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Our analysis found Academy of Art University to be the most ethnically diverse college in California. It scores 84.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 84.9, alongside a 96.8 gender-diversity score.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 564 schools that stand out for their student bodies in California, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 564 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal mix depends on what matters most to you. Refine the list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? We built a tool called College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Learn more about these ethnically diverse colleges below:
Our analysis found Academy of Art University to be the most ethnically diverse college in California. It scores 84.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 84.9, alongside a 96.8 gender-diversity score.
Harvey Mudd College came in at #2 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in California. It scores 83.5 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 83.5, and gender diversity 99.9.
Pomona College came in at #3 on this year's Most Ethnically Diverse Colleges ranking in California. On ethnic diversity, it scores 83.1 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 83.1, with a gender-diversity score of 99.3.
Out of the 564 colleges in California in this year's ranking, Pacific Union College landed the #4 spot. The school's ethnic diversity score is 83.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 83.0, alongside a 93.4 gender-diversity score.
Out of the 564 colleges in California in this year's ranking, Stanford University landed the #5 spot. It scores 82.7 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 82.7, alongside a 99.7 gender-diversity score.
Pacific College of Health and Science ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. Pacific College of Health and Science scores 81.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 81.9, alongside a 69.8 gender-diversity score.
Gnomon landed the #7 spot in California this year. It scores 81.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 81.4, alongside a 98.4 gender-diversity score.
Menlo College earned the #8 position in California. It scores 81.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 81.4, alongside a 98.1 gender-diversity score.
Dominican University of California came in at #9 in this year's ranking. The school's ethnic diversity score is 81.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 81.0, with a gender-diversity score of 88.0.
Newschool of Architecture and Design placed #10 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in California. The school's ethnic diversity score is 81.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 81.0, and gender diversity 98.4.
Claremont Graduate University placed #11 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in California. Claremont Graduate University scores 81.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 81.0, alongside a 97.6 gender-diversity score.
University of San Francisco placed #12 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in California. University of San Francisco scores 80.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 80.8, with a gender-diversity score of 94.2.
California Miramar University landed the #13 spot in California this year. California Miramar University scores 79.9 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 79.9, and gender diversity 88.0.
University of Southern California placed #14 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in California. On ethnic diversity, it scores 79.6 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 79.6, and gender diversity 99.8.
Keck Graduate Institute ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. It scores 79.6 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 79.6, and gender diversity 88.1.
Paul Mitchell the School Sacramento came in at #16 in this year's ranking. It scores 79.5 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 79.5, and gender diversity 59.9.
University of Silicon Valley came in at #17 in this year's ranking. It scores 79.4 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 79.4, alongside a 81.6 gender-diversity score.
Musicians Institute ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. It scores 79.2 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 79.2, and gender diversity 85.4.
RAND School of Public Policy landed the #19 spot in California this year. The school's ethnic diversity score is 79.1 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 79.1, and gender diversity 98.0.
University of the Pacific placed #20 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in California. It scores 79.0 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 79.0, with a gender-diversity score of 98.1.
William Jessup University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. On ethnic diversity, it scores 78.8 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 78.8, with a gender-diversity score of 99.2.
California State University-East Bay ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the most ethnically diverse colleges. The school's ethnic diversity score is 78.8 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 78.8, with a gender-diversity score of 97.4.
Otis College of Art and Design came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Otis College of Art and Design scores 78.8 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 78.8, and gender diversity 88.7.
Hope International University landed the #24 spot in California this year. It scores 78.7 out of 100 for ethnic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 78.7, alongside a 95.1 gender-diversity score.
Claremont McKenna College placed #25 among the most ethnically diverse colleges in California. On ethnic diversity, it scores 78.6 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 78.6, and gender diversity 100.0.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
Explore the rest of the top 20% below:
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of California-Davis | 76.4 |
| 52 | Merritt College | 76.3 |
| 53 | Los Angeles Film School | 76.3 |
| 54 | Azusa Pacific University | 76.3 |
| 55 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 76.2 |
| 56 | DeVry University-California | 76.1 |
| 57 | Paul Mitchell the School East Bay | 76.0 |
| 58 | Simpson University | 75.9 |
| 59 | Life Chiropractic College West | 75.9 |
| 60 | Pepperdine University | 75.9 |
| 61 | Graduate Theological Union | 75.7 |
| 62 | Glendale Career College | 75.7 |
| 63 | University of California-San Diego | 75.6 |
| 64 | Southern California University of Health Sciences | 75.5 |
| 65 | Modern Technology School | 75.5 |
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Epic Bible College & Graduate School | 75.4 |
| 67 | Touro University Worldwide | 75.3 |
| 68 | City College of San Francisco | 75.3 |
| 69 | University of West Los Angeles | 75.2 |
| 70 | Cinta Aveda Institute | 75.2 |
| 71 | Diablo Valley College | 75.2 |
| 72 | San Jose State University | 75.1 |
| 73 | Coastline Community College | 75.1 |
| 74 | California State University-Sacramento | 75.0 |
| 75 | California Institute of the Arts | 74.9 |
| 76 | North-West College-San Diego | 74.8 |
| 77 | MIXED Institute of Cosmetology & Barber | 74.6 |
| 78 | University of California-Irvine | 74.5 |
| 79 | Pitzer College | 74.4 |
| 80 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance | 74.4 |
| 81 | Samuel Merritt University | 74.4 |
| 82 | Solano Community College | 74.3 |
| 83 | Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | 74.3 |
| 84 | College of San Mateo | 74.3 |
| 85 | Healing Hands School of Holistic Health | 74.2 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | Carrington College-Sacramento | 74.2 |
| 87 | Alliant International University-San Diego | 74.2 |
| 88 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles | 74.2 |
| 89 | Pacific School of Religion | 74.0 |
| 90 | Ohlone College | 73.9 |
| 91 | La Sierra University | 73.8 |
| 92 | Santa Monica College | 73.7 |
| 93 | Asher College | 73.7 |
| 94 | Fuller Theological Seminary | 73.5 |
| 95 | Palo Alto University | 73.5 |
| 96 | Gemological Institute of America-Carlsbad | 73.5 |
| 97 | Xavier College School of Nursing | 73.5 |
| 98 | Loma Linda University | 73.4 |
| 99 | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary | 73.4 |
| 100 | San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc | 73.3 |
| Rank | College | Ethnic Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | University of San Diego | 73.2 |
| 102 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 73.2 |
| 103 | Thomas Jefferson School of Law | 73.1 |
| 104 | Loyola Marymount University | 73.1 |
| 105 | American River College | 73.0 |
| 106 | El Camino Community College District | 72.9 |
| 107 | North-West College-Long Beach | 72.9 |
| 108 | California Institute of Technology | 72.7 |
| 109 | Unitek College | 72.5 |
| 110 | Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses | 72.5 |
| 111 | InterCoast Colleges - Rancho Cordova | 72.5 |
| 112 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music | 72.2 |
| 113 | Charles A Jones Career and Education Center | 72.1 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the racial and ethnic makeup of the student body. The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.