California's first university (1851) blends liberal arts with professional schools across three dynamic campuses.
Pacific offers over 80 undergraduate areas of study and more than 30 graduate and professional programs across nine schools and colleges: College of the Pacific (arts and sciences), Conservatory of Music, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Eberhardt School of Business, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, McGeorge School of Law, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, and Benerd College. The university is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission and emphasizes experiential learning through internships, co-ops, and accelerated programs.
Pacific operates three distinct campuses: the 175-acre Stockton campus features residential halls (Grace Covell, Southwest, Quad Buildings), the LEED Gold-certified John T. Chambers Technology Center, and Morris Chapel; the 13-acre Sacramento campus houses graduate and professional programs in the Oak Park neighborhood; and the San Francisco campus in South of Market contains the Dugoni School of Dentistry with clinics and simulation labs. Student life includes approximately 10% Greek life participation, diverse residential learning communities, and the student newspaper The Pacifican (founded 1908).
For fall 2025, Pacific received 8,656 freshman applications with a 69.1% admission rate. Enrolled freshmen had a median GPA of 3.61 and median SAT score of 1316. U.S. News & World Report rates undergraduate admission as 'more selective.' The university serves a diverse student body: 36% Asian, 29% Hispanic, 14% White, 13% Other, 7% foreign nationals, 3% Black; 36% are low-income students receiving Pell grants.
Pacific ranked 139th in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 'Top National Universities' and 85th in the 2026 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education rankings. The university ranked 3rd for best value in California (U.S. News 2025) and 36th for social mobility (Wall Street Journal 2025). Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce ranked Pacific 39th nationally for return on investment for low-income students (2022). Ninety-one percent of graduates work in their desired field within six months of completion.