Top Rated California Private Colleges

The Best Private Colleges in California for 2022

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in California. Leading the rankings for 2022 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

26 results

Stanford University
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S
Stanford, CA
Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#3 Best Colleges in America

  • 15,953enrollment
  • $20,023net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1570SAT range
  • 31-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA
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California Institute of Technology
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C
Pasadena, CA
California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,240enrollment
  • $26,591net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA
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Claremont McKenna College
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C
Claremont, CA
Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,264enrollment
  • $22,004net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1330-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA
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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

#4 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 46,287enrollment
  • $39,759net price
  • 16%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1530SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA
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Santa Clara University
S
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#5 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 8,616enrollment
  • $48,284net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1450SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.68Avg GPA
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Loyola Marymount University
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L
Los Angeles, CA
Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,686enrollment
  • $48,758net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.85Avg Weighted GPA
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Occidental College
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O
Los Angeles, CA
Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,839enrollment
  • $41,102net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1460SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.62Avg GPA
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Chapman University
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C
Orange, CA
Chapman University

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#8 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,761enrollment
  • $44,327net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 1170-1350SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg Weighted GPA
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Pepperdine University
P
Malibu, CA
Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,554enrollment
  • $46,550net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1410SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA
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University of San Francisco
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S
San Francisco, CA
University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#10 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,068enrollment
  • $42,801net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1330SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA
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University of the Pacific
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t
Stockton, CA
University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,263enrollment
  • $32,780net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1340SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA
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Westmont College
W
Santa Barbara, CA
 
Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#12 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,226enrollment
  • $32,418net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1370SAT range
  • 24-31ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA
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Saint Marys College of California
S
Moraga, CA
Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#13 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,439enrollment
  • $40,401net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA
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University of Redlands
R
Redlands, CA
University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#14 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 4,566enrollment
  • $30,240net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1250SAT range
  • 16-28ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA
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Biola University
B
La Mirada, CA
Biola University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#15 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 5,815enrollment
  • $34,713net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1290SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA
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Dominican University of California
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D
San Rafael, CA
 
Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,837enrollment
  • $36,899net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1250SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA
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California Lutheran University
C
Thousand Oaks, CA
California Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 4,027enrollment
  • $29,669net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA
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Point Loma Nazarene University
P
San Diego, CA
Point Loma Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 4,616enrollment
  • $34,644net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1100-1290SAT range
  • 23-28ACT range
  • 3.64Avg GPA
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