California · Getting in
Most selective colleges in California
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in California are Minerva University (3% admitted), Stanford (3.8% admitted) and Caltech (3.8% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (25 of 84)
Four-year colleges in California with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 25 of the 84 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 17 colleges and IPEDS (fall 2024) for 8 colleges.
- Minerva University 3% admitted San Francisco, CA Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Stanford University 3.8% admitted Stanford, CA · Average price after grants: $12,307 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- California Institute of Technology 3.8% admitted Pasadena, CA · Average price after grants: $8,509 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Pomona College 7.1% admitted Claremont, CA · Average price after grants: $18,978 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of California, Los Angeles 9.3% admitted Los Angeles, CA · Average price after grants: $14,659 a year in-state, about $52,261 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Claremont McKenna College 9.4% admitted Claremont, CA · Average price after grants: $26,039 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Stanbridge University 10% admitted Irvine, CA · Average price after grants: $25,124 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Southern California 11% admitted Los Angeles, CA · Average price after grants: $33,056 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- University of California, Berkeley 11% admitted Berkeley, CA · Average price after grants: $14,538 a year in-state, about $52,140 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Harvey Mudd College 12% admitted Claremont, CA · Average price after grants: $39,347 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Pitzer College 27% admitted Claremont, CA · Average price after grants: $36,135 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- University of California, San Diego 29% admitted La Jolla, CA · Average price after grants: $14,794 a year in-state, about $52,396 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- University of California, Irvine 29% admitted Irvine, CA · Average price after grants: $13,866 a year in-state, about $51,468 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 30% admitted San Luis Obispo, CA · Average price after grants: $18,832 a year in-state, about $40,798 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- California Institute of the Arts 32% admitted Valencia, CA · Average price after grants: $49,996 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Hope International University 33% admitted Fullerton, CA · Average price after grants: $31,029 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- San Diego State University 36% admitted San Diego, CA · Average price after grants: $13,243 a year in-state, about $29,563 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of California, Santa Barbara 38% admitted Santa Barbara, CA · Average price after grants: $16,807 a year in-state, about $54,409 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Scripps College 40% admitted Claremont, CA · Average price after grants: $29,998 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Occidental College 44% admitted Los Angeles, CA · Average price after grants: $37,470 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of California, Davis 44% admitted Davis, CA · Average price after grants: $14,318 a year in-state, about $51,920 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- California State University-Long Beach 45% admitted Long Beach, CA · Average price after grants: $9,426 a year in-state, about $22,746 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Pacific Union College 47% admitted Angwin, CA · Average price after grants: $25,891 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Santa Clara University 48% admitted Santa Clara, CA · Average price after grants: $50,570 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Loyola Marymount University 48% admitted Los Angeles, CA · Average price after grants: $50,518 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
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What are the most selective colleges in California?
The most selective four-year colleges in California are Minerva University (3% admitted), Stanford (3.8% admitted) and Caltech (3.8% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
25 of the 25 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.
How recent are these acceptance rates?
Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.
Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.