The Best California Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in California for 2025

These are the top ranked small, public and private, four-year colleges in California as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have undergraduate enrollment under 3,000. Small colleges allow students a more intimate and personalized experience where it's more likely you will get to know your professors. Leading the list for 2025 is California Institute of Technology. Learn how the Best Small Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
California small Public Private 4 year

15 results

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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P
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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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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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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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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Saint Marys College of California
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S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,775enrollment
  • $31,615net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Dominican University of California
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D
San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#20 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,026enrollment
  • $51,292net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1291SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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Otis College of Art and Design
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O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $49,440net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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William Jessup University
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W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,484enrollment
  • $28,171net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Mount St. Mary's College
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M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,308enrollment
  • $27,434net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Fresno Pacific University
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F
Fresno, CA

Fresno Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,921enrollment
  • $15,668net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 970-1240SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Vanguard University of Southern California
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V
Costa Mesa, CA
 

Vanguard University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

#28 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,219enrollment
  • $20,273net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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La Sierra University
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L
Riverside, CA
 

La Sierra University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,611enrollment
  • $28,076net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 880-1140SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Hope International University
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H
Fullerton, CA

Hope International University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,140enrollment
  • $30,514net price
  • 35%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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