Best California Colleges
With its desirable climate, dynamic cities, huge economy and reputation the global leader in technology, California is a highly desirable state for students to choose to attend college. The state is home to world-renowned research universities like Stanford and CalTech. The University of California (UC) system has ten campuses serving over a quarter of a million students. The UC system is home to the extremely competitive and rival colleges UCLA and UC Berkeley. The CSU system is the largest public four-year university system in the US and enrolls nearly a half million students per year. Also significant is the California Community Colleges system, the largest of its kind, which serves 2.1 million students through its 2-year programs at 116 colleges. Notable highly rated small liberal arts schools like Pomona, Harvey Mudd and Claremont McKenna also call the Golden State home.
There are 278 colleges and universities in California enrolling 2,544,910 students. Explore the list of top colleges in California below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in California offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.
California is home to nationally ranked institutions like Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Claremont McKenna College and Pomona College. The highest ranked college in California is Stanford University and the top rated public state college is University of California Berkeley.
Local college options can be explored in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco or other cities.
List of the Best California Colleges
Saddleback College
- Public 2 Year
- Mission Viejo, CA
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Saddleback is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and transfer programs. Most students commute to the suburban campus in Mission Viejo.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,122
Samuel Merritt University
- Private 4 Year
- Oakland, CA
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| 0 reviews
Samuel Merritt is a private health sciences university known for undergraduate nursing. The urban campus in Oakland focuses on clinical training for health professions.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
San Diego City College
- Public 2 Year
- San Diego, CA
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| 0 reviews
San Diego City College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and visual arts. The urban campus sits in downtown San Diego.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $10,040
San Diego Mesa College
- Public 2 Year
- San Diego, CA
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| 0 reviews
A large public community college known for undergraduate transfer preparation, health sciences, and business programs. The urban campus is located in San Diego's Clairemont Mesa area.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $10,316
San Diego Miramar College
- Public 2 Year
- San Diego, CA
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| 0 reviews
Miramar College is a public community college known for undergraduate programs in aviation and administration of justice. The suburban campus sits in the Miramar area of northern San Diego.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,066
University of San Diego
- Private 4 Year
- San Diego, CA
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5.0 | 2 reviews
- Dec 15 application deadline
USD is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and international relations. The hilltop campus features Spanish Renaissance architecture with views of Mission Bay and the Pacific.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.95
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $37,918
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
- Private 4 Year
- San Francisco, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Dec 7 application deadline
A private music conservatory known for undergraduate classical performance and composition. The urban campus sits in San Francisco's Civic Center near major symphony, opera, and ballet venues.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $43,746
San Joaquin Delta College
- Public 2 Year
- Stockton, CA
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4.0 | 1 reviews
A public community college known for undergraduate nursing and agriculture programs. Most students commute to the campus in Stockton.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $3,293
San Joaquin Valley College Visalia
- Private 2 Year
- Visalia, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $27,525
San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield
- Private 2 Year
- Bakersfield, California
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $23,272
San Jose City College
- Public 2 Year
- San Jose, CA
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| 0 reviews
San Jose City College is a public community college known for transfer pathways and career technical programs. Most students commute to its urban campus in Silicon Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $19,585
College of San Mateo
- Public 2 Year
- San Mateo, CA
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| 0 reviews
College of San Mateo is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and astronomy. The hilltop campus overlooks San Francisco Bay on the Peninsula.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $5,831
Santa Barbara City College
- Public 2 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 19 application deadline
Santa Barbara City College is a community college known for undergraduate marine diving technology and film programs. The campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,186
Santa Monica College
- Public 2 Year
- Santa Monica, CA
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0.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 30 application deadline
Santa Monica College is a public community college known for transfer preparation and undergraduate film and media programs. The urban campus sits a short distance from the Santa Monica beach and pier.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $5,685
Santa Rosa Junior College
- Public 2 Year
- Santa Rosa, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
A public community college known for undergraduate viticulture, wine studies, and nursing. The main campus sits in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County wine country.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,690
College of the Sequoias
- Public 2 Year
- Visalia, CA
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| 0 reviews
College of the Sequoias is a public community college known for undergraduate programs in agriculture and nursing. The main campus is in Visalia in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $2,152
Shasta Bible College and Graduate School
- Private 4 Year
- Redding, CA
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| 0 reviews
Shasta Bible College is a small private Bible college known for undergraduate biblical studies and Christian ministry. The campus is in Redding in far northern California.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $30,437
Shasta College
- Public 2 Year
- Redding, CA
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| 0 reviews
Shasta College is a public community college known for nursing and fire technology programs. The campus is in Redding in far northern California.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,289