California Private Colleges

There are 102 private colleges and universities in California enrolling 315,047 students. Explore the list below to find the private college match for you. Private colleges are usually smaller in size, more expensive than public schools and often academically rigorous. If you feel you may have difficulty fitting into the large class sizes which are common on many public campuses, take a look at California private colleges.  California is home to popular private schools like Stanford University, University of Southern California, Pepperdine University and University of San Francisco.

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California Private 4 Year 2 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • La Verne, CA
  • | 0 reviews

University of La Verne is a private university known for undergraduate education, business, and public administration. The suburban campus sits in the San Gabriel foothills east of Los Angeles.

#23 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 986-1236
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $21,530

  • Private 4 Year
  • Claremont, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 5 application deadline

Claremont McKenna is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, government, and international relations. Students live on a residential campus that shares classes and facilities with the neighboring Claremont Colleges.

#17 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1470-1560
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 10%
  • Net Price $33,895

  • Private 4 Year
  • Claremont, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Scripps is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate arts, humanities, and its interdisciplinary Core Curriculum. Most students live on the residential campus and take classes across the Claremont Colleges consortium.

#6 Best Private Colleges in California 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1440-1540
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 38%
  • Net Price $44,396

  • Private 4 Year
  • Whittier, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Whittier is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, psychology, and education. The suburban Los Angeles County campus has historic Quaker roots.

7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1140-1340
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $28,101
Westmont College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Santa Barbara, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Westmont is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in the sciences and humanities. The residential hillside campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean above Santa Barbara.

#13 Best Private Colleges in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1240-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $32,172

  • Private 4 Year
  • La Mirada, CA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews

Biola is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, theology, and cinema and media arts. The suburban La Mirada campus requires Bible coursework of all undergraduates.

#21 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 74%
  • Net Price $34,082

  • Private 4 Year
  • Irvine, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Concordia Irvine is a private Lutheran university known for undergraduate education, nursing, and theology. The suburban campus sits in Irvine in Orange County.

#25 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1260
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $29,845

  • Private 4 Year
  • Belmont, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • SAT Range -
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price -

  • Private 4 Year
  • Thousand Oaks, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Cal Lutheran is a private university known for undergraduate business, psychology, and communication. The suburban campus in Thousand Oaks is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

#18 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $32,774

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Mount Saint Mary's is a private Catholic women's university known for undergraduate nursing and the health sciences. The hillside Chalon campus overlooks Los Angeles from the Brentwood area.

#24 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.59
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $27,368

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Dimas, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Life Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry and biblical studies. The suburban campus is in San Dimas in the San Gabriel Valley.

4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1085
  • Avg GPA 2.91
  • Acceptance Rate 96%
  • Net Price $21,602

  • Private 4 Year
  • Moraga, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Saint Mary's is a private Catholic college known for undergraduate business and a Great Books liberal arts program. The residential campus lies in the hills of Moraga in the East Bay.

#19 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1253
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $35,332
Menlo College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Atherton, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

Menlo College is a small private college known for undergraduate business and management. The residential campus sits in Atherton on the San Francisco Peninsula near Silicon Valley.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 68%
  • Net Price $32,563
Vanguard University of Southern California Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Costa Mesa, CA
  • 3.5 | 4 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Vanguard is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and theatre. The suburban Costa Mesa campus is affiliated with the Assemblies of God.

#28 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $23,286

  • Private 4 Year
  • Aliso Viejo, CA
  • 4.7 | 18 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Soka is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate international studies and a required study-abroad semester. The residential campus sits in the hills of Aliso Viejo in Orange County.

10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1333-1510
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $15,691

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fresno, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Fresno Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus is located in Fresno in California's Central Valley.

#27 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $15,261
La Sierra University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Riverside, CA
  • | 0 reviews

La Sierra is a private Seventh-day Adventist university known for undergraduate business, education, and biology. The suburban campus sits in Riverside east of Los Angeles.

#29 Best Private Colleges in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 880-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.54
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $23,848
Woodbury University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Burbank, CA
  • | 0 reviews

Woodbury is a private university known for undergraduate architecture, design, and media arts. The urban Burbank campus sits near Los Angeles's entertainment and design industries.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.39
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $37,258