The Best California Big Colleges
These are the top ranked large, public and private, four-year colleges in California as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have total enrollment of 20,000 or more. Leading the list for 2027 is University of Southern California. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
University of Southern California
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
4.2 | 5 reviews
- 46,566 total enrollment
USC is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate film, communications, and business. The urban Los Angeles campus has a large Greek presence and longstanding ties to the entertainment industry.
- SAT Range 1450-1550
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 10%
- Net Price $43,412
University of California Berkeley
- Public 4 Year
- Berkeley, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- 45,882 total enrollment
Berkeley is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and chemistry. The hillside campus overlooks San Francisco Bay in the East Bay city of Berkeley.
- SAT Range 1310-1530
- Avg GPA 3.87
- Acceptance Rate 11%
- Net Price $16,538
University of California Los Angeles
- Public 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- 47,335 total enrollment
UCLA is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate film, television, and theater. The urban Westwood campus also has a nationally known basketball program.
- SAT Range 1300-1530
- Avg GPA 3.92
- Acceptance Rate 9%
- Net Price $14,512
University of California San Diego
- Public 4 Year
- La Jolla, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- 44,256 total enrollment
UC San Diego is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate biological sciences, engineering, and oceanography. The coastal La Jolla campus sits on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
- SAT Range 1270-1480
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 27%
- Net Price $14,047
University of California Irvine
- Public 4 Year
- Irvine, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- 37,297 total enrollment
UC Irvine is a large public university known for undergraduate computer science, biological sciences, and engineering. The suburban campus centers on Aldrich Park in the planned city of Irvine.
- SAT Range 1230-1430
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 29%
- Net Price $15,889
University of California Davis
- Public 4 Year
- Davis, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- 40,065 total enrollment
UC Davis is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, environmental science, and biological sciences. The campus sits in the bike-friendly college town of Davis.
- SAT Range 1160-1400
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 42%
- Net Price $17,270
University of California Santa Barbara
- Public 4 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- 26,133 total enrollment
UCSB is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate physics, marine science, and environmental studies. The oceanfront campus sits directly on the Pacific coast near Santa Barbara.
- SAT Range 1230-1460
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 33%
- Net Price $17,658
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
- Public 4 Year
- San Luis Obispo, CA
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- 23,069 total enrollment
Cal Poly is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and agriculture. Students study on a Central Coast campus in the college town of San Luis Obispo.
- SAT Range 1220-1410
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 31%
- Net Price $17,453
University of California Riverside
- Public 4 Year
- Riverside, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- 26,384 total enrollment
UC Riverside is a large public university known for undergraduate entomology, plant sciences, and business. The suburban campus lies in California's Inland Empire east of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 1080-1280
- Avg GPA 3.84
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $14,562
San Diego State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Diego, CA
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- 41,137 total enrollment
SDSU is a large public university known for undergraduate international business, hospitality management, and communications. The urban campus sits in San Diego's College Area with Spanish Colonial Revival buildings.
- SAT Range 1090-1300
- Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 36%
- Net Price $14,704
California State University Long Beach
- Public 4 Year
- Long Beach, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- 42,003 total enrollment
Cal State Long Beach is a large public university known for undergraduate art and design, nursing, and business. The campus sits near the Pacific coast in the Los Angeles metro area.
- SAT Range 1020-1240
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 46%
- Net Price $10,607
California State Polytechnic University Pomona
- Public 4 Year
- Pomona, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- 27,636 total enrollment
Cal Poly Pomona is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and agriculture. The hillside campus includes working farm facilities and an Arabian horse center.
- SAT Range 1010-1250
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $11,940
San Jose State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Jose, CA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- 37,661 total enrollment
San Jose State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and business. The urban campus sits in downtown San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley.
- SAT Range 1010-1240
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $13,892
San Francisco State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Francisco, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- 22,563 total enrollment
SF State is a large public university known for undergraduate ethnic studies, cinema, and creative writing. The urban campus borders Lake Merced in southwestern San Francisco.
- SAT Range 930-1130
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $13,168
California State University Fullerton
- Public 4 Year
- Fullerton, CA
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- 43,662 total enrollment
Cal State Fullerton is a large public university known for undergraduate business, communications, and education. The suburban campus sits in northern Orange County.
- SAT Range 1000-1180
- Avg GPA 3.77
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $7,064
California State University Sacramento
- Public 4 Year
- Sacramento, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- 31,943 total enrollment
Sacramento State is a large public university known for undergraduate government, criminal justice, and business. The urban campus sits along the American River in California's capital city.
- SAT Range 930-1130
- Avg GPA 3.42
- Acceptance Rate 94%
- Net Price $10,110
California State University Fresno
- Public 4 Year
- Fresno, CA
-
4.0 | 2 reviews
- 24,427 total enrollment
Fresno State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, viticulture, and business. Students attend classes on a large campus in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range 890-1100
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.12
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $7,834
California State University Northridge
- Public 4 Year
- Northridge, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- 38,313 total enrollment
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