Best colleges in the Los Angeles area
Colleges within 50 miles of Los Angeles, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges in the Los Angeles area46 schools
46 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Campus within 50 miles of the center of Los Angeles (straight-line distance from the school’s coordinates).
- 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
- Net price $16,075 a year
- 94% graduate
- 2
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $19,285 a year
- 93% graduate
- 3
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $28,849 a year
- 91% graduate
- 4
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Net price $32,740 a year
- 92% graduate
- 5
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $12,548 a year
- 93% graduate
- 6
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Net price $35,924 a year
- 92% graduate
- 7
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for graduation
- Net price $18,260 a year
- 92% graduate
- 8
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $14,251 a year
- 87% graduate
- 9
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina
West Covina, CA · Private for-profitTop 2% for graduation
- Net price $27,536 a year
- 97% graduate
- 10
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $36,294 a year
- 83% graduate
- 11
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $34,191 a year
- 83% graduate
- 12
Angeles College
Los Angeles, CA · Private for-profitTop 4% for graduation
- Net price $28,639 a year
- 93% graduate
- 13
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Net price $38,263 a year
- 81% graduate
- 14
Career Networks Institute
Santa Ana, CA · Private for-profitTop 5% for graduation
- Net price $49,677 a year
- 89% graduate
- 15
Gnomon
North Hollywood, CA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- Net price $51,949 a year
- 100% graduate
- 16
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 9% for earnings
- Net price $48,381 a year
- 79% graduate
- 17Tie
PCI College
Cerritos, CA · Private for-profitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $27,439 a year
- 68% graduate
- 17Tie
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- Net price $58,098 a year
- 83% graduate
- 19
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for graduation
- Net price $46,555 a year
- 82% graduate
- 20
Stanbridge University
Irvine, CA · Private for-profitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $45,372 a year
- 62% graduate
- 21
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $10,440 a year
- 69% graduate
- 22
Southern California Institute of Technology
Anaheim, CA · Private for-profitTop 9% for low debt
- Net price $33,392 a year
- 74% graduate
- 23
Glendale Career College
Glendale, CA · Private for-profitTop 6% for low debt
- Net price $49,195 a year
- 63% graduate
- 24
West Coast University-Orange County
Anaheim, CA · Private for-profitTop 2% for earnings
- Net price $32,879 a year
- 60% graduate
- 25
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Net price $46,080 a year
- 67% 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% |
| University of Southern California | $32,740 | $18,000 | $92,498 | 92% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $12,548 | $14,000 | $82,511 | 93% |
| Harvey Mudd College | $35,924 | $25,000 | $138,687 | 92% |
| Soka University of America | $18,260 | $15,650 | $55,017 | 92% |
| University of California-Irvine | $14,251 | $15,000 | $80,735 | 87% |
| InterCoast Colleges-West Covina | $27,536 | $10,313 | $36,089 | 97% |
| Scripps College | $36,294 | $13,500 | $77,539 | 83% |
| Pitzer College | $34,191 | $16,750 | $69,512 | 83% |
| Angeles College | $28,639 | $16,522 | $49,108 | 93% |
| Occidental College | $38,263 | $23,000 | $75,951 | 81% |
| Career Networks Institute | $49,677 | $25,899 | $45,256 | 89% |
| Gnomon | $51,949 | $28,332 | $114,785 | 100% |
| Loyola Marymount University | $48,381 | $19,500 | $78,349 | 79% |
| PCI College | $27,439 | $17,542 | $36,141 | 68% |
| Pepperdine University | $58,098 | $23,510 | $82,939 | 83% |
| Chapman University | $46,555 | $20,500 | $70,070 | 82% |
| Stanbridge University | $45,372 | $20,000 | $62,144 | 62% |
| California State University-Long Beach | $10,440 | $14,289 | $64,403 | 69% |
| Southern California Institute of Technology | $33,392 | $10,798 | $53,598 | 74% |
| Glendale Career College | $49,195 | $9,500 | $41,472 | 63% |
| West Coast University-Orange County | $32,879 | $32,946 | $102,672 | 60% |
| California Institute of the Arts | $46,080 | $25,000 | $41,198 | 67% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.