Best California Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in California for 2025

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 311 colleges and universities in California enrolling 2,509,410 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 Los Angeles.

Local college options can be explored in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco or other cities.

California Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

311 results

List of the Best California Colleges

Pepperdine University
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P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Colleges in California

  • 9,545enrollment
  • $52,216net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
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C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#20 Best Colleges in California

  • 22,485enrollment
  • $16,888net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of the Pacific
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T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Colleges in California

  • 6,755enrollment
  • $30,975net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of Redlands
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R
Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Colleges in California

  • 3,192enrollment
  • $28,054net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1078-1323SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Azusa Pacific University
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A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Colleges in California

  • 6,487enrollment
  • $26,117net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 994-1314SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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University of California Santa Cruz
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C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#24 Best Colleges in California

  • 19,764enrollment
  • $16,526net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Point Loma Nazarene University
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P
San Diego, CA

Point Loma Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#25 Best Colleges in California

  • 4,494enrollment
  • $36,370net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1410SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.65Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 15

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Biola University
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B
La Mirada, CA

Biola University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#26 Best Colleges in California

  • 5,296enrollment
  • $30,510net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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University of California Riverside
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C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#27 Best Colleges in California

  • 26,426enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Saint Marys College of California
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S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Colleges in California

  • 2,775enrollment
  • $31,615net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Dominican University of California
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D
San Rafael, CA

Dominican University of California

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#29 Best Colleges in California

  • 2,026enrollment
  • $51,292net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1291SAT range
  • 22-30ACT range
  • 3.66Avg GPA

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San Diego State University
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S
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#30 Best Colleges in California

  • 39,241enrollment
  • $19,500net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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California Lutheran University
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C
Thousand Oaks, CA

California Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Colleges in California

  • 3,413enrollment
  • $27,080net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1134-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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Otis College of Art and Design
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O
Los Angeles, CA

Otis College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#32 Best Colleges in California

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $49,440net price
  • 84%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 20-29ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

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University of La Verne
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L
La Verne, CA

University of La Verne

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Colleges in California

  • 5,596enrollment
  • $27,216net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 970-1303SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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Concordia University Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Colleges in California

  • 3,481enrollment
  • $29,413net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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William Jessup University
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W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Colleges in California

  • 1,484enrollment
  • $28,171net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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Mount St. Mary's College
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M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Colleges in California

  • 2,308enrollment
  • $27,434net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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