List of Private Universities & Colleges in California
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Best California Private School Majors and Online Degrees
With the vast diversity in private colleges in California, you will surely find a degree program and area of interest that suits you. In fact, you can pursue less traditional degree programs such as toxicology, entomology, sonography, robotics, dietetics, surgical technologist, forensic science, cognitive science, playwriting, marine biology and solar energy technology. Likewise, you can elect to follow a more traditional degree path like communications, economics, teaching, math, computer science, sociology, and criminal justice to grow a career in an associated field.List of Large 4-Year Private Universities in California
There are 28 large private universities in our database for California. Follow the links below to get more details about each school.
Large Universities with Research Facilities or Faculty
The universities listed below offer many diverse academic programs, have a large student body, and usually have research facilities or faculty involved with research. These schools very often have graduate and professional programs as well.
Alliant International University in San Diego, CA

Visit the website for Alliant International University at alliant.edu
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $18,000 per year
Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA

Visit the website for Azusa Pacific University at apu.edu
Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $36,000 per year
Biola University in La Mirada, CA

Visit the website for Biola University at biola.edu
Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $36,000 per year
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, CA

Visit the website for California Institute of Technology at caltech.edu
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $48,000 per year
Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA

Visit the website for Pepperdine University at pepperdine.edu
Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $51,000 per year
Stanford University in Stanford, CA

Visit the website for Stanford University at stanford.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $49,000 per year
University of La Verne (La Verne) in La Verne, CA

Visit the website for University of La Verne at laverne.edu
Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $40,000 per year
University of San Diego (USD) in San Diego, CA

Visit the website for University of San Diego at sandiego.edu
Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $47,000 per year
University of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA

Visit the website for University of San Francisco at usfca.edu
Program Details
- 10,000 to 19,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $45,000 per year
University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, CA

Visit the website for University of Southern California at usc.edu
Program Details
- More Than 20,000 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $53,000 per year
University of the Pacific (Pacific) in Stockton, CA

Visit the website for University of the Pacific at pacific.edu

Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Estimated tuition & fees: $45,000 per year
Large Primarily Academic Universities
Each university listed below offers a diverse set of degrees and programs, unlike the research universities listed above, these schools contain little to no research activity on campus and are primarily academic.
- (DeVry University-Alhambra) in Pomona, CA
- in Costa Mesa, CA
- Ashford University in San Diego, CA
- California Baptist University in Riverside, CA
- California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA
- Chapman University in Orange, CA
- Chapman University - University College in Irvine, CA
- Concordia University (Concordia University Irvine) in Irvine, CA
- Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, CA
- Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA
- Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA
- Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, CA
- National University in La Jolla, CA
- Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) in San Diego, CA
- Saint Marys College of California in Moraga, CA
- Santa Clara University (SCU) in Santa Clara, CA
- University of Redlands in Redlands, CA
Small to Medium Sized 4-Year Universities
The 4-year schools listed below have a small to medium sized student body and may offer a wide range of associate and bachelor's degrees. Get more information about each school by clicking the links below.
- in Sylmar, CA
- in San Bernardino, CA
- in Clovis, CA
- in Corona, CA
- Argosy University - Inland Empire in Ontario, CA
- Argosy University in Los Angeles, CA
- Argosy University County in Orange, CA
- Argosy University in San Diego, CA
- Azusa Pacific Online University (University College) in San Dimas, CA
- California University of Management and Sciences (CalUMS) in Anaheim, CA
- Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA
- Cogswell College in San Jose, CA
- Dominican University of California (DUofC) in San Rafael, CA
- Harvey Mudd College (Mudd, HMC) in Claremont, CA
- Holy Names University (Holy Names College) in Oakland, CA
- Hope International University (Hope) in Fullerton, CA
- Humphreys College and Modesto Campuses in Stockton, CA
- John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, CA
- Marymount California University in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
- Mills College in Oakland, CA
- Mt Sierra College in Monrovia, CA
- Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) in Belmont, CA
- Pacific Union College (PUC) in Angwin, CA
- Pitzer College (Pitzer) in Claremont, CA
- Platt College in Ontario, CA
- Pomona College in Claremont, CA
- San Diego Christian College in Santee, CA
- Santa Barbara Business College (sbbcollege) in Bakersfield, CA
- Santa Barbara Business College (sbbcollege) in Ventura, CA
- Scripps College in Claremont, CA
- Simpson University (Simpson College) in Redding, CA
- Soka University of America (Soka; SUA) in Aliso Viejo, CA
- The Master's College and Seminary in Santa Clarita, CA
- Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA
- Touro College Los Angeles (TUW) in Los Alamitos, CA
- United States University (USU) in Chula Vista, CA
- University of the West (UWest) in Rosemead, CA
- Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA
- William Jessup University (San Jose Christian College) in Rocklin, CA
- Woodbury University in Burbank, CA
4-Year Colleges with a Special Focus on an Area of Study
The schools below are grouped by their special area of focus. To learn about admissions, tuition & fees, programs offered, and more click on the school names below.
Health Professions Schools
- in San Diego, CA
- Argosy University - San Francisco Bay Area in Alameda, CA
- Pacific College of Oriental Medicine LLC in San Diego, CA
- Platt College - Los Angeles in Alhambra, CA
- Southern California University of Health Sciences in Whittier, CA
- Unitek College in Fremont, CA
- West Coast University - Los Angeles in North Hollywood, CA
- West Coast University in Ontario, CA
- West Coast University - Orange County in Anaheim, CA
Technology-Related Schools
- in Rancho Cordova, CA
- in National City, CA
- in San Dimas, CA
- in Orange, CA
- in Torrance, CA
- in Lathrop, CA
- Coleman University (Coleman College) in San Diego, CA
Schools of Business and Management
- in San Diego, CA
- Lincoln University in Oakland, CA
- Menlo College (Menlo) in Atherton, CA
- The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM-SF) in San Francisco, CA
Schools of Art, Music, and Design
- Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA
- Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA
- California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA
- California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, CA
- Columbia College Hollywood in Tarzana, CA
- Ex - Pression College for Digital Arts (Ex'pression College) in Emeryville, CA
- Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) in Laguna Beach, CA
- Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA
- New York Film Academy in Burbank, CA
- Newschool of Architecture and Design in San Diego, CA
- Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, CA
- San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) in San Francisco, CA
- San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in San Francisco, CA
- Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in Los Angeles, CA
- The Art Institute of California - Hollywood - Campus of Argosy University (Ai - Hollywood) in North Hollywood, CA
- The Art Institute of California - Inland Empire - Campus of Argosy University in San Bernardino, CA
- The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles - Campus of Argosy University in Santa Monica, CA
- The Art Institute of California - Orange County - Campus of Argosy University in Santa Ana, CA
- The Art Institute of California - Campus of Argosy University in Sacramento, CA
- The Art Institute of California in San Diego, CA
- The Art Institute of California in San Francisco, CA
- The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM LA) in Los Angeles, CA
Theological Seminaries, Bible Colleges, and Other Faith-Related Institutions
- Bethesda University of California (Bethesda University) in Anaheim, CA
- Life Pacific College (LIFE Bible College) in San Dimas, CA
- SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (School of Urban Missions) in Oakland, CA
- World Mission University in Los Angeles, CA
Schools of Engineering
- Southern California Institute of Technology in Anaheim, CA
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both California in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2015: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.