Best Sociology Colleges in California2026 Rankings
With 63 Sociology programs spread across California, narrowing your list takes real data. Our algorithm ranks each school on six factors — admission rate, graduation rate, net price, median graduate earnings, student-faculty ratio, and major breadth — so you can compare apples to apples before you apply.
California offers 12 public and 18 private Sociology programs in this ranking. Public universities average $40,261 for in-state students, making them a strong value option. The most competitive school on the list — Stanford University — accepts 4% of applicants. Early-career earnings for Sociology graduates average $38,028, with a state-wide graduation rate of 81% for ranked programs.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
Every Sociology program here has a different student profile it targets. Before you finalize your list, it's worth understanding where you stand.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: Sociology Programs in California
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | Perfect· 54 | 4% | 93% | $1,323 | $89,527 | 6:1 | 49 | 7,841 |
| 2 | Harvey Mudd CollegePrivate | Elite· 49 | 13% | 94% | $18,937 | $107,923 | 8:1 | 26 | 915 |
| 3 | Claremont McKenna CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 11% | 95% | $14,929 | $68,541 | 8:1 | 43 | 1,379 |
| 4 | Pomona CollegePrivate | Elite· 48 | 7% | 93% | $5,099 | $41,100 | 7:1 | 39 | 1,638 |
| 5 | University of Southern CaliforniaPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 10% | 92% | $18,993 | $35,580 | 9:1 | 83 | 20,817 |
| 6 | Occidental CollegePrivate | Excellent· 44 | 40% | 85% | $17,577 | $42,653 | 9:1 | 31 | 1,844 |
| 7 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoPublic | Excellent· 43 | 30% | 85% | $11,372 | $30,401 | 18:1 | 78 | 21,521 |
| 8 | Scripps CollegePrivate | Excellent· 42 | 34% | 87% | $22,440 | $37,612 | 11:1 | 48 | 1,077 |
| 9 | University of San DiegoPrivate | Great· 41 | 47% | 82% | $19,998 | $36,476 | 14:1 | 43 | 5,619 |
| 10 | University of California-San DiegoPublic | Great· 41 | 25% | 88% | $10,389 | $36,464 | 19:1 | 71 | 33,787 |
| 11 | University of California-DavisPublic | Great· 41 | 42% | 85% | $12,304 | $32,137 | 21:1 | 91 | 31,777 |
| 12 | University of California-Santa BarbaraPublic | Great· 41 | 28% | 85% | $11,398 | $34,372 | 17:1 | 53 | 23,205 |
| 13 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Great· 40 | 44% | 88% | $41,599 | $53,612 | 10:1 | 45 | 6,235 |
| 14 | University of California-Los AngelesPublic | Great· 40 | 9% | 93% | $11,065 | $34,121 | 18:1 | 75 | 33,040 |
| 15 | University of California-IrvinePublic | Great· 40 | 26% | 86% | $11,769 | $34,050 | 18:1 | 71 | 29,494 |
| 16 | University of California-BerkeleyPublic | Great· 40 | 12% | 93% | $11,424 | $40,774 | 18:1 | 80 | 33,073 |
| 17 | Pitzer CollegePrivate | Great· 40 | 17% | 83% | $17,911 | $33,658 | 10:1 | 62 | 1,191 |
| 18 | Fresno Pacific UniversityPrivate | Great· 39 | 58% | 56% | $11,116 | $42,313 | 8:1 | 62 | 1,614 |
| 19 | California State University-Long BeachPublic | Great· 38 | 47% | 70% | $9,063 | $31,270 | 19:1 | 84 | 34,131 |
| 20 | University of California-RiversidePublic | Great· 38 | 63% | 77% | $12,449 | $29,367 | 23:1 | 60 | 22,644 |
| 21 | University of RedlandsPrivate | Strong· 37 | 81% | 71% | $20,649 | $33,421 | 11:1 | 38 | 2,095 |
| 22 | University of California-Santa CruzPublic | Strong· 37 | 63% | 74% | $13,001 | $28,495 | 22:1 | 56 | 17,812 |
| 23 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 40% | 80% | $32,869 | $35,993 | 11:1 | 50 | 7,171 |
| 24 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 50% | 85% | $40,201 | $49,653 | 13:1 | 43 | 3,629 |
| 25 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 56% | 80% | $39,414 | $39,278 | 12:1 | 54 | 7,629 |
| 26 | San Diego State UniversityPublic | Strong· 36 | 34% | 78% | $14,205 | $35,136 | 22:1 | 79 | 33,654 |
| 27 | Westmont CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 80% | 70% | $24,081 | $37,671 | 10:1 | 28 | 1,310 |
| 28 | Mount Saint Mary's UniversityPrivate | Strong· 35 | 69% | 53% | $25,413 | $40,451 | 11:1 | 52 | 1,746 |
| 29 | Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaPrivate | Strong· 35 | 65% | 56% | $17,411 | $69,240 | 16:1 | 27 | 1,975 |
| 30 | University of California-MercedPublic | Strong· 35 | 39% | 69% | $11,594 | $37,092 | 21:1 | 27 | 8,372 |