2026 Ranking

Best Colleges for Transfer Students in California

Four-year colleges that welcome transfer students and graduate them on time.

Ranked: 138
Page: 2 / 6
Year: 2026
Version: v1

How we rank →

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#39

Teachers College of San Joaquin

· Teachers College of San Joaquin, CA

Profile in progress

Transfer completion: 98.0%
Transfer share: 60.7%
Scale: 2.8

#40

Samuel Merritt University

· Samuel Merritt University, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 94.8%
Transfer share: 29.8%
Scale: 2.9

#42

Point Loma Nazarene University

· Point Loma Nazarene University, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 82.8%
Transfer share: 11.1%
Scale: 3.5

#44

San Francisco State University

· San Francisco State University, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 72.5%
Transfer share: 11.2%
Scale: 4.3

#48

University of California-Santa Cruz

· University of California-Santa Cruz, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 82.2%
Transfer share: 7.2%
Scale: 4.3

#50

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

· Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 81.0%
Transfer share: 9.5%
Scale: 3.7

#54

California State University-Bakersfield

· California State University-Bakersfield, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 69.7%
Transfer share: 14.8%
Scale: 3.9

#62

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

· California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 70.3%
Transfer share: 15.2%
Scale: 3.7

#77

Loma Linda University

· Loma Linda University, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 77.2%
Transfer share: 28.5%
Scale: 3.0

#122

West Coast University-Orange County

· West Coast University-Orange County, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 76.8%
Transfer share: 8.1%
Scale: 3.5

#125

Musicians Institute

· Musicians Institute, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 79.7%
Transfer share: 11.9%
Scale: 2.9

#131

FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

· FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 77.3%
Transfer share: 10.3%
Scale: 3.1

#134

California State University Maritime Academy

· California State University Maritime Academy, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 91.4%
Transfer share: 8.8%
Scale: 2.9

#136

University of San Diego

· University of San Diego, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 78.7%
Transfer share: 6.0%
Scale: 3.8

#154

Casa Loma College-Los Angeles

· Casa Loma College-Los Angeles, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 74.5%
Transfer share: 14.2%
Scale: 2.9

#155

Chamberlain University-California

· Chamberlain University-California, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 74.0%
Transfer share: 17.3%
Scale: 2.8

#164

University of the People

· University of the People, CA

Profile in progress

Transfer completion: 100.0%
Transfer share: 0.0%
Scale: 4.6

#170

Simpson University

· Simpson University, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 71.2%
Transfer share: 20.5%
Scale: 2.9

#172

Angeles College

· Angeles College, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 80.6%
Transfer share: 9.8%
Scale: 2.9

#175

Santa Clara University

· Santa Clara University, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 90.3%
Transfer share: 3.3%
Scale: 3.8

#176

California Lutheran University

· California Lutheran University, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 74.8%
Transfer share: 8.0%
Scale: 3.4

#196

University of California-Merced

· University of California-Merced, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 88.3%
Transfer share: 2.7%
Scale: 3.9

#199

Loyola Marymount University

· Loyola Marymount University, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 72.7%
Transfer share: 6.0%
Scale: 3.9

#204

Art Center College of Design

· Art Center College of Design, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 86.4%
Transfer share: 5.1%
Scale: 3.3

#215

Career Networks Institute

· Career Networks Institute, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 82.7%
Transfer share: 6.2%
Scale: 3.1

How we score — methodology (v1) ▾

Eligibility

Four-year institutions with an IPEDS transfer-student completion rate and ≥500 undergraduates.

Score weights

60%

25%

15%

Transfer Student Completion Rate 60%

Transfer Share 25%

Log Scale 15%