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
California State University Northridge
- Public 4 Year
- Northridge, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
CSUN is a large public university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and education. The suburban campus lies in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.
- SAT Range 900-1110
- Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $7,536
Hope International University
- Private 4 Year
- Fullerton, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 20 application deadline
Hope International is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and education. The suburban campus sits in Fullerton in Orange County.
- SAT Range 840-1220
- Avg GPA 3.26
- Acceptance Rate 33%
- Net Price $29,896
California State University Los Angeles
- Public 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 19 application deadline
Cal State LA is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in the hills east of downtown Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 870-1060
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $4,460
College of Alameda
- Public 2 Year
- Alameda, CA
-
| 0 reviews
College of Alameda is a public community college known for aviation maintenance technology and career technical programs. The campus is located on Alameda Island in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $12,506
Allan Hancock College
- Public 2 Year
- Santa Maria, CA
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4.0 | 1 reviews
Allan Hancock is a public community college known for undergraduate theater and agriculture programs. The campus is in Santa Maria on California's Central Coast.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,029
American Academy of Dramatic Arts Los Angeles
- Private 2 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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| 0 reviews
American Academy of Dramatic Arts is a private conservatory known for undergraduate acting and dramatic arts. The urban campus sits in Hollywood.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $41,890
Berkeley School of Theology
- Private 4 Year
- Berkeley, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price -
American River College
- Public 2 Year
- Sacramento, CA
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| 0 reviews
American River College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and career technical programs. The suburban campus sits near the American River in the Sacramento area.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,488
Antelope Valley Community College District
- Public 2 Year
- Lancaster, CA
-
| 0 reviews
Antelope Valley College is a public community college offering associate degrees and career programs, including nursing and aviation-related technical training. The campus is in Lancaster in California's Antelope Valley high desert.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $6,110
Art Center College of Design
- Private 4 Year
- Pasadena, CA
-
| 0 reviews
Art Center is a private art and design college known for undergraduate industrial design, transportation design, and illustration. The hillside campus in Pasadena overlooks the Los Angeles basin.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $53,271
Bakersfield College
- Public 2 Year
- Bakersfield, CA
-
| 0 reviews
Bakersfield College is a public community college offering undergraduate associate degrees with programs in nursing and industrial technology. The main campus is in Bakersfield in California's southern Central Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $16,637
Barstow Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Barstow, CA
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| 0 reviews
Barstow Community College is a public community college offering associate degrees, transfer preparation, and career technical programs. The small campus sits in the Mojave Desert city of Barstow along the Interstate 15 corridor.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,048
Bethesda University
- Private 4 Year
- Anaheim, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 11 application deadline
Bethesda is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and business. The campus is in Anaheim in Orange County.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $20,099
Bryan University
- Private 2 Year
- Tempe, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $20,323
Butte College
- Public 2 Year
- Oroville, CA
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| 0 reviews
Butte College is a public community college known for undergraduate programs in nursing, agriculture, and fire technology. The campus sits in Oroville in California's northern Sacramento Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,112
California Institute of Integral Studies
- Private 4 Year
- San Francisco, CA
-
| 0 reviews
CIIS is a private university known for undergraduate psychology and interdisciplinary studies grounded in integral education. The urban campus sits in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
Cabrillo College
- Public 2 Year
- Aptos, CA
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5.0 | 2 reviews
- Apr 9 application deadline
Cabrillo is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and dental hygiene. The hillside campus in Aptos overlooks Monterey Bay.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $20,716
California College of the Arts
- Private 4 Year
- San Francisco, CA
-
| 0 reviews
CCA is a private art and design college known for undergraduate programs in fine arts, graphic design, and architecture. The urban campus is in San Francisco.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.34
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $46,823