Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes in California
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division II athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division II athletes in California23 schools
23 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in California.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division II (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 78% graduate
- 2
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 70% graduate
- 3
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for graduation
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 77% graduate
- 4
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA · PublicTop 13% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 68% graduate
- 5
Biola University
La Mirada, CA · Private nonprofitTop 24% for graduation
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 68% graduate
- 6
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofitTop 18% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 62% graduate
- 7
California State University-Chico
Chico, CA · PublicTop 20% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 63% graduate
- 8
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA · PublicTop 6% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 53% graduate
- 9
California State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA · PublicTop 14% for low debt
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 59% graduate
- 10
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA · PublicTop 18% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 58% graduate
- 11
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · PublicTop 3% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 55% graduate
- 12
Concordia University-Irvine
Irvine, CA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 58% graduate
- 13Tie
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 57% graduate
- 13Tie
William Jessup University
Rocklin, CA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 56% graduate
- 15
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · PublicTop 16% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 50% graduate
- 16
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · PublicTop 16% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 55% graduate
- 17
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicTop 3% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 53% graduate
- 18
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 50% graduate
- 19
Menlo College
Atherton, CA · Private nonprofitTop 10% for earnings
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 54% graduate
- 20
California State University-East Bay
Hayward, CA · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 48% graduate
- 21
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA · PublicGood: Compass grade B-
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 49% graduate
- 22
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA · PublicTop 11% for low net price
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 43% graduate
- 23
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, CA · Private for-profitSolid: Compass grade C+
- NCAA Division II athletics
- 34% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican University of California | About $35,000 | $27,000 | $84,713 | 78% |
| Westmont College | About $29,000 | $23,250 | $64,778 | 70% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | About $39,000 | $22,990 | $63,998 | 77% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | About $12,000 | $16,000 | $71,902 | 68% |
| Biola University | About $31,000 | $23,875 | $56,778 | 68% |
| Azusa Pacific University | About $22,000 | $23,219 | $66,677 | 62% |
| California State University-Chico | About $14,000 | $16,552 | $64,172 | 63% |
| California State University-Stanislaus | About $6,000 | $13,540 | $63,188 | 53% |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | About $14,000 | $12,750 | $59,247 | 59% |
| Sonoma State University | About $13,000 | $16,705 | $65,986 | 58% |
| California State University-San Bernardino | About $5,000 | $14,715 | $59,977 | 55% |
| Concordia University-Irvine | About $28,000 | $24,247 | $65,083 | 58% |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | About $21,000 | $22,000 | $59,541 | 57% |
| William Jessup University | About $28,000 | $23,700 | $56,257 | 56% |
| San Francisco State University | About $12,000 | $15,371 | $68,077 | 50% |
| California State University-San Marcos | About $10,000 | $17,350 | $62,908 | 55% |
| California State University-Los Angeles | About $4,000 | $13,000 | $59,211 | 53% |
| Fresno Pacific University | About $14,000 | $23,146 | $58,896 | 50% |
| Menlo College | About $31,000 | $21,750 | $76,419 | 54% |
| California State University-East Bay | About $9,000 | $16,544 | $71,401 | 48% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | About $13,000 | $18,000 | $47,626 | 49% |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | About $9,000 | $13,807 | $57,162 | 43% |
| Academy of Art University | About $41,000 | $31,000 | $39,008 | 34% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 7
- Arkansas 7
- Colorado 10
- Connecticut 4
- Florida 13
- Georgia 16
- Hawaii 3
- Illinois 5
- Kansas 5
- Kentucky 3
- Massachusetts 3
- Michigan 10
- Minnesota 9
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 3
- New Hampshire 3
- New Jersey 4
- New Mexico 3
- New York 11
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 10
- Oklahoma 11
- Pennsylvania 17
- South Carolina 14
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 12
- Virginia 4
- Washington 4
- West Virginia 12