Best Colleges in California 2023

Best Colleges in California 2023
By James Barham
Published:
Updated:

Here are the best colleges and universities in California. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you.

10 Best Colleges in California

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  1. University of California, Berkeley
    2. 87%
  2. Stanford University
    3. 86%
  3. University of California, Los Angeles
    4. 78%
  4. California Institute of Technology
    5. 76%
  5. University of Southern California
    6. 72%
  6. University of California, San Diego
    7. 70%
  7. University of California, Santa Barbara
    8. 65%
  8. University of California, Irvine
    9. 64%
  9. University of California, Davis
    10. 61%
  10. University of California, Santa Cruz
    11. 60%
  1. California State University, Fresno
    2. 97%
  2. San Francisco State University
    3. 93%
  3. California State University, Los Angeles
    4. 91%
  4. California State University, Northridge
    5. 88%
  5. San Jose State University
    6. 84%
  6. University of the Pacific
    7. 79%
  7. University of San Francisco
    8. 71%
  8. University of California, Riverside
    9. 65%
  9. Chapman University
    10. 60%
  10. University of California, Santa Cruz
    11. 59%
  1. California State University, Northridge
    2. 28 to 1
  2. San Diego State University
    3. 27 to 1
  3. California State University, Fullerton
    4. 27 to 1
  4. University of California, Santa Cruz
    5. 25 to 1
  5. California State University, Los Angeles
    6. 25 to 1
  6. San Jose State University
    7. 25 to 1
  7. California State University, Long Beach
    8. 24 to 1
  8. California State University, Fresno
    9. 23 to 1
  9. University of California, Riverside
    10. 22 to 1
  10. San Francisco State University
    11. 22 to 1
  1. University of Southern California
    2. $61,503
  2. Harvey Mudd College
    3. $60,703
  3. Pepperdine University
    4. $59,702
  4. California Institute of Technology
    5. $58,680
  5. Chapman University
    6. $58,634
  6. Occidental College
    7. $58,426
  7. Claremont McKenna College
    8. $58,111
  8. Pomona College
    9. $56,686
  9. Stanford University
    10. $56,169
  10. Santa Clara University
    11. $55,860
  1. Claremont McKenna College
    2. $64,288
  2. University of Southern California
    3. $60,446
  3. Occidental College
    4. $57,830
  4. California Institute of Technology
    5. $56,364
  5. Stanford University
    6. $54,315
  6. University of the Pacific
    7. $50,128
  7. Chapman University
    8. $37,538
  8. Pepperdine University
    9. $37,300
  9. University of San Diego
    10. $27,936
  10. University of San Francisco
    11. $27,180
  1. California State University, Fresno
    2. 41%
  2. California State University, Long Beach
    3. 42%
  3. California State University, Los Angeles
    4. 42%
  4. California State University, Fullerton
    5. 43%
  5. Claremont McKenna College
    6. 43%
  6. University of San Diego
    7. 44%
  7. Loyola Marymount University
    8. 44%
  8. Harvey Mudd College
    9. 44%
  9. California State University, Northridge
    10. 44%
  10. University of the Pacific
    11. 45%
  1. Stanford University
    2. 4%
  2. California Institute of Technology
    3. 4%
  3. Pomona College
    4. 7%
  4. Harvey Mudd College
    5. 10%
  5. Claremont McKenna College
    6. 11%
  6. University of California, Los Angeles
    7. 11%
  7. University of Southern California
    8. 13%
  8. University of California, Berkeley
    9. 14%
  9. University of California, Santa Barbara
    10. 29%
  10. University of California, Irvine
    11. 29%
  1. California Institute of Technology
    2. 3 to 1
  2. Stanford University
    3. 4 to 1
  3. Pomona College
    4. 6 to 1
  4. Occidental College
    5. 8 to 1
  5. Claremont McKenna College
    6. 8 to 1
  6. Harvey Mudd College
    7. 8 to 1
  7. University of Southern California
    8. 9 to 1
  8. Loyola Marymount University
    9. 10 to 1
  9. Santa Clara University
    10. 11 to 1
  10. University of San Francisco
    11. 12 to 1
  1. California State University, Fresno
    2. $5,742
  2. San Diego State University
    3. $5,742
  3. California State University, Fullerton
    4. $5,742
  4. California State University, Long Beach
    5. $5,742
  5. San Francisco State University
    6. $5,742
  6. California State University, Los Angeles
    7. $5,742
  7. San Jose State University
    8. $5,742
  8. California State University, Northridge
    9. $5,742
  9. University of California, Riverside
    10. $11,442
  10. University of California, Los Angeles
    11. $11,442
  1. California State University, Fresno
    2. $7,176
  2. San Diego State University
    3. $7,176
  3. California State University, Fullerton
    4. $7,176
  4. California State University, Long Beach
    5. $7,176
  5. San Francisco State University
    6. $7,176
  6. California State University, Los Angeles
    7. $7,176
  7. San Jose State University
    8. $7,176
  8. California State University, Northridge
    9. $7,176
  9. University of California, Riverside
    10. $11,442
  10. University of California, Los Angeles
    11. $11,442

Colleges and Universities in California

California’s higher education institutes span across the entire state, allowing students to study by the beach, in the forest, in small towns, and in large cities. There are over 30 high quality online programs that would allow you to earn a degree from literally anywhere in California, or the world.

The state’s largest university is the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). UCLA serves nearly 44,000 students and offers a tuition rate around $13,000. This isn’t the only school with a large student body though. California is home to 23 colleges and universities with student populations of over 20,000 students.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

However, more than half of the state’s schools serve smaller student populations, offering plenty of options for students who crave a more intimate campus experience. Additionally, California boasts 50 religiously affiliated schools. Many of these schools have high graduation rates. However, tuition costs can range greatly, from $8,000 at Bethesda University up to $54,000 at Pepperdine University.

Additionally, many of California’s colleges and universities boast influential faculty and alumni, including Neil Armstrong, Jerry Lewis, and Weird Al Yankovic. In addition to famous alumni and professors, California’s schools are also home to some of the country’s top degree programs, including nursing, business, religious studies, education, literature, and law. Many of these schools offer online courses and complete online programs in these same disciplines.

Though Hollywood has given us an inside look into California’s most popular landmarks and attractions, these one-of-a-kind places aren’t the only reason people flock to The Golden State. With hundreds of colleges and universities, as well as community and junior colleges, to choose from, students have countless opportunities to further their education in California.

Many of these opportunities are also accessible through online courses and online colleges. A growing number of online programs in California have received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools, which means online students have a higher level of quality assurance than ever before. It’s also worth noting that students who live in California can still get an in-state discount on their associate degree or bachelor’s degree even when completing online courses or online programs.

To learn more about earning your degree in California, check out some of the state’s top programs and career paths.


What are California’s Colleges & Universities?

California’s Best Overall

Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges

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We’ve identified 113 colleges and universities in California that meet our criteria. This list of the top 30 colleges in California below focuses on schools that offer bachelor’s degrees. The ranking features fully accredited public and private colleges and universities in California.

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Best Colleges in California 2022

  1. #1

    Stanford University

    Stanford , CA
    #2 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #2 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2023 #2 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #3 Best Universities in the World 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $56K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    96%

    Student body

    13K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1495/33

    What is Stanford University known for?

    Stanford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  2. #2

    University of California, Berkeley

    Berkeley , CA
    #1 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023 #1 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2023 #1 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2023 #1 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Acceptance

    14%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    43K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1420/32

    What is University of California, Berkeley known for?

    University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  3. #3

    University of California, Los Angeles

    Los Angeles , CA
    #3 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023 #3 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2023 #3 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2023 #3 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    46K

    What is University of California, Los Angeles known for?

    University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  4. #4

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles , CA
    #13 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2023 #16 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #18 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2023 #2 Best Private Colleges in California 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $62K

    Acceptance

    13%

    Graduation

    92%

    Student body

    38K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1435/32

    What is University of Southern California known for?

    University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  5. #5

    California Institute of Technology

    Pasadena , CA
    #1 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2023 #1 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #1 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2023 #1 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $59K

    Acceptance

    4%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1555/35

    What is California Institute of Technology known for?

    California Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  15. #13

    San Diego State University

    San Diego , CA
    #9 Best Public Colleges California 2023 #9 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2023 #17 Best Research Universities for Criminal Justice Degrees #17 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees

    Tuition + fees

    $8K

    Acceptance

    38%

    Graduation

    76%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1195/25

    What is San Diego State University known for?

    San Diego State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    San Diego State University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 49-55
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 51-60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  16. #14

    San Francisco State University

    San Francisco , CA
    #12 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2023 #10 Best Public Colleges California 2023 #10 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1030/19

    What is San Francisco State University known for?

    San Francisco State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  20. #17

    Pepperdine University

    Malibu , CA
    #2 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2023 #17 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2023 #3 Best Christian Colleges in California 2023 #6 Best Private Colleges in California 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $60K

    Acceptance

    53%

    Graduation

    83%

    Student body

    10K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1305/28

    What is Pepperdine University known for?

    Pepperdine University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    Pepperdine University’s Online Degrees

    BS in Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  21. #18

    Pomona College

    Claremont , CA
    #16 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2023 #18 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #2 Best Small Colleges in California 2023 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $57K

    Acceptance

    7%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    2K

    What is Pomona College known for?

    Pomona College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  25. #21

    Claremont McKenna College

    Claremont , CA
    #4 Best Small Colleges in California 2023 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2023 #10 Best Private Colleges in California 2023 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Business Degrees in 2023
    Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $58K

    Acceptance

    11%

    Graduation

    93%

    Student body

    1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1415/32

    What is Claremont McKenna College known for?

    Claremont McKenna College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  26. #22

    California State University, Northridge

    Northridge , CA
    #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    88%

    Graduation

    54%

    Student body

    34K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1005/19

    What is California State University, Northridge known for?

    California State University, Northridge’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    California State University, Northridge’s Online Degrees

    BA in Liberal Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Public Sector Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  27. #23

    California State University, Fullerton

    Fullerton , CA
    #10 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2023 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    59%

    Graduation

    71%

    Student body

    36K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1090/20

    What is California State University, Fullerton known for?

    California State University, Fullerton’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    California State University, Fullerton’s Online Degrees

    BA in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 54
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Humanities and Social Sciences
    • Required Credits: 51
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Sociology
    • Required Credits: 51
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  28. #24

    California State University, Los Angeles

    Los Angeles , CA
    #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    91%

    Graduation

    52%

    Student body

    23K

    Median SAT/ACT

    965/17

    What is California State University, Los Angeles known for?

    California State University, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  31. #26

    University of the Pacific

    Stockton , CA

    Tuition + fees

    $52K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    69%

    Student body

    5K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1210/26

    What is University of the Pacific known for?

    University of the Pacific ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  33. #28

    Loyola Marymount University

    Los Angeles , CA
    #6 Best Christian Colleges in California 2023

    Tuition + fees

    $54K

    Acceptance

    46%

    Graduation

    79%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1300/29

    What is Loyola Marymount University known for?

    Loyola Marymount University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

  35. #30

    California State University, Fresno

    Fresno , CA

    Tuition + fees

    $7K

    Acceptance

    97%

    Graduation

    57%

    Student body

    22K

    Median SAT/ACT

    995/18

    What is California State University, Fresno known for?

    California State University, Fresno’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    Most Influential Alumni

    California State University, Fresno’s Online Degrees

    BBA in Accelerated Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BS in Criminology
    Degree Concentrations
    • Law Enforcement
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    BA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 120
    • Completion Time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
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California’s Best Colleges in Your Area of Interest

Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Commun­ications Computer Science Criminal Justice Earth Sciences Economics Education Engineering History Law Literature Mathematics Medical Nursing Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Social Work Sociology
2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

  1. California Institute of Technology
  2. Stanford University
  3. University of California, Berkeley
  4. Pomona College
  5. Harvey Mudd College
  6. Claremont McKenna College
  7. University of Southern California
  8. University of California, Los Angeles
  9. Occidental College
  10. Pitzer College
  11. University of California, San Diego
  12. Pepperdine University
  13. Scripps College
  14. University of California, Santa Barbara
  15. University of California, Santa Cruz
  16. Santa Clara University
  17. University of California, Davis
  18. Golden Gate University
  19. Mills College at Northeastern University
  20. University of California, Irvine
  21. University of California, Riverside
  22. Loyola Marymount University
  23. Whittier College
  24. University of California, Merced
  25. University of Redlands
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