837 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

49

Stockton

University of the Pacific

#312 in United States #346 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

50

Cypress

Cypress College

#1118 in United States #1193 in North America

100% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

51

Los Angeles

American Jewish University

#1321 in United States #1399 in North America

71% Acceptance

40 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

52

Burbank

Woodbury University

#1014 in United States #1087 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

53

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

54

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

#221 in United States #249 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

55

Santa Monica

Santa Monica College

#874 in United States #943 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,592 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

56

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

57

San Diego

Southern States University

#1848 in United States #1939 in North America

95% Acceptance

41,137 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

$2,640 Net Price

58

Berkeley

Wright Institute

#1108 in United States #1183 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

59

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

#759 in United States #827 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

60

Claremont, CA

#304 in United States #337 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

61

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

#1604 in United States #1691 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

62

Riverside

La Sierra University

#997 in United States #1070 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

63

Redlands

University of Redlands

#583 in United States #640 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

64

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

#216 in United States #244 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

65

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

66

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

67

San Diego

United States University

#1724 in United States #1812 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

68

Bakersfield

Bakersfield College

#1101 in United States #1176 in North America

100% Acceptance

27,248 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

69

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

#745 in United States #813 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

70

Arcata

Humboldt State University

#297 in United States #328 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

71

Oakland

Holy Names University

#1477 in United States #1563 in North America

77% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

72

Pasadena, CA

Art Center College of Design

#977 in United States #1049 in North America

75% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

73

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

#577 in United States #632 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

74

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

75

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

#844 in United States #912 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

76

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

77

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

78

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

#1094 in United States #1169 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

79

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

80

Merced

University of California – Merced

#296 in United States #327 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

81

Angwin

Pacific Union College

#1323 in United States #1401 in North America

47% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

82

Oakland

Saybrook University

#950 in United States #1022 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

83

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

#568 in United States #623 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

84

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

85

Culver, CA

Antioch University

#812 in United States #880 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

86

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

#418 in United States #464 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

87

San Diego

San Diego Mesa College

#1363 in United States #1443 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

88

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

#1088 in United States #1163 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

89

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

#727 in United States #794 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

90

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

#287 in United States #318 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

91

Belmont, CA

Notre Dame de Namur University

#1338 in United States #1417 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

92

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

93

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

#567 in United States #622 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

94

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

#206 in United States #233 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

95

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

96

Los Angeles

Occidental College

#381 in United States #427 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

97

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

98

Rosemead

University of the West

#1086 in United States #1161 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

99

La Verne

University of La Verne

#717 in United States #784 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

100

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

#282 in United States #313 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded