Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
🧠
Program Rankings · California

Best Psychology Colleges in California

Ranked by a weighted composite of outcomes, affordability, selectivity, academic profile, and program depth. Based on NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data.

185
Colleges Ranked
96
4-Year Programs
130
Public Colleges
Claremont McKenna
Top Ranked
Ranking Methodology: Each college earns a major score = 70% global composite score (outcomes 30%, affordability 25%, selectivity 20%, academic 15%, breadth 10%) + 30% program depth score (graduates in this major ÷ total enrollment, normalized across all US colleges).
1
70
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
11% accept95% grad rate60 graduates/yr
#26 nationally
2
70
Pomona College
Claremont · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
7% accept93% grad rate57 graduates/yr
#23 nationally
3
69
University of Southern California
Los Angeles · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
10% accept92% grad rate519 graduates/yr
#31 nationally
#4
67
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley · Public · 4-year
12% accept93% grad rate$11,834 in-state966 graduates/yr
#44 nationally
#5
67
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles · Public · 4-year
9% accept93% grad rate$11,834 in-state3,228 graduates/yr
#45 nationally
#6
63
University of California-Irvine
Irvine · Public · 4-year
26% accept86% grad rate$11,834 in-state3,201 graduates/yr
#82 nationally
#7
63
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla · Public · 4-year
25% accept88% grad rate$11,834 in-state2,175 graduates/yr
#70 nationally
#8
63
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara · Public · 4-year
28% accept86% grad rate$11,834 in-state1,929 graduates/yr
#81 nationally
#9
61
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo · Public · 4-year
30% accept85% grad rate$5,742 in-state393 graduates/yr
#101 nationally
#10
61
MiraCosta College
Oceanside · Public · 4-year
96% grad rate$1,104 in-state375 graduates/yr
#102 nationally
#11
61
Pitzer College
Claremont · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
17% accept83% grad rate54 graduates/yr
#103 nationally
#12
61
Scripps College
Claremont · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
34% accept87% grad rate96 graduates/yr
#100 nationally
#13
60
University of California-Davis
Davis · Public · 4-year
42% accept85% grad rate$11,834 in-state2,598 graduates/yr
#123 nationally
#14
60
Occidental College
Los Angeles · Private Nonprofit · 4-year
40% accept85% grad rate153 graduates/yr
#125 nationally
#15
60
San Diego State University
San Diego · Public · 4-year
34% accept78% grad rate$5,742 in-state1,890 graduates/yr
#126 nationally
About Psychology Programs in California

California offers 185 accredited psychology programs across public and private institutions. Our rankings use NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data to measure how many graduates each college produces in this field relative to its total enrollment, combined with overall college quality metrics.

The ranking formula weights overall college quality at 70% — covering graduation outcomes, net price affordability, admissions selectivity, and academic profile of enrolled students — and program-specific depth at 30%, rewarding schools that genuinely specialize in psychology.

For in-state students, public colleges often offer significantly lower costs. Complete the FAFSA to determine need-based aid eligibility regardless of your income level. Aid availability can dramatically change the actual cost of attendance.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our composite ranking — which weighs outcomes (graduation rates), affordability (net price), selectivity, academic profile, and program depth — the top-ranked college for Psychology in California is Claremont McKenna College. We rank all accredited institutions offering this program using NCES IPEDS 2023–24 data.

Explore Other Majors in California