Best Online Colleges in California 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE COLLEGES IN CALIFORNIA

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Nov 22, 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
California State University, Northridge
Pepperdine University
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Chico
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Fresno
Biola University
Golden Gate University
Loma Linda University

San Diego State University
Pepperdine University
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Sacramento
Biola University
Loma Linda University
California State University, Chico
Golden Gate University

Holy Names University 100%
Shasta Bible College and Graduate School 100%
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt 98%
California State University, Stanislaus 97%
California State University, East Bay 96%
California State University, Chico 95%
California State University, Fresno 95%
Life Pacific University 94%
California State University, Sacramento 93%
California State University, Monterey Bay 92%

San Diego State University 25 to 1
California State University, Sacramento 24 to 1
California State University, Northridge 24 to 1
California State University, Fullerton 24 to 1
California State University, San Bernardino 23 to 1
California State University, Dominguez Hills 22 to 1
California State University, East Bay 22 to 1
California State University, Fresno 21 to 1
California State University, Chico 20 to 1
California State University, Monterey Bay 20 to 1

Pepperdine University $63,142
Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles $46,740
Biola University $44,382
Azusa Pacific University $42,330
Holy Names University $42,115
Concordia University Irvine $40,180
Vanguard University $38,700
California Baptist University $38,058
Simpson University $37,480
Jessup University $37,150

Pepperdine University $39,100
Loma Linda University $28,000
Golden Gate University $19,620
Holy Names University $18,054
Azusa Pacific University $17,661
National University $15,912
Fresno Pacific University $15,369
Hope International University $14,256
Jessup University $14,196
California Baptist University $13,680

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School
Bethesda University
Hope International University
Touro University Worldwide
The Master's University
Concordia University Irvine
Jessup University
Simpson University
Columbia College Hollywood
California State University, Monterey Bay

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School
Jessup University
Life Pacific University
Bethesda University
Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles
Touro University Worldwide
Simpson University
San Diego Christian College
Fresno Pacific University
Holy Names University

Hope International University 32%
San Diego State University 39%
Pepperdine University 49%
Biola University 57%
Jessup University 66%
California State University, Fullerton 67%
Concordia University Irvine 69%
Vanguard University 75%
Fresno Pacific University 75%
Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles 76%

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School 3 to 1
Loma Linda University 3 to 1
Touro University Worldwide 8 to 1
Holy Names University 9 to 1
Fresno Pacific University 10 to 1
Azusa Pacific University 10 to 1
San Diego Christian College 11 to 1
Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles 11 to 1
Jessup University 11 to 1
Life Pacific University 12 to 1

California State University, Chico $5,742
California State University, Dominguez Hills $5,742
California State University, Monterey Bay $5,742
California State University, San Bernardino $5,742
California State University, Sacramento $5,742
California State University, Northridge $5,742
California State University, Fullerton $5,742
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt $5,742
San Diego State University $5,742
California State University, Stanislaus $5,742

Bethesda University $6,200
California State University, Chico $7,176
California State University, Dominguez Hills $7,176
California State University, Monterey Bay $7,176
California State University, San Bernardino $7,176
California State University, Sacramento $7,176
California State University, Northridge $7,176
California State University, Fullerton $7,176
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt $7,176
San Diego State University $7,176

Table of Contents

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 2024

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

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Best Online Colleges in California 2024

Top 10 Online Colleges in California

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in California

What are California’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Colleges in California 2023

Career Outlook for degree at San Diego State University

Online Degree Completion Programs

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Northridge

Online Degree Completion Program

Career Outlook for degree at Pepperdine University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Fullerton

Online Degree Completion Programs

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Chico

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Sacramento

Online Degree Completion Programs

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Fresno

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Biola University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Golden Gate University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Loma Linda University

Online Degrees

Emphasis

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, East Bay

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

Online Degree Completion Program

Career Outlook for degree at National University

Online Degrees

Credential

Concentrations

Credentials

Credentials

Career Outlook for degree at Azusa Pacific University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Dominguez Hills

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at California Baptist University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, San Bernardino

Online Degree Completion Programs

Career Outlook for degree at Vanguard University

Online Degree Completion Programs

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Stanislaus

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at San Diego Christian College

Online Degrees

Online Degree Completion Program

Emphasis

Career Outlook for degree at Life Pacific University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Fresno Pacific University

Online Degree Completion Programs

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at California State University, Monterey Bay

Online Degree Completion Programs

Career Outlook for degree at Columbia College Hollywood

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Simpson University

Online Degree Completion Programs

Career Outlook for degree at Jessup University