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 Bakersfield
- Public 4 Year
- Bakersfield, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Dec 15 application deadline
CSUB is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus sits in Bakersfield in California's southern San Joaquin Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $6,489
California State University Stanislaus
- Public 4 Year
- Turlock, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
CSU Stanislaus is a public university in the California State University system known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The campus is in Turlock in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.47
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $7,433
California State University Dominguez Hills
- Public 4 Year
- Carson, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Dec 4 application deadline
Cal State Dominguez Hills is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus is in Carson in the Los Angeles area.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $9,175
California State University East Bay
- Public 4 Year
- Hayward, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Oct 1 application deadline
Cal State East Bay is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. The hillside campus in Hayward overlooks the San Francisco Bay.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.2
- Acceptance Rate 97%
- Net Price $9,850
Haven University
- Private 4 Year
- Garden Grove, California
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
California Institute of the Arts
- Private 4 Year
- Valencia, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Jan 5 application deadline
CalArts is a highly selective private arts college known for undergraduate animation, film, and the performing arts. The suburban campus is in Valencia, north of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 32%
- Net Price $56,239
California State University Maritime Academy
- Public 4 Year
- Vallejo, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Dec 15 application deadline
Cal Maritime is a small public maritime academy known for undergraduate marine transportation, marine engineering, and international business and logistics. The waterfront campus sits on San Pablo Bay in Vallejo.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.43
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $19,040
Canada College
- Public 2 Year
- Redwood City, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 31 application deadline
Canada College is a public community college known for transfer pathways and career programs in nursing, radiologic technology, and design. The hillside campus sits above Redwood City on the San Francisco Peninsula.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $4,276
College of the Canyons
- Public 2 Year
- Santa Clarita, CA
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| 0 reviews
A public community college offering associate degrees and preparation for transfer to four-year universities. The suburban campus is located in Santa Clarita north of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $5,760
Casa Loma College Los Angeles
- Private 4 Year
- Sherman Oaks, CA
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| 0 reviews
Casa Loma College is a private career college known for undergraduate allied health programs in MRI technology, physical therapist assisting, and surgical technology. The campus is in Sherman Oaks in the Los Angeles area.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $28,167
Cerritos College
- Public 2 Year
- Norwalk, CA
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| 0 reviews
Cerritos is a public community college known for nursing, automotive technology, and transfer preparation. The suburban campus sits in Norwalk in southeastern Los Angeles County.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $4,325
Cerro Coso Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Ridgecrest, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 20 application deadline
Cerro Coso is a community college known for associate degrees, transfer preparation, and career technical programs. The main campus sits in California's high desert community of Ridgecrest.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $20,045
Chabot College
- Public 2 Year
- Hayward, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Jul 30 application deadline
Chabot is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing, dental hygiene, and automotive technology. The campus sits in Hayward in California's East Bay.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,043
Chaffey College
- Public 2 Year
- Rancho Cucamonga, CA
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2.3 | 3 reviews
Chaffey is a public community college known for associate programs in nursing, business, and career technical fields. The suburban campus is in Rancho Cucamonga in California's Inland Empire.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,809
Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jul 30 application deadline
Charles Drew University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and biomedical sciences. The urban campus in South Los Angeles is a historically Black health sciences institution.
- SAT Range -
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.26
- Acceptance Rate 39%
- Net Price $35,558
San Diego Christian College
- Private 4 Year
- Santee, CA
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| 0 reviews
San Diego Christian is a small private Christian college known for undergraduate biblical studies and aviation. The suburban campus sits in Santee east of San Diego.
- SAT Range 900-1098
- Avg GPA 3.26
- Acceptance Rate 31%
- Net Price $21,199
Citrus College
- Public 2 Year
- Glendora, CA
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| 0 reviews
Citrus College is a public community college offering associate degrees and university-transfer programs. The suburban campus sits in Glendora at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $6,607
City College of San Francisco
- Public 2 Year
- San Francisco, CA
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| 0 reviews
A large public community college known for undergraduate nursing, culinary arts, and transfer preparation. The main Ocean Avenue campus and additional centers serve students across San Francisco.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,616