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
Professional Golfers Career College
- Private 2 Year
- Temecula, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $35,686
The King's University
- Private 4 Year
- Southlake, TX
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| 0 reviews
- Jul 29 application deadline
- SAT Range 870-1130
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 61%
- Net Price $13,940
Smith Chason College
- Private 2 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $32,817
California State University Channel Islands
- Public 4 Year
- Camarillo, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Jul 30 application deadline
CSU Channel Islands is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and environmental science. The Camarillo campus occupies former state hospital grounds with Spanish Colonial Revival buildings.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.22
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $10,632
San Joaquin Valley College Ontario
- Private 2 Year
- Ontario, California
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $26,743
West Coast University Los Angeles
- Private 4 Year
- North Hollywood, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $51,736
Folsom Lake College
- Public 2 Year
- Folsom, CA
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| 0 reviews
Folsom Lake College is a public community college with undergraduate programs leading to associate degrees and university transfer. The campus overlooks Folsom Lake in the foothills east of Sacramento.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,982
Community Christian College
- Private 2 Year
- Quartzsite, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $22,280
Los Angeles College of Music
- Private 4 Year
- Pasadena, CA
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2.0 | 2 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $44,586
San Joaquin Valley College Modesto
- Private 2 Year
- Salida, California
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $25,950
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
- Private 4 Year
- El Dorado Hills, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
SUM is a private Bible college known for undergraduate biblical studies, theology, and ministry. The campus is in El Dorado Hills in the Sacramento-area Sierra foothills.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 41%
- Net Price $22,276
San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova
- Private 2 Year
- Rancho Cordova, California
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $29,774
Lemoore College
- Public 2 Year
- Lemoore, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Jul 15 application deadline
Lemoore College is a public community college offering associate degrees and career certificates. The campus is in Lemoore in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $13,083
University of the West
- Private 4 Year
- Rosemead, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Jun 15 application deadline
University of the West is a small private university known for undergraduate Buddhist studies, religious studies, and business. The suburban Rosemead campus is Buddhist-affiliated and lies in the greater Los Angeles area.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 2.43
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,713
Taft University System
- Private 4 Year
- Denver, CO
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5.0 | 2 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
Woodland Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Woodland, CA
-
| 0 reviews
Woodland Community College is a public community college known for undergraduate programs in agriculture and early childhood education. The campus is located in Woodland in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,678
The Chicago School at Los Angeles
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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| 0 reviews
The Chicago School at Los Angeles is a private university known for undergraduate psychology and behavioral sciences. The urban Los Angeles campus centers on professional programs in those fields.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 46%
- Net Price -
Providence Christian College
- Private 4 Year
- Pasadena, CA
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3.0 | 2 reviews
Providence Christian is a small private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate biblical and theological studies. Most students live in a residential campus community in Pasadena.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $27,422