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Claremont McKenna College tops our 2026 ranking of the most gender-balanced colleges in California. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 78.6, and gender diversity 100.0.
by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 564 institutions ranked on gender diversity in California, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the balance of men and women across the student body. To help you decide, College Factual evaluated 564 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student measures diversity the same way. Drill down by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter most to you.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Claremont McKenna College tops our 2026 ranking of the most gender-balanced colleges in California. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 78.6, and gender diversity 100.0.
Irvine Valley College came in at #2 on this year's Most Gender-Balanced Colleges ranking in California. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.3, and gender diversity 100.0.
Northeastern University Oakland came in at #3 on this year's Most Gender-Balanced Colleges ranking in California. Northeastern University Oakland scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 78.1, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
University of the West earned the #4 place in California. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 65.2, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
You'll find a welcoming community at United Education Institute-Ontario, which ranked #5 this year. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 43.0, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo earned the #6 position in California. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 62.6, and gender diversity 100.0.
University of California-Riverside came in at #7 in this year's ranking. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 70.0, and gender diversity 100.0.
Thomas Aquinas College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 53.5, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
United Education Institute-UEI College Stockton ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 46.3, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Chabot College earned the #10 position in California. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.9, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
De Anza College placed #11 among the most gender-balanced colleges in California. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 69.6, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Foothill College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Foothill College scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 71.9, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Graduate Theological Union earned the #13 position in California. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 75.7, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Orange Coast College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 69.0, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Santa Clara University earned the #15 position in California. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 77.8, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario earned the #16 position in California. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 54.6, and gender diversity 100.0.
Institute of Culinary Education earned the #17 position in California. Institute of Culinary Education scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 70.2, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Feather River Community College District earned the #18 position in California. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 70.1, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
University of California-Santa Cruz came in at #19 in this year's ranking. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 73.2, and gender diversity 100.0.
San Francisco Bay University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the most gender-balanced colleges. The school's gender diversity score is 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 27.6, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Berkeley School of Theology placed #21 among the most gender-balanced colleges in California. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 64.3, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
College of the Siskiyous came in at #22 in this year's ranking. It scores 100.0 out of 100 for gender diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 63.3, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Cuesta College earned the #23 position in California. On gender diversity, it scores 100.0 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 58.2, and gender diversity 100.0.
Harvey Mudd College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Harvey Mudd College scores 99.9 out of 100 for gender diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 83.5, and gender diversity 99.9.
California University of Science and Medicine placed #25 among the most gender-balanced colleges in California. On gender diversity, it scores 99.9 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 66.8, and gender diversity 99.9.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
Click any college name below to learn more:
| Rank | College | Gender Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | California Health Sciences University | 99.7 |
| 52 | Abraham Lincoln University | 99.7 |
| 53 | Mission College | 99.7 |
| 54 | Biola University | 99.7 |
| 55 | City College of San Francisco | 99.6 |
| 56 | Mt San Antonio College | 99.6 |
| 57 | Palomar College | 99.6 |
| 58 | Pasadena City College | 99.6 |
| 59 | Fresno City College | 99.6 |
| 60 | University of West Los Angeles | 99.6 |
| 61 | University of California-Berkeley | 99.6 |
| 62 | San Diego Miramar College | 99.6 |
| 63 | Hacienda La Puente Adult Education | 99.6 |
| 64 | Fullerton College | 99.5 |
| 65 | Southwestern College | 99.5 |
| Rank | College | Gender Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | Columbia College | 99.5 |
| 67 | Evergreen Valley College | 99.5 |
| 68 | Cerritos College | 99.5 |
| 69 | Golden West College | 99.5 |
| 70 | Oxnard College | 99.5 |
| 71 | Laney College | 99.5 |
| 72 | UEI College-Riverside | 99.5 |
| 73 | San Diego City College | 99.5 |
| 74 | Los Angeles Pierce College | 99.5 |
| 75 | Bakersfield College | 99.5 |
| 76 | Coastline Community College | 99.4 |
| 77 | Skyline College | 99.4 |
| 78 | California Northstate University | 99.4 |
| 79 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 99.4 |
| 80 | Solano Community College | 99.4 |
| 81 | Moorpark College | 99.3 |
| 82 | Pomona College | 99.3 |
| 83 | California State University-Northridge | 99.3 |
| 84 | University of California-Irvine | 99.3 |
| 85 | Norco College | 99.3 |
These schools also stood out:
| Rank | College | Gender Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 86 | Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America | 99.3 |
| 87 | UEI College-Gardena | 99.3 |
| 88 | Moreno Valley College | 99.3 |
| 89 | Life Pacific University | 99.3 |
| 90 | Woodbury University | 99.3 |
| 91 | Santa Rosa Junior College | 99.3 |
| 92 | Lionel University | 99.3 |
| 93 | Sierra College | 99.3 |
| 94 | San Diego Mesa College | 99.2 |
| 95 | Fuller Theological Seminary | 99.2 |
| 96 | Providence Christian College | 99.2 |
| 97 | Coalinga College | 99.2 |
| 98 | University of the People | 99.2 |
| 99 | San Diego Christian College | 99.2 |
| 100 | College of the Desert | 99.2 |
| Rank | College | Gender Diversity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | William Jessup University | 99.2 |
| 102 | Santa Barbara City College | 99.2 |
| 103 | San Jose City College | 99.1 |
| 104 | San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | 99.1 |
| 105 | ATA College | 99.1 |
| 106 | Cuyamaca College | 99.1 |
| 107 | Santa Monica College | 99.1 |
| 108 | UEI College-Bakersfield | 99.1 |
| 109 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College | 99.1 |
| 110 | Saddleback College | 99.1 |
| 111 | United Education Institute-Chula Vista | 99.0 |
| 112 | InterCoast Colleges-West Covina | 99.0 |
| 113 | Crafton Hills College | 99.0 |
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the balance of men and women across 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.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.