Small Colleges in California with Program and School Information

California is home to many smaller-sized colleges and universities that have fewer than 5,000 students. Among the smaller schools in the state are California State University - Monterey Bay, Lake Tahoe Community College and Pomona College.

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Small Schools in California

California State University - Monterey Bay in Seaside

Established in 1994, California State University - Monterey Bay (CSUMB) stretches across 1,387 acres on the central California coast in the city of Seaside. This small public university offers 18 undergraduate majors with several minors and concentrations, including biology, kinesiology, computer science, teledramatic arts and liberal studies. CSUMB also offers teaching credential and master's degree programs in such fields as instructional science and technology, marine science, education and public policy. Outside the classroom, CSUMB offers 13 NCAA Division II athletic teams and over 50 student clubs. The university is one of only a few residential campuses within the California State University system, with nearly 60% of its student body living in traditional, suite and apartment-style campus housing.

Contact Information

Address: 100 Campus Center, Seaside, CA 93955
Phone Number: (831) 582-3000

Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe, CA

Situated amid 164 forested acres in eastern California is Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC), founded in 1975. The campus features technologically enhanced classrooms, a library, gymnasium, art gallery, a 192-seat black box theater, art and computer labs, culinary teaching facilities and a restored demonstration garden. Over 35 associate's degree programs are available in a range of fields, such as anthropology, culinary arts, natural science, psychology and art. The college also offers 20 certificate programs, including photography, wilderness education, radiation safety and early childhood education. LTCC's Associate of Arts programs are the equivalent of the first two years of study at a 4-year school, and the college maintains transfer agreements with the University of California system and Sonoma State University.

Contact Information

Address: One College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone Number: (530) 541-4660

Pomona College in Claremont, CA

Pomona College is a leading liberal arts college founded in 1887 as the first member of the Claremont Colleges, a group of seven independent schools located on neighboring campuses in Claremont, California. In 2010, Pomona College was ranked ninth among the nation's best value private colleges by the Princeton Review and sixth among the nation's best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. This 4-year college offers 650 classes and 45 degree programs in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Additionally, students can choose from among 50 study-abroad programs in over 30 countries while paying the same on-campus fee rates. With the school's student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1, all students, including first-year students, have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty members in nearly every discipline.

Contact Information

Address: 333 North College Way, Claremont, CA 91711
Phone Number: (909) 621-8000

List of Some Small Colleges and Universities in California

College/University	Student Population	Institution Type
El Camino College - Compton Center	4,915	2-year, Public
California State University - Monterey Bay	4,340	4-year, Public
University of Redlands	4,317	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Saint Mary's College of California	3,840	4-year, Private not-for-profit
California State University - Channel Islands	3,783	4-year, Public
Barstow Community College	3,778	2-year, Public
Lake Tahoe Community College	3,347	2-year, Public
University of California - Merced	2,718	4-year, Public
California Institute of Technology	2,126	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Dominican University of California	2,071	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Lassen Community College	2,070	2-year, Public
Whittier College	2,047	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Occidental College	1,868	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Pomona College	1,532	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Mills College	1,476	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Claremont McKenna College	1,212	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Pitzer College	1,025	4-year, Private not-for-profit
Scripps College	972	4-year, Private not-for-profit
San Diego State University - Imperial Valley Campus	971	4-year, Public
Harvey Mudd College	738	4-year, Private not-for-profit