California is home to numerous private colleges that are available to residents. However, as with anything that can compete, there are those private colleges in California that stand out from the rest, and have been featured on university rankings, including the Forbes list of America’s Best Colleges. Some of them are mentioned in this article.
California Institute of Technology is one of the best private colleges in the state, if past Forbes rankings are anything to go by. Located in Pasadena, Caltech, as it’s called, is a small university with a student body of only 1900. The institution has for decades been counted among the first-rate colleges, and is dedicated to world-class research in engineering and science. The average tuition in this institution stands at $32,835, with 53% of the students receiving financial aid.
Stanford University is a thriving residential campus that sits on 8,000 acres of foothills and plains. Its aim is to promote public welfare by influencing humanity and civilization. Living and learning in this institution is intertwined, with numerous extra-curricular programs and other activities that involve not only the students, but also the faculty and staff as well as neighbors from the surrounding areas. The average tuition fee in the institution is $35,089, and 72% of the students receive financial aid.
Claremont McKenna College is a residential, coeducational undergraduate liberal arts college that is highly selective and independent. The college provides a liberal arts education that emphasizes economics and political science. CMC is one among the seven Claremont Colleges, which is really a system that is modeled after Oxford University. It was founded in 1946 and is one of the youngest top colleges in the nation, enrolling about 1,200 students. The average tuition fee in this college is $35,190, and 63% of the students receive financial aid.
Located in Claremont, Pomona College is regarded as one of the premier liberal arts colleges in America. Pomona is actually the founding member of The Claremont Colleges, and was established in 1887. The college houses nearly all the students in attendance, since it is small, with an undergraduate enrollment of 1,533. The average tuition in Pomona is $33,932, and 72% of the student body receives financial aid.
Harvey Mudd College is a residential liberal arts college of science, mathematics and engineering, and is also a part of the contiguous Claremont Colleges. The Claremont Colleges share adjoining campus grounds as well as resources such as libraries, campus security, health services, dining halls and other resources. However, each college is managed on its own and has its own separate admissions process. About 88% of the students receive financial aid, and the average tuition fee is $34,891.
Other California private colleges that have performed well in rankings include Mills College and St. Mary’s College of California. There are numerous Private Colleges in California, each offering its own specialized programs. Full list of private colleges that are found in California can be found online, with full details about admission, while tuition fees can be found on the institutions’ respective school websites.