Top Rated California Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in California for 2025

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in California. Leading the rankings for 2025 as the highest ranked private college in California is Stanford University. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
California Private 4 year

31 results

Stanford University
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S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,446enrollment
  • $17,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $23,397net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,384enrollment
  • $29,978net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Pomona College
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Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,664enrollment
  • $17,423net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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University of Southern California
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S
Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 47,147enrollment
  • $41,496net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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Scripps College
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S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,103enrollment
  • $45,505net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Santa Clara University
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S
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,340enrollment
  • $49,651net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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Loyola Marymount University
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Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,256enrollment
  • $54,471net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Occidental College
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O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,854enrollment
  • $47,113net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Chapman University
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C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,961enrollment
  • $48,037net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of San Francisco
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San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,212enrollment
  • $44,104net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Westmont College
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W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,310enrollment
  • $36,412net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1212-1418SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Pepperdine University
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P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,545enrollment
  • $52,216net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of the Pacific
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T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,755enrollment
  • $30,975net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Redlands
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Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,192enrollment
  • $28,054net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1078-1323SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Azusa Pacific University
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A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,487enrollment
  • $26,117net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 994-1314SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Point Loma Nazarene University
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P
San Diego, CA

Point Loma Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 4,494enrollment
  • $36,370net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1410SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Biola University
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B
La Mirada, CA

Biola University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 5,296enrollment
  • $30,510net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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