Private Colleges and Universities in Southern California
Higher Education Articles February 11, 2013There are over fifty private schools in the Southern California area, the largest being the University of Phoenix – Southern California Campus, National University and University of Southern California. In this article, we will take a closer look at private colleges and universities in Southern California.
University of Phoenix – Costa Mesa, California
This private, for-profit school has campuses located all over the United States. The midsize town of Costa Mesa houses the Southern California campus for this university. Certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs are offered at the school, in both occupational and academic fields. Among the more popular programs the University of Phoenix – Costa Mesa, California offers are those relating to management, health administration, accounting, business and criminal justice.
Contact Information
•Address: 3090 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, California 92626
•Phone Number: (800) 888-1968
National University – La Jolla, California
National University is a private school that is located in the town of La Jolla, in Southern California, has campuses all over the state. Academic programs are offered by the university within five colleges and schools, including the School of Business and Management, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Media and Communication, College of Letters and Education, School of Health and Human Services and School of Sciences. Students seeking admission to the college can choose from associate, bachelor and master degree programs. The school is also renowned for teaching programs and produces more teachers than any other school in California (source: Commission on Teacher Credentialing).
Contact Information
•Address: 11255 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037
•Phone Number: (800) 628-8648
University of Southern California – Los Angeles, California
The University of Southern California is located in the center of Los Angeles and it is the largest private university; the school is one of the largest private research universities in the country. University of Southern California is one of the most selective schools in the state and only admitting around twenty-one percent of students who applied from a pool of thousands of potential candidates according to U.S. News & World Report. The university features some academic schools and colleges in the areas of sciences and liberal arts along with a graduate school; School of communication, School of Engineering, and School of Cinematic Arts. In total, the school offers ninety-five bachelor degree and one thirty-four master degree programs.
Contact Information
•Address: University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089
•Phone Number: (213) 740-2311
List of the Largest Private Colleges and Universities in Southern California
| College/University | Student Population |
| University of Southern California | 33,747 |
| National University | 15,521 |
| University of Phoenix – Southern California Campus | 12,339 |
| Loyola Marymount University | 9,011 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 8,548 |
| Trident University International | 8,004 |
| Pepperdine University | 7,614 |
| University of La Verne | 7,511 |
| DeVry University California | 7,234 |
| Chapman University | 6,128 |
| Biola University | 5,893 |
| The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising – Los Angeles | 4,651 |
| University of Redlands | 4,317 |
| Loma Linda University | 4,040 |
| California Baptist University | 4,013 |
| California Lutheran University | 3,499 |
| Concordia University – Irvine | 2,543 |
| Gemological Institute of America | 2,366 |
| Mount St. Mary’s College | 2,363 |
