College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in California

61 Ranked Colleges
5,636 Degrees Awarded
$27,300 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California” ranking.

Liberal Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 2nd of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 366,996 degrees were awarded to students with this major.

Across California, there were 95,240 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,636 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,566 and $21,995 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California” ranking, we looked at 61 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in liberal arts.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Liberal Studies Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts in California

1
TAC crest
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Thomas Aquinas College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. TAC is a small school located in Santa Paula, California that handed out 79 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Thomas Aquinas College

1
Providence Christian College crest
Providence Christian College
Pasadena, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Providence Christian College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California. Providence Christian College is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Providence Christian College

3
Soka University crest
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, California

Out of the 61 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Soka University of America landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Aliso Viejo, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 85 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Soka University of America

4
Antioch University - Santa Barbara crest
Antioch University - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Antioch University - Santa Barbara. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Antioch University - Santa Barbara Liberal Arts Report

5
UWest crest
University of the West
Rosemead, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of the West. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California. University of the West is a small school located in Rosemead, California that handed out 15 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of the West

6
Fresno Pacific crest
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, California

Fresno Pacific University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. Fresno Pacific University is located in Fresno, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 262 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Fresno Pacific

7
Azusa Pacific's University College crest
Azusa Pacific University College
San Dimas, California

Azusa Pacific University College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Located in San Dimas, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 71 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Azusa Pacific’s University College

8

California State University - Bakersfield ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. California State University - Bakersfield is a public institution located in Bakersfield, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 361 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Liberal Arts at California State University - Bakersfield

9
Simpson U crest
Simpson University
Redding, California

Simpson University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking. Simpson U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Redding, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Simpson University Liberal Arts Report

10

With a ranking of #10, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. Fresno State is a public institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 534 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Fresno State

11
MCU crest
Marymount California University
Rancho Palos Verdes, California

With a ranking of #11, Marymount California University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. Marymount California University is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Liberal Arts at MCU

12

California State University - Stanislaus ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. Stan State is a fairly large public school situated in Turlock, California. It awarded 226 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Stan State Liberal Arts Report

13

California State University - Channel Islands landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking. Located in Camarillo, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 125 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at California State University - Channel Islands

14
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. Sonoma State University is a public institution located in Rohnert Park, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 117 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full SSU Liberal Arts Report

15
ULV crest
University of La Verne
La Verne, California

University of La Verne ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. ULV is located in La Verne, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 122 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at University of La Verne

16

California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. CSUMB is a medium-sized public school situated in Seaside, California. It awarded 112 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at California State University - Monterey Bay

17

California State University - Chico landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school handed out 230 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Chico State Liberal Arts Report

18
Brandman crest
Brandman University
Irvine, California

Brandman University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking. Brandman is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 165 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Brandman University Liberal Arts Report

19

California State University - San Bernardino landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 224 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - San Bernardino Liberal Arts Report

20
Antioch University - Los Angeles crest
Antioch University - Los Angeles
Culver City, California

Antioch University - Los Angeles came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking. Antioch University - Los Angeles is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Culver City, California. It awarded 13 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Antioch University - Los Angeles

21

With a ranking of #21, California State University - San Marcos did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. CSUSM is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 174 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at CSUSM

22

Saint Mary’s College of California did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Moraga, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 48 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal studies students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at SMC

23
La Sierra crest
La Sierra University
Riverside, California

La Sierra University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California ranking. La Sierra University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full La Sierra University Liberal Arts Report

24
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

With a ranking of #24, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. Humboldt State University is a public institution located in Arcata, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 66 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Humboldt State University Liberal Arts Report

25
NDNU crest
Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, California

Notre Dame de Namur University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Liberal Studies Major in California list. This small school is located in Belmont, California, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Liberal Arts at NDNU

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options