Most Selective Universities in California

Q: How many universities are ranked for Most Selective in California?

There are 50 universities ranked for Most Selective in California based on government-verified data.

Q: How are Most Selective rankings calculated?

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Institutions are ranked by most selective metrics using the most recently available data. Only institutions with complete data are included.

Rankings based on government-verified data for qualifying institutions in California.

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50 results

#	Institution	Tuition	Avg Earnings	Grad Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California Institute of Technology Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$63,255	$132,140	94%	3%
2	Minerva University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$18,700	$0	86%	4%
3	Stanford University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$62,484	$102,887	94%	4%
4	Pomona College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$62,326	$60,850	94%	7%
5	University of California-Los Angeles Public CA ROI	$13,747	$59,063	93%	9%
6	Pacific Oaks College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$33,360	$47,962	N/A	10%
7	University of Southern California Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$68,237	$74,461	92%	10%
8	Claremont McKenna College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$64,150	$87,603	93%	11%
9	University of California-Berkeley Public CA ROI	$14,850	$74,919	94%	12%
10	Harvey Mudd College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$66,255	$115,107	93%	13%
11	Northeastern University Oakland Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$63,949	$78,413	N/A	17%
12	Pitzer College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$62,692	$51,784	84%	17%
13	University of California-San Diego Public CA ROI	$15,265	$65,669	88%	25%
14	University of California-Irvine Public CA ROI	$14,237	$56,210	86%	26%
15	California Institute of the Arts Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$56,724	$28,018	64%	26%
16	University of California-Santa Barbara Public CA ROI	$14,965	$56,852	86%	28%
17	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Public CA ROI	$11,075	$72,358	85%	30%
18	Scripps College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$63,434	$68,027	86%	34%
19	San Diego State University Public CA ROI	$8,290	$52,620	78%	34%
20	Hope International University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$36,250	$36,030	48%	35%
21	Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$18,933	$60,939	N/A	39%
22	University of California-Merced Public CA ROI	$14,167	$48,475	68%	39%
23	Gnomon Private For-Profit CA ROI	$34,215	$90,652	N/A	40%
24	Occidental College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$63,446	$52,209	84%	40%
25	The Chicago School at Los Angeles Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$20,844	$51,817	N/A	40%
26	Loyola Marymount University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$58,974	$62,763	81%	40%
27	University of California-Davis Public CA ROI	$15,247	$58,461	86%	42%
28	Pacific Union College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$35,214	$52,713	49%	43%
29	DeVry University-California Private For-Profit CA ROI	$17,488	$42,178	18%	43%
30	Santa Clara University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$59,241	$91,198	89%	44%
31	Westcliff University Private For-Profit CA ROI	$21,000	$0	50%	45%
32	University of San Diego Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$56,444	$64,995	82%	47%
33	California State University-Long Beach Public CA ROI	$7,008	$50,062	71%	47%
34	University of La Verne Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$47,000	$53,806	64%	49%
35	Pepperdine University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$66,742	$64,934	84%	50%
36	University of San Francisco Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$58,222	$69,951	73%	51%
37	University of Silicon Valley Private For-Profit CA ROI	$22,480	$39,802	41%	51%
38	San Francisco Conservatory of Music Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$54,550	$23,988	57%	52%
39	Chapman University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$62,784	$58,080	82%	56%
40	Fresno Pacific University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$35,558	$51,422	53%	58%
41	Concordia University-Irvine Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$41,390	$53,777	63%	60%
42	Chamberlain University-California Private For-Profit CA ROI	$20,462	$84,533	N/A	60%
43	Biola University Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$46,704	$45,752	70%	60%
44	Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$16,900	$17,439	19%	62%
45	University of California-Santa Cruz Public CA ROI	$14,560	$49,716	76%	63%
46	San Diego Christian College Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$26,300	$39,848	29%	63%
47	University of California-Riverside Public CA ROI	$14,170	$48,593	76%	63%
48	SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$10,460	$30,871	45%	64%
49	Vanguard University of Southern California Private Non-Profit CA ROI	$39,950	$43,464	58%	65%
50	California Miramar University Private For-Profit CA ROI	$9,994	$0	44%	66%

About This Ranking

This ranking is based on data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which provides comprehensive information about colleges and universities across the country.

Institutions are ranked by most selective metrics using the most recently available data. Only institutions with complete data for the ranking criteria are included.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Most Selective universities in California?

The top Most Selective university in California is California Institute of Technology, followed by Minerva University. Rankings are based on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data.

How many universities are ranked for Most Selective in California?

How are Most Selective rankings calculated?

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