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 3.45M specialized research publications which collectively generated 167.8M 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

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

#785 in United States #853 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

18

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

#316 in United States #351 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

19

San Diego

Northcentral University

#1211 in United States #1288 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

20

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

#1023 in United States #1096 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

21

Oakland

#625 in United States #684 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

22

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

#234 in United States #264 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

23

San Anselmo

San Francisco Theological Seminary

#1767 in United States #1856 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

24

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

#880 in United States #950 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

25

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

#452 in United States #500 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

26

Rancho Palos Verdes

Marymount California University

#1760 in United States #1849 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1932 Founded

27

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

#1116 in United States #1191 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

28

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

#769 in United States #837 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

29

Stockton

University of the Pacific

#312 in United States #346 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

30

Whittier

Southern California University of Health Sciences

#1437 in United States #1522 in North America

100% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

$51,174 Net Price

31

Burbank

Woodbury University

#1014 in United States #1087 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

32

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

33

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

#221 in United States #249 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

34

Vallejo

Touro University California

#1333 in United States #1411 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 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 Bruno

Skyline College

#1289 in United States #1367 in North America

100% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

38

Berkeley

Wright Institute

#1108 in United States #1183 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

39

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

#759 in United States #827 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

40

Claremont, CA

#304 in United States #337 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

41

Anaheim

West Coast University – Orange County

#1588 in United States #1675 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,926 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

42

Riverside

La Sierra University

#997 in United States #1070 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

43

Redlands

University of Redlands

#583 in United States #640 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

44

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

#216 in United States #244 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

45

Berkeley

Church Divinity School of the Pacific

#1793 in United States #1882 in North America

82% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

46

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

47

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

48

Pasadena, CA

Pacific Oaks College

#1483 in United States #1569 in North America

34% Acceptance

30,746 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1945 Founded

49

Bakersfield

Bakersfield College

#1101 in United States #1176 in North America

100% Acceptance

27,248 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

50

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

#745 in United States #813 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

51

Arcata

Humboldt State University

#297 in United States #328 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

52

Cypress

Trident University International

#1450 in United States #1535 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

53

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

54

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

#577 in United States #632 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

55

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

56

Berkeley

Pacific School of Religion

#1439 in United States #1524 in North America

97% Acceptance

200 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

57

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

#844 in United States #912 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

58

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

59

Redding

Simpson University

#1395 in United States #1479 in North America

86% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

60

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

#1094 in United States #1169 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

61

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

62

Merced

University of California – Merced

#296 in United States #327 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

63

Cypress

Cypress College

#1118 in United States #1193 in North America

100% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

64

Oakland

Saybrook University

#950 in United States #1022 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

65

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

#568 in United States #623 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

66

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

67

Los Angeles

Pacific States University

#1867 in United States #1958 in North America

100% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

68

Culver, CA

Antioch University

#812 in United States #880 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

69

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

#418 in United States #464 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

70

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

71

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

#1088 in United States #1163 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

72

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

#727 in United States #794 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

73

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

#287 in United States #318 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

74

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

#1604 in United States #1691 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

75

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

76

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

#567 in United States #622 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

77

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

#206 in United States #233 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

78

Los Angeles

American Jewish University

#1321 in United States #1399 in North America

71% Acceptance

40 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

79

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

80

Los Angeles

Occidental College

#381 in United States #427 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

81

San Diego

United States University

#1724 in United States #1812 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

82

Rosemead

University of the West

#1086 in United States #1161 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

83

La Verne

University of La Verne

#717 in United States #784 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

84

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

#282 in United States #313 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

85

Modesto

Modesto Junior College

#1233 in United States #1311 in North America

100% Acceptance

12,949 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

86

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

#911 in United States #983 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

87

La Mirada

Biola University

#564 in United States #619 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

88

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

#184 in United States #208 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

89

Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana College

#1175 in United States #1250 in North America

100% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

90

San Diego

Ashford University

#808 in United States #876 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

91

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

#372 in United States #416 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

92

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

93

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

#1081 in United States #1156 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

94

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

#697 in United States #762 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

95

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

96

Oakland

Holy Names University

#1477 in United States #1563 in North America

77% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

97

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

98

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

99

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

100

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

#801 in United States #869 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT