Best California Liberal Arts Colleges
Pomona College ranked first and Harvey Mudd College ranked second in 2024 Liberal Arts Colleges rankings in California. (Read our ranking methodology and know how to rank.)
The following list summarizes the core statistics for top 13 Liberal Arts Colleges in California. You can check the schools in the comparison table below.
- The average undergraduate tuition & fees of the top 13 Liberal Arts Colleges in California is $60,495.
- The average graduate tuition & fees of the top 13 Liberal Arts Colleges in California is $48,828.
- The average SAT score is 1,471 and the average acceptance rate is 35.87%.
- The average number of students is 1,345 and the students to faculty ratio is 9 to 1.
- The average graduation rate is 83.25% and the transfer-out rate is 14.33%.
Best California Liberal Arts Colleges Comparison Table
The following table shows Best California Liberal Arts Colleges. You can sort the table by column by clicking/touching column titles and narrow down the college list by using buttons below.
| Rank | College Name | Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | Graduate Tuition & Fees | SAT Score | Acceptance Rate | Population | Graduation Rate | Student to Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pomona College Claremont, CA | $62,326 | - | 1,520 | 7% | 1,716 | 94% | 7 to 1 |
| 2 | Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA | $66,255 | - | 1,530 | 13% | 922 | 92% | 8 to 1 |
| 3 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | $64,150 | $68,525 | 1,510 | 11% | 1,389 | 91% | 8 to 1 |
| 4 | Scripps College Claremont, CA | $63,434 | $48,598 | 1,480 | 34% | 1,099 | 84% | 10 to 1 |
| 5 | Pitzer College Claremont, CA | $62,692 | - | - | 17% | 1,212 | 85% | 10 to 1 |
| 6 | Occidental College Los Angeles, CA | $63,446 | $63,446 | 1,450 | 40% | 1,942 | 82% | 9 to 1 |
| 7 | Westmont College Santa Barbara, CA | $51,790 | - | 1,335 | 80% | 1,284 | 73% | 10 to 1 |
| 8 | Whittier College Whittier, CA | $49,864 | $14,742 | - | 85% | 1,192 | 65% | 10 to 1 |
| 9 | Thomas Aquinas College Santa Paula, CA | $28,700 | - | 1,250 | 79% | 516 | 85% | 11 to 1 |
| 10 | Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA | $37,450 | $37,450 | 1,360 | 70% | 455 | 87% | 7 to 1 |
| 11 | Pacific Union College Angwin, CA | $35,214 | $35,214 | 1,080 | 42% | 870 | 46% | 13 to 1 |
| 12 | American Jewish University Los Angeles, CA | $10,596 | $28,162 | - | - | 108 | 50% | 3 to 1 |
| 13 | Providence Christian College Pasadena, CA | $35,172 | - | - | 93% | 136 | 35% | 12 to 1 |
| Average | $60,495 | $48,828 | 1,471 | 36% | 1,345 | 83% | 9 to 1 |
California Colleges by Ranking and School Type