Colleges where the most freshmen return in California

Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.

Colleges where the most freshmen return in California63 schools

63 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in California.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by retention rate, highest first.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Career Networks Institute
Santa Ana, CA · Private for-profit
Top 5% for graduation
- 100% of freshmen return
- 89% graduate
1
PCI College
Cerritos, CA · Private for-profit
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- 100% of freshmen return
- 68% graduate
1
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 5% for low net price
- 100% of freshmen return
- 62% graduate
1
West Coast University-Orange County
Anaheim, CA · Private for-profit
Top 2% for earnings
- 100% of freshmen return
- 60% graduate
1
American University of Health Sciences
Signal Hill, CA · Private for-profit
Top 3% for earnings
- 100% of freshmen return
- 50% graduate
6
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 98% of freshmen return
- 92% graduate
7
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 98% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
8
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 98% of freshmen return
- 93% graduate
9
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in California
- 97% of freshmen return
- 94% graduate
10
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 97% of freshmen return
- 93% graduate
11
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 97% of freshmen return
- 93% graduate
12
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- 96% of freshmen return
- 92% graduate
13
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 96% of freshmen return
- 92% graduate
14
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for earnings
- 96% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
15
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 94% of freshmen return
- 87% graduate
16
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 94% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
17
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- 94% of freshmen return
- 88% graduate
18
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 94% of freshmen return
- 83% graduate
19
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 94% of freshmen return
- 83% graduate
20
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 93% of freshmen return
- 83% graduate
21
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 7% for graduation
- 93% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
22
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 16% for graduation
- 93% of freshmen return
- 74% graduate
23
Chapman University
Orange, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 9% for graduation
- 92% of freshmen return
- 82% graduate
24
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 8% for graduation
- 92% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
25
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 13% for earnings
- 91% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Career Networks Institute	$49,677	$25,899	$45,256	89%
PCI College	$27,439	$17,542	$36,141	68%
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses	$5,524	$35,500	$39,248	62%
West Coast University-Orange County	$32,879	$32,946	$102,672	60%
American University of Health Sciences	—	$40,326	$93,610	50%
Stanford University	$13,807	$12,000	$124,080	92%
Claremont McKenna College	$28,849	$13,500	$104,736	91%
Pomona College	$19,285	$11,782	$77,779	93%
California Institute of Technology	$16,075	—	$128,566	94%
University of California-Los Angeles	$12,548	$14,000	$82,511	93%
University of California-Berkeley	$13,481	$13,000	$92,446	93%
Harvey Mudd College	$35,924	$25,000	$138,687	92%
University of Southern California	$32,740	$18,000	$92,498	92%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	$16,665	$18,500	$90,768	86%
University of California-Irvine	$14,251	$15,000	$80,735	87%
University of California-San Diego	$12,470	$15,500	$84,943	86%
Santa Clara University	$50,062	$19,162	$109,183	88%
Scripps College	$36,294	$13,500	$77,539	83%
Pitzer College	$34,191	$16,750	$69,512	83%
University of California-Santa Barbara	$16,109	$13,993	$74,915	83%
University of California-Davis	$14,741	$13,000	$80,838	86%
San Francisco Conservatory of Music	$42,607	$27,000	—	74%
Chapman University	$46,555	$20,500	$70,070	82%
Thomas Aquinas College	$26,196	$18,000	$55,619	84%
Southern California Institute of Architecture	$43,923	—	$71,909	71%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Colleges where the most freshmen return in California

How this list is made

Career Networks Institute

PCI College

Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses

West Coast University-Orange County

American University of Health Sciences

Stanford University

Claremont McKenna College

Pomona College

California Institute of Technology

University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Berkeley

Harvey Mudd College

University of Southern California

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

University of California-Irvine

University of California-San Diego

Santa Clara University

Scripps College

Pitzer College

University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Davis

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Chapman University

Thomas Aquinas College

Southern California Institute of Architecture

Compare cost and outcomes

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