Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in California for Political Science

Focusing specifically on Political Science, our data science engine identified the 100 most influential universities in California. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.42M specialized research publications which collectively generated 166.91M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Political Science California Clear All

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

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

#22 in United States #23 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 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

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

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

#28 in United States #30 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 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

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

#89 in United States #101 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

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

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

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

18

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

#577 in United States #632 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

19

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

20

Berkeley

Pacific School of Religion

#1439 in United States #1524 in North America

97% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

21

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

#844 in United States #912 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

22

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

23

Redding

Simpson University

#1395 in United States #1479 in North America

86% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

24

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

#1094 in United States #1169 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

25

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

26

Merced

University of California – Merced

#296 in United States #327 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

27

Cypress

Cypress College

#1118 in United States #1193 in North America

100% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

28

Oakland

Saybrook University

#950 in United States #1022 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

29

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

#568 in United States #623 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

30

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

31

Los Angeles

Pacific States University

#1867 in United States #1958 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

32

Culver, CA

Antioch University

#812 in United States #880 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

33

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

#418 in United States #464 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

34

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

35

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

#1088 in United States #1163 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

36

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

#727 in United States #794 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

37

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

#287 in United States #318 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

38

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

#1604 in United States #1691 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

39

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

40

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

#567 in United States #622 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

41

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

#206 in United States #233 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

42

Los Angeles

American Jewish University

#1321 in United States #1399 in North America

71% Acceptance

40 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

43

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

44

Los Angeles

Occidental College

#381 in United States #427 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

45

San Diego

United States University

#1724 in United States #1812 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

46

Rosemead

University of the West

#1086 in United States #1161 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

47

La Verne

University of La Verne

#717 in United States #784 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

48

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

#282 in United States #313 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

49

Modesto

Modesto Junior College

#1233 in United States #1311 in North America

100% Acceptance

12,949 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

50

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

#911 in United States #983 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

51

La Mirada

Biola University

#564 in United States #619 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

52

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

#184 in United States #208 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

53

Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana College

#1175 in United States #1250 in North America

100% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

54

San Diego

Ashford University

#808 in United States #876 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

55

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

#372 in United States #416 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

56

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

57

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

#1081 in United States #1156 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

58

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

#697 in United States #762 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

59

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

60

Oakland

Holy Names University

#1477 in United States #1563 in North America

77% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

61

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

62

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

63

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

64

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

#801 in United States #869 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

65

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

66

San Diego

California Miramar University

#1481 in United States #1567 in North America

18% Acceptance

27,248 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

$12,480 Net Price

67

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

#1080 in United States #1155 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

68

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

69

Malibu

Pepperdine University

#275 in United States #306 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

70

Angwin

Pacific Union College

#1323 in United States #1401 in North America

47% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

71

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

72

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

#548 in United States #603 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

73

Atherton

#1241 in United States #1319 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

74

Riverside

California Baptist University

#794 in United States #862 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

75

Chico

California State University – Chico

#324 in United States #360 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

76

San Diego

San Diego Mesa College

#1363 in United States #1443 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

77

Fresno

Fresno Pacific University

#1068 in United States #1142 in North America

64% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1944 Founded

78

Claremont, CA

#644 in United States #704 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

79

Orange, CA

Chapman University

#251 in United States #282 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

80

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

81

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

#888 in United States #958 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

82

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

83

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

84

Whittier

Whittier College

#786 in United States #854 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

85

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

#321 in United States #357 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

86

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

87

Los Altos Hills

Foothill College

#1060 in United States #1134 in North America

100% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

88

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

#631 in United States #690 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

89

San Diego

University of San Diego

#248 in United States #279 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

90

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

#1143 in United States #1218 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

91

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

#881 in United States #951 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

92

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

#517 in United States #568 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

93

Irvine

Brandman University

#1620 in United States #1707 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

2009 Founded

94

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

#785 in United States #853 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

95

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

#316 in United States #351 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

96

San Diego

Northcentral University

#1211 in United States #1288 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

97

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

#1023 in United States #1096 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

98

Oakland

#625 in United States #684 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

99

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

#234 in United States #264 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

100

San Anselmo

San Francisco Theological Seminary

#1767 in United States #1856 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT