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
Laguna College of Art and Design
- Private 4 Year
- Laguna Beach, CA
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- Aug 15 application deadline
LCAD is a private art and design college known for undergraduate animation, illustration, and fine arts. The compact campus is set in the coastal arts community of Laguna Beach.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $47,702
Lake Tahoe Community College
- Public 2 Year
- South Lake Tahoe, CA
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Lake Tahoe Community College is a community college known for wilderness education and outdoor leadership. The campus sits in South Lake Tahoe near the California shore of Lake Tahoe.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,799
Laney College
- Public 2 Year
- Oakland, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
Laney is a public community college known for undergraduate culinary arts and career technical programs. The urban campus sits near Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $17,741
Lassen Community College
- Public 2 Year
- Susanville, CA
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| 0 reviews
Lassen is a public community college known for gunsmithing, fire technology, and natural resources. The rural campus sits in the mountains of northeastern California.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $12,406
Latin American Bible Institute
- Private 4 Year
- La Puente, California
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Latin American Bible Institute is a private Bible college known for undergraduate biblical studies and Christian ministry. The small campus is in suburban La Puente in the San Gabriel Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $10,030
Lincoln University
- Private 4 Year
- Oakland, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Jul 13 application deadline
Lincoln is a private university known for undergraduate business administration. Its campus occupies an urban site near downtown Oakland.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 2.6
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
Southern California Seminary
- Private 4 Year
- El Cajon, CA
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Southern California Seminary is a private Christian seminary known for undergraduate biblical studies and theology. The campus is located in El Cajon in eastern San Diego County.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
Loma Linda University
- Private 4 Year
- Loma Linda, CA
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Loma Linda is a private Seventh-day Adventist university known for undergraduate nursing and allied health programs. The inland Southern California campus is built around a major academic medical center.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price -
Long Beach City College
- Public 2 Year
- Long Beach, CA
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4.5 | 2 reviews
- Aug 17 application deadline
Long Beach City College is a public community college known for associate programs in nursing, culinary arts, and aviation maintenance. Most students commute to its two Long Beach campuses and many transfer to nearby California State universities.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $7,565
Los Angeles Harbor College
- Public 2 Year
- Wilmington, CA
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| 0 reviews
LA Harbor College is a public community college known for maritime technology and nursing programs. The campus sits near the Port of Los Angeles in Wilmington.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 2.5
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,632
Los Angeles Pierce College
- Public 2 Year
- Woodland Hills, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 20 application deadline
Pierce College is a public community college known for undergraduate agriculture, animal science, and veterinary technology. The Woodland Hills campus includes a working farm and equestrian center.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,469
Los Angeles Southwest College
- Public 2 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Sep 12 application deadline
Los Angeles Southwest College is a public community college offering associate degrees and university-transfer programs. The urban campus is located in South Los Angeles.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $6,361
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
- Public 2 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Sep 7 application deadline
A public community college known for undergraduate programs in culinary arts, fashion design, and the skilled trades. The urban campus sits near downtown Los Angeles.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $13,154
Los Angeles Valley College
- Public 2 Year
- Valley Glen, CA
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| 0 reviews
Los Angeles Valley College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and media arts programs. The campus is in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $13,550
The Master's University and Seminary
- Private 4 Year
- Santa Clarita, CA
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5.0 | 1 reviews
The Master's University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, theology, and music. The suburban Santa Clarita campus sits north of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.8
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $37,919
Los Angeles City College
- Public 2 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
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| 0 reviews
Los Angeles City College is a public community college known for undergraduate cinema, television, and theater. The urban campus sits in East Hollywood near the region's entertainment industry.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,836
Los Angeles Mission College
- Public 2 Year
- Sylmar, CA
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| 0 reviews
A public community college offering associate degrees, career certificates, and university-transfer pathways. The campus is located in Sylmar in Los Angeles's northern San Fernando Valley.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $15,357
Los Medanos College
- Public 2 Year
- Pittsburg, CA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 9 application deadline
Los Medanos is a public community college known for transfer pathways and career programs in nursing and process technology. The campus is in Pittsburg in eastern Contra Costa County.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $9,860