Colleges with the highest graduation rates in California
Colleges ranked by six-year graduation rate, from federal data.
Colleges with the highest graduation rates in California128 schools
128 schools qualify, ranked by graduation rate. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in California.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Has a graduation rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by graduation rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1Tie
- 1Tie
California Northstate University
Elk Grove, CA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- 100% graduate
- 71 undergraduates
- 3
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina
West Covina, CA · Private for-profitTop 2% for graduation
- 97% graduate
- 507 undergraduates
- 4
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in California
- 94% graduate
- 1,023 undergraduates
- 5
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 93% graduate
- 1,664 undergraduates
- 6
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 93% graduate
- 33,078 undergraduates
- 7
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 93% graduate
- 33,040 undergraduates
- 8
Angeles College
Los Angeles, CA · Private for-profitTop 4% for graduation
- 93% graduate
- 484 undergraduates
- 9
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 92% graduate
- 8,054 undergraduates
- 10
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 92% graduate
- 949 undergraduates
- 11
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 92% graduate
- 21,023 undergraduates
- 12
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for graduation
- 92% graduate
- 464 undergraduates
- 13
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 91% graduate
- 1,381 undergraduates
- 14
Career Networks Institute
Santa Ana, CA · Private for-profitTop 5% for graduation
- 89% graduate
- 971 undergraduates
- 15
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 88% graduate
- 6,249 undergraduates
- 16
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 87% graduate
- 29,503 undergraduates
- 17
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- 86% graduate
- 21,559 undergraduates
- 18
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 86% graduate
- 33,792 undergraduates
- 19
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- 86% graduate
- 31,797 undergraduates
- 20
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA · Private nonprofitTop 8% for graduation
- 84% graduate
- 539 undergraduates
- 21
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- 84% graduate
- 5,726 undergraduates
- 22
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 83% graduate
- 1,204 undergraduates
- 23
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- 83% graduate
- 3,629 undergraduates
- 24
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 83% graduate
- 23,232 undergraduates
- 25
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 83% graduate
- 1,082 undergraduates
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gnomon | $51,949 | $28,332 | $114,785 | 100% |
| California Northstate University | — | — | — | 100% |
| InterCoast Colleges-West Covina | $27,536 | $10,313 | $36,089 | 97% |
| California Institute of Technology | $16,075 | — | $128,566 | 94% |
| Pomona College | $19,285 | $11,782 | $77,779 | 93% |
| University of California-Berkeley | $13,481 | $13,000 | $92,446 | 93% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $12,548 | $14,000 | $82,511 | 93% |
| Angeles College | $28,639 | $16,522 | $49,108 | 93% |
| Stanford University | $13,807 | $12,000 | $124,080 | 92% |
| Harvey Mudd College | $35,924 | $25,000 | $138,687 | 92% |
| University of Southern California | $32,740 | $18,000 | $92,498 | 92% |
| Soka University of America | $18,260 | $15,650 | $55,017 | 92% |
| Claremont McKenna College | $28,849 | $13,500 | $104,736 | 91% |
| Career Networks Institute | $49,677 | $25,899 | $45,256 | 89% |
| Santa Clara University | $50,062 | $19,162 | $109,183 | 88% |
| University of California-Irvine | $14,251 | $15,000 | $80,735 | 87% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $16,665 | $18,500 | $90,768 | 86% |
| University of California-San Diego | $12,470 | $15,500 | $84,943 | 86% |
| University of California-Davis | $14,741 | $13,000 | $80,838 | 86% |
| Thomas Aquinas College | $26,196 | $18,000 | $55,619 | 84% |
| University of San Diego | $30,365 | $22,940 | $86,522 | 84% |
| Pitzer College | $34,191 | $16,750 | $69,512 | 83% |
| Pepperdine University | $58,098 | $23,510 | $82,939 | 83% |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | $16,109 | $13,993 | $74,915 | 83% |
| Scripps College | $36,294 | $13,500 | $77,539 | 83% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3