The Best California Small Colleges

The Best Small Colleges in California for 2024

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 2024 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

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $20,755net 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

#18 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,389enrollment
  • $28,701net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT 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

#21 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,716enrollment
  • $19,962net 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

  • 1,099enrollment
  • $43,923net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1510SAT 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

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $44,853net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1510SAT 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

#13 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $33,112net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1458SAT range
  • 30-33ACT 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

#17 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,765enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Whittier College
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W
Whittier, CA

Whittier College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,192enrollment
  • $28,368net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg 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

#23 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,312enrollment
  • $48,198net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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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

#24 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,877enrollment
  • $49,907net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1088-1236SAT range
  • 23-25ACT range
  • 3.66Avg 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

  • 1,624enrollment
  • $27,591net price
  • 66%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

#27 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,440enrollment
  • $28,717net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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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

  • 1,614enrollment
  • $25,076net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 880-1140SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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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

#30 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,256enrollment
  • $24,279net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Hope International University
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H
Fullerton, CA

Hope International University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,116enrollment
  • $26,146net price
  • 32%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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