The selectivity index is a rating system that looks at overall acceptance rate divided by the percentage of accepted students who enroll (yield rate). It's a measurement of both the selectivity and desirability of the college or university.
| Rank | Institution | Selectivity Index | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price | Median Starting Salary | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Institute of Technology | 23.8288 | 2.57 | 1,540 – 1,590 | 23397 | 132140 |
#1
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceCalifornia Institute of Technology
|
| 2 | Pomona College | 7.0846 | 7.09 | 1,490 – 1,560 | 17423 | 60850 |
#2
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferencePomona College
|
| 3 | Claremont McKenna College | 5.6131 | 9.59 | 1,470 – 1,560 | 29978 | 87603 |
#3
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceClaremont McKenna College
|
| 4 | Harvey Mudd College | 2.8286 | 12.66 | 1,500 – 1,580 | 42720 | 115107 |
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceHarvey Mudd College
|
| 5 | Pitzer College | 1.337 | 25.16 | 1,190 – 1,370 | 34801 | 51784 |
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferencePitzer College
|
| 6 | Scripps College | 0.6673 | 38.29 | 1,430 – 1,530 | 45505 | 68027 |
#6
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceScripps College
|
| 7 | Occidental College | 0.4037 | 44.17 | 1,390 – 1,520 | 47113 | 52209 |
#7
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceOccidental College
|
| 8 | University of La Verne | 0.2544 | 48.47 | 970 – 1,290 | 27216 | 53806 |
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceUniversity of La Verne
|
| 9 | Chapman University | 0.2425 | 65.43 | 1,280 – 1,440 | 48037 | 58080 |
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceChapman University
|
| 10 | University of Redlands | 0.1918 | 82.71 | 1,110 – 1,350 | 28054 | 61686 |
#10
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceUniversity of Redlands
|
| 11 | California Lutheran University | 0.146 | 75.67 | 1,160 – 1,360 | 27080 | 54981 |
#11
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceCalifornia Lutheran University
|
| 12 | Whittier College | 0.0656 | 83.5 | 1,070 – 1,250 | 32436 | 46025 |
#12
2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Selectivity Index – Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic ConferenceWhittier College
|
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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