Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in California
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division III athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in California13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in California.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division III (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
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in California
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 94% graduate
- 2
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 93% graduate
- 3
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 91% graduate
- 4
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 92% graduate
- 5
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 83% graduate
- 6
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 83% graduate
- 7
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 81% graduate
- 8
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 82% graduate
- 9
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · PublicTop 14% for graduation
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 75% graduate
- 10
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 70% graduate
- 11
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA · Private nonprofitTop 12% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 67% graduate
- 12
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA · Private nonprofitTop 19% for earnings
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 63% graduate
- 13
Whittier College
Whittier, CA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- NCAA Division III athletics
- 60% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | $16,075 | — | $128,566 | 94% |
| Pomona College | $19,285 | $11,782 | $77,779 | 93% |
| Claremont McKenna College | $28,849 | $13,500 | $104,736 | 91% |
| Harvey Mudd College | $35,924 | $25,000 | $138,687 | 92% |
| Scripps College | $36,294 | $13,500 | $77,539 | 83% |
| Pitzer College | $34,191 | $16,750 | $69,512 | 83% |
| Occidental College | $38,263 | $23,000 | $75,951 | 81% |
| Chapman University | $46,555 | $20,500 | $70,070 | 82% |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | $17,890 | $16,666 | $68,396 | 75% |
| California Lutheran University | $30,109 | $21,669 | $68,712 | 70% |
| University of Redlands | $30,031 | $26,000 | $72,690 | 67% |
| University of La Verne | $20,161 | $23,500 | $65,464 | 63% |
| Whittier College | $25,757 | $24,937 | $59,492 | 60% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Arkansas 3
- Connecticut 10
- District of Columbia 3
- Georgia 8
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 10
- Iowa 10
- Kentucky 5
- Maine 11
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 7
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 3
- Missouri 3
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 14
- New York 60
- North Carolina 10
- Ohio 21
- Oregon 6
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 4
- Tennessee 3
- Texas 15
- Vermont 3
- Virginia 19
- Washington 4
- Wisconsin 24