Best Online Colleges in California 2023

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

Find the best online colleges in California ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in California

San Diego State University

51%

Pepperdine University

50%

California State University, Northridge

44%

California State University, Fullerton

43%

California State University, Fresno

41%

Biola University

40%

Loma Linda University

39%

California State University, Sacramento

39%

California State University, Chico

36%

Golden Gate University

35%

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School

100%

California State University, Fresno

97%

California State University, Stanislaus

95%

Holy Names University

95%

California State University, Sacramento

94%

Azusa Pacific University

94%

Life Pacific University

94%

California State University, Monterey Bay

93%

University of Massachusetts Global

93%

California State University, San Bernardino

91%

California State University, Northridge

28 to 1

San Diego State University

27 to 1

California State University, Fullerton

27 to 1

California State University, Dominguez Hills

27 to 1

California State University, San Bernardino

27 to 1

California State University, Sacramento

26 to 1

California State University, East Bay

26 to 1

California State University, Chico

25 to 1

California State University, Fresno

23 to 1

California State University, Monterey Bay

23 to 1

Pepperdine University

$59,702

Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles

$45,388

Biola University

$44,382

Azusa Pacific University

$41,510

Holy Names University

$40,904

Concordia University Irvine

$38,740

Vanguard University

$37,700

California Baptist University

$37,018

William Jessup University

$37,000

Simpson University

$35,900

Pepperdine University

$37,300

Loma Linda University

$27,382

Golden Gate University

$19,620

Holy Names University

$18,054

Azusa Pacific University

$16,571

National University

$15,480

Fresno Pacific University

$15,000

Hope International University

$14,256

William Jessup University

$13,924

California Baptist University

$13,590

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School

11%

Life Pacific University

11%

Bethesda University

12%

Touro University Worldwide

14%

Vanguard University

15%

Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles

16%

William Jessup University

16%

University of Massachusetts Global

17%

Simpson University

18%

San Diego Christian College

19%

San Diego State University

38%

Hope International University

40%

San Diego Christian College

53%

Pepperdine University

53%

National University

55%

California State University, Fullerton

59%

Biola University

61%

California Baptist University

64%

Simpson University

67%

The Master's University

67%

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School

2 to 1

Loma Linda University

3 to 1

Holy Names University

7 to 1

San Diego Christian College

9 to 1

Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles

10 to 1

Azusa Pacific University

10 to 1

Bethesda University

10 to 1

Touro University Worldwide

10 to 1

The Master's University

11 to 1

Golden Gate University

12 to 1

California State University, Stanislaus

$5,742

California State University, Fresno

$5,742

San Diego State University

$5,742

California State University, Fullerton

$5,742

California State University, Sacramento

$5,742

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

$5,742

California State University, Dominguez Hills

$5,742

California State University, East Bay

$5,742

California State University, San Bernardino

$5,742

California State University, Chico

$5,742

Bethesda University

$6,200

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School

$6,750

California State University, Stanislaus

$7,176

California State University, Fresno

$7,176

San Diego State University

$7,176

California State University, Fullerton

$7,176

California State University, Sacramento

$7,176

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

$7,176

California State University, Dominguez Hills

$7,176

California State University, East Bay

$7,176

Featured Programs

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

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Colleges in California 2023

Top 10 Online Colleges in California

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in California

What are California’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Colleges in California 2022

Online Degree Completion Programs

Online Degree Completion Program

Online Degrees

Online Degree Completion Programs

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Online Degree Completion Programs

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Emphasis

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Degree Completion Program

Online Degrees

Credential

Concentrations

Credentials

Credentials

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degree Completion Programs

Online Degree Completion Programs

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degree Completion Program

Emphasis

Online Degrees

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Online Degree Completion Programs

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degree Completion Programs

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Concentrations