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
Coastline Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Fountain Valley, CA
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Coastline is a community college known for distance education and undergraduate transfer programs. The college serves Orange County through online courses and learning sites based in Fountain Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $16,972
University of Silicon Valley
- Private 4 Year
- San Jose, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 2.77
- Acceptance Rate 51%
- Net Price $31,594
Columbia College
- Public 2 Year
- Sonora, CA
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Columbia College is a public community college known for undergraduate forestry, natural resources, and fire technology. The campus sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Sonora and California Gold Country.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $12,358
California College of ASU
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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1.0 | 1 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.2
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $28,425
Compton College
- Public 2 Year
- Compton, CA
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| 0 reviews
Compton College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates with programs in nursing, business, and administration of justice. The urban campus is located in the city of Compton in Los Angeles County.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,449
Contra Costa College
- Public 2 Year
- San Pablo, CA
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| 0 reviews
Contra Costa College is a public community college known for nursing and university-transfer programs. The campus is in San Pablo in California's East Bay.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,384
Cosumnes River College
- Public 2 Year
- Sacramento, CA
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| 0 reviews
Cosumnes River College is a community college known for undergraduate programs in horticulture and veterinary technology. The suburban Sacramento campus serves mostly commuting students.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,043
Crafton Hills College
- Public 2 Year
- Yucaipa, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 27 application deadline
A public community college known for undergraduate programs in fire technology and emergency medical services. The hillside campus lies in Yucaipa near the San Bernardino Mountains.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $15,013
Cuesta College
- Public 2 Year
- San Luis Obispo, CA
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3.0 | 1 reviews
- Aug 13 application deadline
Cuesta is a public community college known for associate degrees in nursing and transfer preparation. The main campus is located in San Luis Obispo on California's Central Coast.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $16,541
Cuyamaca College
- Public 2 Year
- El Cajon, CA
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| 0 reviews
Cuyamaca is a public community college known for undergraduate programs in ornamental horticulture and automotive technology. The suburban campus sits in East San Diego County near the foothills.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,752
Cypress College
- Public 2 Year
- Cypress, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 25 application deadline
Cypress College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and mortuary science. The suburban Orange County campus draws many commuting students.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,253
De Anza College
- Public 2 Year
- Cupertino, CA
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| 0 reviews
De Anza is a public community college known for undergraduate business, computer science, and nursing. The suburban campus sits in Cupertino in Silicon Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,693
College of the Desert
- Public 2 Year
- Palm Desert, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
College of the Desert is a community college known for nursing, culinary arts, and hospitality programs. The Palm Desert campus serves students across California's Coachella Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $18,169
Design Institute of San Diego
- Private 4 Year
- San Diego, CA
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| 0 reviews
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $44,010
Diablo Valley College
- Public 2 Year
- Pleasant Hill, CA
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| 0 reviews
Diablo Valley College is a community college known for transfer pathways to UC Berkeley and other University of California campuses. The suburban campus sits in Pleasant Hill in the San Francisco East Bay.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,001
East Los Angeles College
- Public 2 Year
- Monterey Park, CA
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| 0 reviews
ELAC is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and administration of justice programs. The campus is in Monterey Park east of downtown Los Angeles.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,700
El Camino Community College District
- Public 2 Year
- Torrance, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 27 application deadline
El Camino is a public community college known for undergraduate transfer preparation and nursing. The suburban campus is in Torrance in Los Angeles County's South Bay.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,837
Evergreen Valley College
- Public 2 Year
- San Jose, CA
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| 0 reviews
Evergreen Valley is a public community college offering associate degrees and transfer preparation for four-year universities. The campus is in the Evergreen area of southeast San Jose.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $15,186