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Small Colleges in California

50 schools in California. See our methodology.

Harvey Mudd College graduates earn $138,687 annually, the highest median salary among California's 255 small colleges. This engineering powerhouse in Claremont exemplifies how specialized institutions can command premium returns despite tuition costs reaching $32,492 net price. California's small college market spans from ultra-selective Caltech with its 2.69% acceptance rate to Cal Maritime's open-door policy at 95.5% acceptance. The state's economic engine creates unique opportunities for graduates across sectors. Silicon Valley tech giants, aerospace companies like SpaceX, and biotech firms actively recruit from these institutions. Net prices range dramatically from $17,555 to $51,992, while graduation rates vary from 22.2% to 95.2%. The Cal Grant program helps offset costs for eligible students, making private options more accessible. Claremont Consortium schools dominate the top rankings, with Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Scripps, and Pitzer all appearing in the upper tier. This concentration reflects the consortium's shared resources and academic collaboration. Maritime Academy offers the lowest net price at $17,555 while maintaining strong graduate outcomes in California's shipping industry. Specialized schools like Gnomon in Hollywood serve the entertainment sector, while health science programs prepare graduates for California's expanding medical field.
50
Schools
$27,075
Avg. Net Price
$69,730
Avg. Earnings
69.1%
Avg. Graduation Rate

Small Colleges in California

College listings
# School Enrollment Net Price Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 915 $32,492 93.8% 13.4%
2 1,023 $18,902 93.2% 2.7%
3 1,379 $27,384 95.2% 10.4%
4 302 $45,824 66.7% 49.2%
5 3,168 $36,836 64.3%
6 1,638 $19,424 93.2% 7.0%
7 761 $17,555 66.8% 95.5%
8 107 87.5%
9 364 50.0%
10 223 75.0%
11 1,077 $38,802 87.1% 27.9%
12 2,647 $49,752 50.0%
13 2,373 $25,114 77.2% 10.1%
14 533 $27,735 79.4%
15 1,191 $31,663 83.2% 18.4%
16 355 22.2% 0.0%
17 2,687 $51,992 44.4%
18 676 0.0%
19 3,629 $45,409 84.7% 48.7%
20 285 $21,941 75.9% 33.3%
21 1,844 $39,329 85.1% 39.4%
22 603 88.8% 1.0%
23 17 100.0% 33.3%
24 4,878 $10 49.1%
25 176 $15,845 93.8%
26 195 100.0%
27 464 $21,446 86.9% 56.6%
28 4,715 $25,719 71.7%
29 71 $24,088 100.0%
30 233 $27,789 50.0% 80.5%
31 484 $25,805 97.1%
32 212 $48,616 50.9% 45.0%
33 4,410 $2,244 43.9%
34 712
35 598 $28,014 62.2%
36 405 $25,680 61.8%
37 2,221 $34,402 48.5%
38 1,319 $41,493 67.2% 41.7%
39 910 $20,979 51.5% 48.5%
40 1,574 $6,520 46.9%
41 2,054 $50,209 82.6% 71.0%
42 539 $25,032 82.0% 84.7%
43 173 $39,710 67.3%
44 467 $27,002 57.3%
45 4,541 $8,957 41.5%
46 2,844 $30,558 69.8%
47 416 $26,217 56.1%
48 3,205 $14,046 31.8%
49 4,853 $1,584 42.3%
50 3,223 $7,961 39.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Harvey Mudd College worth its $32,492 net price?

Harvey Mudd graduates earn $138,687 annually, the highest among California small colleges. The 915-student engineering school maintains a 93.80% graduation rate and 13.36% acceptance rate. Its STEM focus aligns perfectly with Silicon Valley demand, where starting salaries often exceed $100,000.

How selective are California's top small colleges?

Caltech accepts just 2.69% of applicants, making it among America's most selective institutions. Harvey Mudd admits 13.36% while Claremont McKenna accepts 10.35%. However, Cal Maritime welcomes 95.5% of applicants, showing the range spans from ultra-elite to broadly accessible options.

Is attending a small California college affordable?

Net prices range from $17,555 at Cal Maritime to $51,992 at some private institutions. The Cal Grant program covers full tuition at participating schools for qualifying students. Many graduates earn strong salaries, with the top 15 schools producing median earnings between $53,598 and $138,687.

Does the Claremont Consortium dominate small college rankings?

Five Claremont schools appear in the top 15: Harvey Mudd, Claremont McKenna, Pomona, Scripps, and Pitzer. This consortium allows 6,285 total students to share resources while maintaining distinct identities. Graduation rates across these schools range from 83.2% to 95.2%.

What career outcomes do graduates achieve?

Engineering schools lead earnings, with Harvey Mudd at $138,687 and Caltech at $128,566. Even specialized schools perform well, with Gnomon film graduates earning $114,785. Health science programs like West Coast University produce graduates earning over $100,000 in California's expanding healthcare sector.

Where can students find the best value small colleges?

Cal Maritime offers strong value at $17,555 net price with 66.8% graduation rate and $94,784 median earnings. Caltech provides extraordinary value at $18,902 for a top-tier education. Pomona College at $19,424 combines liberal arts excellence with strong graduate outcomes at $77,779.

Related

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See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.