Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, UCLA and UC Berkeley were ranked among the top schools nationally.
CALIFORNIA — In California, 41 colleges were ranked among the top 100 in the country, according to new 2025 Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.
The rankings evaluated 1,500 colleges and universities using more than a dozen measures of academic quality, the digital media company said in a news release. This year in its rankings, U.S. News prioritized social mobility — that is, its record in enrolling and graduating students from all backgrounds with manageable debt — and post-graduate success, including earnings.
Here are the rankings for California schools:
National University Rankings
No. 4 - Stanford UniversityNo. 6 - California Institute of TechnologyNo. 15 - University of California, Los AngelesNo. 17 - University of California, BerkeleyNo. 27 - University of Southern CaliforniaNo. 29 - University of California, San DiegoNo. 33 - University of California, Davis No. 33 (tied) - University of California, IrvineNo. 39 - University of California, Santa BarbaraNo. 58 - University of California, MercedNo. 63 - Santa Clara University No. 76 - University of California, RiversideNo. 80 - Pepperdine UniversityNo. 84 - University of California, Santa CruzNo. 91 - Loyola Marymount UniversityNational Liberal Arts Colleges
No. 5 - Pomona CollegeNo. 8 - Claremont McKenna CollegeNo. 12 - Harvey Mudd CollegeNo. 34 - Occidental CollegeNo. 36 - Pitzer CollegeNo. 44- Scripps CollegeNo. 45 - Soka University of AmericaRegional University Rankings (West)
No. 1 - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis ObispoNo. 2 - California State University, Maritime Academy No. 4- San Jose State University No. 6 - Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaNo. 8 - University of RedlandsNo. 10 - California State University, Monterey BayNo. 10 (tied)- California State University, StanislausNo. 12 - California Lutheran UniversityNo. 15 - California State University, Los AngelesNo. 15 - Point Loma Nazarene UniversityNo. 18 - California State University, NorthridgeNo. 20 - California State University, ChicoNo. 20 - Mount Saint Mary's UniversityNo. 22 - California State University, Channel IslandsNo. 22 (tied) - California State University, San MarcosNo. 22 (tied)- Dominican University of CaliforniaNo. 25 - Sonoma State UniversityNo. 27 - California State University, SacramentoNo. 29 - ArtCenter College of DesignNo. 30 - California Baptist UniversityNo. 30 (tied) - California State University, BakersfieldNo. 32 - Cal Poly Humboldt No. 34- California Institute of the ArtsNo. 35 - California State University, Dominguez HillsNo. 43 - La Sierra UniversityNo. 43 (tied) - Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaNo. 47 - Fresno Pacific UniversityNo. 47 (tied) - Woodbury UniversityNo. 68 - Jessup University No. 92 - New School of Architecture and DesignNo. 100 - Hope International UniversityIncluded in the 2025 report are specialized rankings such as the best value schools, most innovative colleges, top performers on social mobility and historically Black colleges and universities, as well as universities with the greatest commitment to undergraduate teaching. Other specialty rankings include programs that enhance student experiences, including first-year experiences, service learning, studying abroad and undergraduate research and creative projects.
Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, UCLA and UC Berkeley were ranked among the Golden State's top national schools. Meanwhile, Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College and Occidental College were ranked among the best liberal arts campuses.
In total, 67 California universities were ranked out of hundreds of schools.
The top national universities are:
- Princeton University in New Jersey
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Harvard University in Massachusetts
- Stanford University in California
- Yale University in Connecticut
The top national liberal arts colleges are:
- Williams College in Massachusetts
- Amherst College in Massachusetts
- Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania
- United States Naval Academy in Maryland
- Bowdoin College in Maine and Pomona College in California (tie)
