Colleges with the most faculty per student in California

Colleges with the fewest students for each faculty member.

Colleges with the most faculty per student in California64 schools

64 schools qualify, ranked by students per faculty member. 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 student-to-faculty ratio from federal data (College Scorecard).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by students per faculty member, fewest first.

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

1
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in California
- 3 students per faculty member
- 1,023 undergraduates
2
New York Film Academy
Burbank, CA · Private for-profit
Top 22% for low debt
- 4 students per faculty member
- 965 undergraduates
3
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 5% for low net price
- 5 students per faculty member
- 183 undergraduates
3
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 16% for graduation
- 5 students per faculty member
- 215 undergraduates
5
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 6 students per faculty member
- 8,054 undergraduates
5
Musicians Institute
Hollywood, CA · Private for-profit
Good: Compass grade B-
- 6 students per faculty member
- 780 undergraduates
7
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 7 students per faculty member
- 1,664 undergraduates
7
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 4% for graduation
- 7 students per faculty member
- 464 undergraduates
7
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA · Private nonprofit
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- 7 students per faculty member
- 918 undergraduates
10
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 8 students per faculty member
- 1,381 undergraduates
10
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- 8 students per faculty member
- 949 undergraduates
10
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 6% for earnings
- 8 students per faculty member
- 1,182 undergraduates
10
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B
- 8 students per faculty member
- 1,012 undergraduates
10
Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 13% for earnings
- 8 students per faculty member
- 1,767 undergraduates
10
Whittier College
Whittier, CA · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B-
- 8 students per faculty member
- 813 undergraduates
16
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- 9 students per faculty member
- 21,023 undergraduates
16
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 9 students per faculty member
- 1,854 undergraduates
16
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 13% for earnings
- 9 students per faculty member
- 239 undergraduates
16
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 11% for graduation
- 9 students per faculty member
- 2,079 undergraduates
16
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 18% for earnings
- 9 students per faculty member
- 2,977 undergraduates
16
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit
Very good: Compass grade B+
- 9 students per faculty member
- 1,243 undergraduates
16
Pacific College
Costa Mesa, CA · Private for-profit
Top 15% for earnings
- 9 students per faculty member
- 285 undergraduates
16
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, CA · Private nonprofit
Good: Compass grade B-
- 9 students per faculty member
- 776 undergraduates
24
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 10 students per faculty member
- 1,082 undergraduates
24
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- 10 students per faculty member
- 1,204 undergraduates

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%
New York Film Academy	$39,011	$16,000	$29,633	68%
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses	$5,524	$35,500	$39,248	62%
San Francisco Conservatory of Music	$42,607	$27,000	—	74%
Stanford University	$13,807	$12,000	$124,080	92%
Musicians Institute	$46,518	—	$32,778	53%
Pomona College	$19,285	$11,782	$77,779	93%
Soka University of America	$18,260	$15,650	$55,017	92%
California Institute of the Arts	$46,080	$25,000	$41,198	67%
Claremont McKenna College	$28,849	$13,500	$104,736	91%
Harvey Mudd College	$35,924	$25,000	$138,687	92%
Dominican University of California	$35,333	$27,000	$84,713	78%
California College of the Arts	$53,909	$27,000	$49,414	61%
Mount Saint Mary's University	$21,413	$25,949	$72,379	53%
Whittier College	$25,757	$24,937	$59,492	60%
University of Southern California	$32,740	$18,000	$92,498	92%
Occidental College	$38,263	$23,000	$75,951	81%
Southern California Institute of Architecture	$43,923	—	$71,909	71%
Art Center College of Design	$48,661	$31,000	$71,958	79%
Azusa Pacific University	$22,212	$23,219	$66,677	62%
Otis College of Art and Design	$51,248	$27,000	$58,152	66%
Pacific College	$29,363	$22,469	$70,064	63%
Laguna College of Art and Design	$42,505	$27,000	$47,867	52%
Scripps College	$36,294	$13,500	$77,539	83%
Pitzer College	$34,191	$16,750	$69,512	83%

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 with the most faculty per student in California

How this list is made

California Institute of Technology

New York Film Academy

Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Stanford University

Musicians Institute

Pomona College

Soka University of America

California Institute of the Arts

Claremont McKenna College

Harvey Mudd College

Dominican University of California

California College of the Arts

Mount Saint Mary's University

Whittier College

University of Southern California

Occidental College

Southern California Institute of Architecture

Art Center College of Design

Azusa Pacific University

Otis College of Art and Design

Pacific College

Laguna College of Art and Design

Scripps College

Pitzer College

Compare cost and outcomes

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