2026 Ranking

Best Colleges for Transfer Students in California

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

Ranked: 138
Page: 3 / 6
Year: 2026
Version: v1

How we rank →

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#222

University of Southern California

· University of Southern California, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 67.3%
Transfer share: 6.4%
Scale: 4.3

#241

University of California-Riverside

· University of California-Riverside, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 68.5%
Transfer share: 5.6%
Scale: 4.4

#248

University of San Francisco

· University of San Francisco, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 77.0%
Transfer share: 4.4%
Scale: 3.8

#251

Stanford University

· Stanford University, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 91.0%
Transfer share: 0.7%
Scale: 3.9

#274

West Coast University-Los Angeles

· West Coast University-Los Angeles, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 71.8%
Transfer share: 6.8%
Scale: 3.4

#281

Smith Chason College

· Smith Chason College, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 65.3%
Transfer share: 11.1%
Scale: 3.3

#307

William Jessup University

· William Jessup University, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 63.8%
Transfer share: 28.1%
Scale: 3.0

#327

Concordia University-Irvine

· Concordia University-Irvine, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 63.5%
Transfer share: 15.4%
Scale: 3.2

#336

University of the Pacific

· University of the Pacific, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 71.7%
Transfer share: 5.6%
Scale: 3.5

#343

Pepperdine University

· Pepperdine University, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 82.3%
Transfer share: 2.3%
Scale: 3.6

#349

Carrington College-Sacramento

· Carrington College-Sacramento, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 71.7%
Transfer share: 5.2%
Scale: 3.6

#352

Biola University

· Biola University, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 65.8%
Transfer share: 7.7%
Scale: 3.5

#357

San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

· San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 64.3%
Transfer share: 8.4%
Scale: 3.6

#361

Stanbridge University

· Stanbridge University, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 82.7%
Transfer share: 2.3%
Scale: 3.5

#376

Woodbury University

· Woodbury University, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 66.3%
Transfer share: 11.6%
Scale: 2.9

#382

University of Massachusetts Global

· University of Massachusetts Global, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 59.0%
Transfer share: 12.6%
Scale: 3.7

#400

California Baptist University

· California Baptist University, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 58.3%
Transfer share: 11.9%
Scale: 3.9

#401

New York Film Academy

· New York Film Academy, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 64.0%
Transfer share: 13.8%
Scale: 3.0

#402

Pomona College

· Pomona College, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 100.0%
Transfer share: 1.3%
Scale: 3.2

#415

Otis College of Art and Design

· Otis College of Art and Design, CA

Mixed outcomes

Transfer completion: 64.0%
Transfer share: 11.6%
Scale: 3.1

#444

Azusa Pacific University

· Azusa Pacific University, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 72.7%
Transfer share: 4.2%
Scale: 3.5

#471

Chapman University

· Chapman University, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 68.5%
Transfer share: 3.7%
Scale: 3.9

#486

Dominican University of California

· Dominican University of California, CA

Solid outcomes

Transfer completion: 71.3%
Transfer share: 6.1%
Scale: 3.1

#495

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

· California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 64.2%
Transfer share: 4.4%
Scale: 4.3

#499

Claremont McKenna College

· Claremont McKenna College, CA

High-return

Transfer completion: 91.3%
Transfer share: 0.9%
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%