Are you looking for the best private colleges to study in California? Then you are lucky! To identify the best colleges in the U.S., we have generated a list of “Top Private Colleges in California” which will help you to find & choose the top-ranked college for your education.

The all below-mentioned information will help you to find some of the best private colleges in California. Whether you are resident of California or not, you can apply in any colleges which are described in the given list. Check out our full list & choose the best. Good luck!!

Stanford University

Founded in 1891, Stanford University is a private research university. The university is organized around three traditional schools consisting of 40 academic departments at the undergraduate and graduate level and four professional schools that focus on graduate programs in Law, Medicine, Education, and Business. Stanford Undergrad is your guide to undergraduate academics and opportunities run by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

Founded: 1891
Ranking:  1st
Tuition Fees: 50,703 USD
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:  650-723-2300
Website: https://www.stanford.edu/

California Institute of Technology

Founded in 1891, The California Institute of Technology is a private doctorate-granting university. Caltech offers 24 majors (called “options”) and six minors across all six academic divisions. Caltech also offers interdisciplinary programs in Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Computation and Neural Systems, Control and Dynamical Systems, Environmental Science and Engineering, Geobiology and Astrobiology, Geochemistry, and Planetary Astronomy. The most popular options are Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics.

Founded: 1891
Ranking:  2nd
Tuition Fees: $45,846
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:  +1 626-395-6811
Website: http://www.caltech.edu/

Pomona College

Founded in 1887, Pomona College is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college. Pomona has 48 majors and 44 minors; students who would like to create their own major are eligible to do so following specific guidelines. Pomona offers 62 pre-approved programs in 34 countries. Pomona College also offers a teaching credential program with the Claremont Graduate University and is a partner school with the Harvard Business School HBX-CORe program.

Founded: 1887
Ranking:  3rd
Tuition Fees: 49,005 USD
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:  (909) 621-8000
Website: https://www.pomona.edu/

University of Southern California 

Founded in 1880, The University of Southern California is a private research university. USC’s academic departments fall either under the general liberal arts and sciences of the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences for undergraduates, the Graduate School for graduates, or the university’s 18 professional schools. It also offers 134 masters, doctoral, and professional degrees through 17 professional schools.

Founded: 1880
Ranking:  4th
Tuition Fees: $54,323
Finance and Adm. Office Contact: +1 213-740-2311
Website: https://www.usc.edu/

Harvey Mudd College

Founded in 1955, Harvey Mudd College is a private residential liberal arts college. HMC offers four-year degrees in chemistry, mathematics, physics, computer science, biology, and engineering, as well as interdisciplinary degrees in mathematical biology, and a joint major in either computer science and mathematics; or biology and chemistry. Students may also elect to complete an Individual Program of Study (IPS) made up of courses of their own choosing.

Founded: 1955
Ranking:  5th
Tuition Fees: 54,347 USD
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:   909.621.8000
Website: https://www.hmc.edu/

Claremont McKenna College

Founded in 1946, Claremont McKenna College is a coeducational, private liberal arts college. CMC is chartered as a private, non-profit organization and is a member of the seven-institution Claremont Colleges consortium.  It offers a master’s program in finance. As of 2016, there are 1,344 undergraduate students and postgraduate students. CMC’s science program is offered through the Keck Science Department of Claremont McKenna, Pitzer and Scripps Colleges.

Founded: 1946
Ranking:  6th
Tuition Fees: 47,395 USD 
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:  909.621.8000
Website: http://www.cmc.edu/

Scripps College

Founded in 1926, Scripps College is a liberal arts women’s college. Each graduating student must complete a senior thesis or project. Scripps students can cross-register for classes at or enroll in the majors of any of the undergraduate schools at The Claremont Colleges.  The program, which more than 60% of students take advantage of, offers access to more than 120 approved programs in 86 cities in 47 countries.

Founded: 1926
Ranking:  7th
Tuition Fees: 47,378 USD 
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:   (909) 621-8000
Website: http://www.scrippscollege.edu/

Pitzer College

Founded in 1963, Pitzer College is a private residential liberal arts college. The college has a curricular emphasis on the social sciences, behavioral sciences, international programs, and media studies. Pitzer offers 41 majors and 22 minors, many of them cross-disciplinary, and each student is assigned a faculty advisor upon his/her arrival on campus. The college operates 58 study abroad programs, including 41 international exchanges and 6 domestic exchanges. Pitzer College also operates its own study abroad programs in Botswana, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Italy, and Nepal.

Founded: 1963
Ranking:  8th
Tuition Fees: 51,964 USD
Finance and Adm. Office Contact: +1 909-621-8000
Website: https://www.pitzer.edu/

Santa Clara University

Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university. The university offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctoral degrees through its six colleges. Santa Clara offers undergraduates the opportunity to pursue 45 majors in its three undergraduate schools and colleges: the College of Arts and Science, the School of Engineering, and the Leavey School of Business. Santa Clara University also has six graduate and professional schools, including the School of Law, School of Engineering, the Leavey School of Business, the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, and the Jesuit School of Theology.

Founded: 1851
Ranking:  9th
Tuition Fees: 49,233 USD
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:  (408) 554-4000
Website: https://www.scu.edu/

Loyola Marymount University

Founded in 1911, Loyola Marymount University is a private, co-educational university.  LMU offers an Air Force ROTC program, an Honors Program in which the students have a different core curriculum, and several year-long, semester, and summer study abroad programs across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Admission to LMU is competitive. The university is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and one of five Marymount institutions of higher education.

Founded: 1911
Ranking:  10th
Tuition Fees: 43,526 USD
Finance and Adm. Office Contact:  310.338.2700
Website: https://www.lmu.edu/