Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in California for Psychology

We ranked the top 100 universities for Psychology in California based on strict academic metrics. Based on 884.3K scholarly articles and 46.4M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Psychology. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Psychology California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Psychology

#4 in United States #5 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Psychology

#9 in United States #10 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

3

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Psychology

#10 in United States #11 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Psychology

#12 in United States #13 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Psychology

#19 in United States #22 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

6

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Psychology

#22 in United States #25 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Psychology

#35 in United States #38 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Psychology

#44 in United States #51 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Psychology

#87 in United States #101 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Psychology

#98 in United States #113 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Psychology

#119 in United States #135 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Psychology

#121 in United States #137 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Psychology

#154 in United States #176 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

14

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Psychology

#165 in United States #187 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

15

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Psychology

#203 in United States #231 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

16

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Psychology

#213 in United States #241 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

17

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Psychology

#218 in United States #247 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

18

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Psychology

#220 in United States #249 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

19

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Psychology

#246 in United States #276 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

20

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Psychology

#248 in United States #278 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

21

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Psychology

#268 in United States #299 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

22

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Psychology

#272 in United States #303 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

23

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Psychology

#276 in United States #307 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

24

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Psychology

#277 in United States #308 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

25

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Psychology

#282 in United States #313 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

26

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Psychology

#287 in United States #318 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

27

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Psychology

#289 in United States #321 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

28

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Psychology

#296 in United States #328 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

29

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Psychology

#300 in United States #332 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

30

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Psychology

#303 in United States #335 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

31

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Psychology

#309 in United States #343 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

32

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Psychology

#315 in United States #349 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

33

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Psychology

#316 in United States #350 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

34

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Psychology

#317 in United States #351 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

35

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Psychology

#320 in United States #354 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

36

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Psychology

#332 in United States #369 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

37

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Psychology

#334 in United States #371 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

38

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Psychology

#344 in United States #382 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

39

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Psychology

#359 in United States #398 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

40

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Psychology

#369 in United States #411 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

41

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Psychology

#378 in United States #421 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

42

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Psychology

#389 in United States #432 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

43

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Psychology

#394 in United States #437 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

44

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Psychology

#396 in United States #439 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

45

Claremont, CA

For Psychology

#400 in United States #444 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

46

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Psychology

#407 in United States #451 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

47

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Psychology

#413 in United States #458 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

48

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Psychology

#462 in United States #509 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

49

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Psychology

#476 in United States #524 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

50

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Psychology

#482 in United States #531 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

51

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Psychology

#493 in United States #543 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

52

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Psychology

#502 in United States #553 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

53

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Psychology

#518 in United States #569 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

54

Oakland

For Psychology

#554 in United States #605 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

55

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Psychology

#582 in United States #636 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

56

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Psychology

#583 in United States #637 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

57

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Psychology

#594 in United States #649 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

58

La Mirada

Biola University

For Psychology

#608 in United States #663 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

59

Rosemead

University of the West

For Psychology

#614 in United States #669 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

60

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Psychology

#620 in United States #676 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

61

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Psychology

#625 in United States #682 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

62

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Psychology

#633 in United States #690 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

63

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Psychology

#634 in United States #691 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

64

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Psychology

#658 in United States #716 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

65

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Psychology

#661 in United States #719 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

66

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Psychology

#676 in United States #735 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

67

Claremont, CA

For Psychology

#688 in United States #747 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

68

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Psychology

#715 in United States #774 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

69

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Psychology

#721 in United States #781 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

70

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Psychology

#747 in United States #808 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

71

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

For Psychology

#755 in United States #817 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

72

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Psychology

#766 in United States #828 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

73

San Diego

United States University

For Psychology

#799 in United States #862 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

74

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Psychology

#819 in United States #884 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

75

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Psychology

#822 in United States #887 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

76

Whittier

Whittier College

For Psychology

#827 in United States #892 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

77

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Psychology

#856 in United States #922 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

78

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Psychology

#862 in United States #929 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

79

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Psychology

#867 in United States #934 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

80

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Psychology

#879 in United States #947 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

81

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Psychology

#890 in United States #958 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

82

San Diego

Ashford University

For Psychology

#931 in United States #999 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

83

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Psychology

#932 in United States #1000 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

84

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Psychology

#944 in United States #1012 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

85

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

For Psychology

#953 in United States #1022 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

86

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Psychology

#1004 in United States #1073 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

87

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Psychology

#1015 in United States #1084 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

88

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Psychology

#1018 in United States #1087 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

89

San Diego

California Western School of Law

For Psychology

#1035 in United States #1106 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

90

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Psychology

#1041 in United States #1112 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

91

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Psychology

#1051 in United States #1123 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

92

Cypress

Cypress College

For Psychology

#1056 in United States #1128 in North America

100% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

93

Cypress

Trident University International

For Psychology

#1067 in United States #1139 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

94

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

For Psychology

#1097 in United States #1169 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

95

Whittier

Southern California University of Health Sciences

For Psychology

#1099 in United States #1171 in North America

100% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

$51,174 Net Price

96

Atherton

For Psychology

#1138 in United States #1213 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

97

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Psychology

#1171 in United States #1246 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

98

Costa Mesa

Vanguard University of Southern California

For Psychology

#1175 in United States #1250 in North America

62% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

99

Irvine

Brandman University

For Psychology

#1181 in United States #1256 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

2009 Founded

100

Redding

Simpson University

For Psychology

#1198 in United States #1274 in North America

86% Acceptance

622 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1921 Founded