Best Colleges in California
All 327 colleges in California, ranked by overall quality and led by Stanford University, California Institute of Technology and University of California-Berkeley. 131 public, 196 private. median out-of-state tuition $14,922. lowest in-state tuition $1,104 at Barstow Community College. Each school below shows its acceptance rate, tuition and average SAT.
By major in California
- 1. Stanford University — Stanford, CA · 3.6% acceptance · SAT 1,553 · $65,910 tuition · 92% grad rate
- 2. California Institute of Technology — Pasadena, CA · 2.6% acceptance · $65,898 tuition · 94% grad rate
- 3. University of California-Berkeley — Berkeley, CA · 11% acceptance · $50,547 tuition · 93% grad rate
- 4. University of California-Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA · 9% acceptance · $49,403 tuition · 93% grad rate
- 5. University of Southern California — Los Angeles, CA · 9.8% acceptance · SAT 1,495 · $72,097 tuition · 92% grad rate
- 6. University of California-San Diego — La Jolla, CA · 26.7% acceptance · $50,958 tuition · 86% grad rate
- 7. University of California-Davis — Davis, CA · 41.8% acceptance · $50,974 tuition · 86% grad rate
- 8. University of California-Santa Barbara — Santa Barbara, CA · 33% acceptance · $50,614 tuition · 83% grad rate
- 9. University of California-Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz, CA · 66% acceptance · $50,205 tuition · 75% grad rate
- 10. University of California-Riverside — Riverside, CA · 76% acceptance · $49,806 tuition · 76% grad rate
- 11. University of California-Merced — Merced, CA · 91% acceptance · $49,823 tuition · 69% grad rate
- 12. Pomona College — Claremont, CA · 7.1% acceptance · SAT 1,534 · $65,420 tuition · 93% grad rate
- 13. Harvey Mudd College — Claremont, CA · 12.7% acceptance · SAT 1,545 · $68,613 tuition · 92% grad rate
- 14. Claremont McKenna College — Claremont, CA · 9.6% acceptance · SAT 1,527 · $67,980 tuition · 91% grad rate
- 15. San Diego State University — San Diego, CA · 36.2% acceptance · $21,328 tuition · 76% grad rate
- 16. Santa Clara University — Santa Clara, CA · 48% acceptance · SAT 1,426 · $61,293 tuition · 88% grad rate
- 17. University of San Diego — San Diego, CA · 52.4% acceptance · $59,486 tuition · 84% grad rate
- 18. Loyola Marymount University — Los Angeles, CA · 45.1% acceptance · SAT 1,359 · $62,357 tuition · 79% grad rate
- 19. Pepperdine University — Malibu, CA · 62.9% acceptance · SAT 1,384 · $69,918 tuition · 83% grad rate
- 20. San Jose State University — San Jose, CA · 84.6% acceptance · $21,010 tuition · 69% grad rate
- 21. California State University-Fullerton — Fullerton, CA · 90.5% acceptance · $20,070 tuition · 70% grad rate
- 22. San Francisco State University — San Francisco, CA · 96.4% acceptance · $20,550 tuition · 50% grad rate
- 23. California State University-Sacramento — Sacramento, CA · 94% acceptance · $20,618 tuition · 56% grad rate
- 24. California State University-Northridge — Northridge, CA · 93.5% acceptance · $20,058 tuition · 57% grad rate
- 25. California State University-Fresno — Fresno, CA · 95.3% acceptance · $19,950 tuition · 57% grad rate
- 26. California State University-Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA · 91.3% acceptance · $19,760 tuition · 53% grad rate
- 27. University of the Pacific — Stockton, CA · 71.3% acceptance · SAT 1,346 · $57,080 tuition · 69% grad rate
- 28. Scripps College — Claremont, CA · 38.3% acceptance · SAT 1,492 · $65,950 tuition · 83% grad rate
- 29. University of San Francisco — San Francisco, CA · 61.7% acceptance · SAT 1,295 · $60,492 tuition · 70% grad rate
- 30. Chapman University — Orange, CA · 65.4% acceptance · SAT 1,357 · $64,984 tuition · 82% grad rate
- 31. California State University-Chico — Chico, CA · 92.7% acceptance · $21,072 tuition · 63% grad rate
- 32. California State University-San Bernardino — San Bernardino, CA · 93.7% acceptance · $20,693 tuition · 55% grad rate
- 33. Occidental College — Los Angeles, CA · 44.2% acceptance · SAT 1,452 · $66,274 tuition · 81% grad rate
- 34. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo — San Luis Obispo, CA · 31.3% acceptance · $34,665 tuition · 86% grad rate
- 35. California State University-East Bay — Hayward, CA · 97.4% acceptance · $20,183 tuition · 48% grad rate
- 36. California State University-Monterey Bay — Seaside, CA · 97.4% acceptance · $20,379 tuition · 59% grad rate
- 37. Sonoma State University — Rohnert Park, CA · 93.4% acceptance · $21,224 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 38. California State University-Bakersfield — Bakersfield, CA · 93.9% acceptance · $20,690 tuition · 50% grad rate
- 39. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt — Arcata, CA · 98.2% acceptance · $20,850 tuition · 49% grad rate
- 40. California State University-Stanislaus — Turlock, CA · 98.1% acceptance · $20,846 tuition · 53% grad rate
- 41. University of Redlands — Redlands, CA · 82.7% acceptance · SAT 1,241 · $60,878 tuition · 67% grad rate
- 42. California State University-Dominguez Hills — Carson, CA · 93.3% acceptance · $20,049 tuition · 43% grad rate
- 43. Deep Springs College — Deep Springs, CA · 7% acceptance · SAT 1,540 · 98% grad rate
- 44. Biola University — La Mirada, CA · 74.4% acceptance · SAT 1,261 · $48,984 tuition · 68% grad rate
- 45. Pitzer College — Claremont, CA · 25.2% acceptance · $65,192 tuition · 83% grad rate
- 46. California State University-Long Beach — Long Beach, CA · 46.3% acceptance · $19,950 tuition · 69% grad rate
- 47. University of La Verne — La Verne, CA · 71.2% acceptance · SAT 1,083 · $49,470 tuition · 63% grad rate
- 48. Fresno Pacific University — Fresno, CA · 64.1% acceptance · $36,660 tuition · 50% grad rate
- 49. Concordia University-Irvine — Irvine, CA · 66% acceptance · $43,480 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 50. Vanguard University of Southern California — Costa Mesa, CA · 62.4% acceptance · $41,700 tuition · 57% grad rate
- 51. Mount Saint Mary's University — Los Angeles, CA · 73.1% acceptance · $49,564 tuition · 53% grad rate
- 52. California College of the Arts — San Francisco, CA · 91.1% acceptance · $60,226 tuition · 61% grad rate
- 53. California Baptist University — Riverside, CA · 84.9% acceptance · $41,228 tuition · 62% grad rate
- 54. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona — Pomona, CA · 75.2% acceptance · $20,380 tuition · 68% grad rate
- 55. Art Center College of Design — Pasadena, CA · 74.5% acceptance · $54,170 tuition · 79% grad rate
- 56. Dominican University of California — San Rafael, CA · 83.5% acceptance · SAT 1,290 · $52,161 tuition · 78% grad rate
- 57. Menlo College — Atherton, CA · 68.5% acceptance · $53,630 tuition · 54% grad rate
- 58. Academy of Art University — San Francisco, CA · $30,736 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 59. College of Alameda — Alameda, CA · $9,898 tuition · 33% grad rate
- 60. American River College — Sacramento, CA · $12,616 tuition · 37% grad rate
- 61. Antelope Valley Community College District — Lancaster, CA · $9,548 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 62. Azusa Pacific University — Azusa, CA · 88.4% acceptance · SAT 1,195 · $44,458 tuition · 62% grad rate
- 63. Bakersfield College — Bakersfield, CA · $11,300 tuition · 21% grad rate
- 64. Barstow Community College — Barstow, CA · $9,744 tuition · 39% grad rate
- 65. Bethesda University — Anaheim, CA · $7,220 tuition · 11% grad rate
- 66. Cabrillo College — Aptos, CA · $9,862 tuition · 38% grad rate
- 67. California Lutheran University — Thousand Oaks, CA · 75.7% acceptance · SAT 1,266 · $52,560 tuition · 70% grad rate
- 68. University of California-Irvine — Irvine, CA · 28.6% acceptance · $49,922 tuition · 87% grad rate
- 69. California Institute of the Arts — Valencia, CA · 32.3% acceptance · $58,996 tuition · 67% grad rate
- 70. California State University Maritime Academy — Vallejo, CA · 95% acceptance · $22,544 tuition · 60% grad rate
- 71. Canada College — Redwood City, CA · $11,384 tuition · 47% grad rate
- 72. College of the Canyons — Santa Clarita, CA · $10,958 tuition · 45% grad rate
- 73. Casa Loma College-Los Angeles — Sherman Oaks, CA · 42.6% acceptance · 73% grad rate
- 74. Cerro Coso Community College — Ridgecrest, CA · $11,254 tuition · 25% grad rate
- 75. Chabot College — Hayward, CA · $8,686 tuition · 47% grad rate
- 76. Chaffey College — Rancho Cucamonga, CA · $11,120 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 77. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science — Los Angeles, CA · 38.7% acceptance · $23,000 tuition · 30% grad rate
- 78. Coastline Community College — Fountain Valley, CA · $11,612 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 79. University of Silicon Valley — San Jose, CA · 51.2% acceptance · $22,480 tuition · 29% grad rate
- 80. Columbia College — Sonora, CA · $9,264 tuition · 27% grad rate
- 81. Compton College — Compton, CA · $8,822 tuition · 27% grad rate
- 82. Contra Costa College — San Pablo, CA · $10,320 tuition · 28% grad rate
- 83. Cosumnes River College — Sacramento, CA · $12,616 tuition · 40% grad rate
- 84. Cuyamaca College — El Cajon, CA · $11,314 tuition · 41% grad rate
- 85. De Anza College — Cupertino, CA · $12,596 tuition · 68% grad rate
- 86. Diablo Valley College — Pleasant Hill, CA · $10,320 tuition · 49% grad rate
- 87. East Los Angeles College — Monterey Park, CA · $10,572 tuition · 37% grad rate
- 88. El Camino Community College District — Torrance, CA · $7,630 tuition · 42% grad rate
- 89. Evergreen Valley College — San Jose, CA · $8,718 tuition · 41% grad rate
- 90. Feather River Community College District — Quincy, CA · $10,435 tuition · 35% grad rate
- 91. Fresno City College — Fresno, CA · $10,154 tuition · 24% grad rate
- 92. Fullerton College — Fullerton, CA · $12,379 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 93. Gavilan College — Gilroy, CA · $12,249 tuition · 42% grad rate
- 94. Glendale Community College — Glendale, CA · $10,935 tuition · 37% grad rate
- 95. Golden Gate University — San Francisco, CA
- 96. Golden West College — Huntington Beach, CA · $11,628 tuition · 49% grad rate
- 97. Grossmont College — El Cajon, CA · $10,628 tuition · 37% grad rate
- 98. Hartnell College — Salinas, CA · $10,374 tuition · 40% grad rate
- 99. Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses — Stockton, CA · $13,500 tuition · 62% grad rate
- 100. Imperial Valley College — Imperial, CA · $8,852 tuition · 45% grad rate
- 101. Irvine Valley College — Irvine, CA · $11,860 tuition · 57% grad rate
- 102. Life Pacific University — San Dimas, CA · 95.8% acceptance · $22,118 tuition · 40% grad rate
- 103. Laguna College of Art and Design — Laguna Beach, CA · 94.3% acceptance · $37,500 tuition · 52% grad rate
- 104. Lake Tahoe Community College — South Lake Tahoe, CA · $11,103 tuition · 45% grad rate
- 105. Laney College — Oakland, CA · $9,898 tuition · 31% grad rate
- 106. Lassen Community College — Susanville, CA · $9,280 tuition · 31% grad rate
- 107. Latin American Bible Institute — La Puente, CA · 54.6% acceptance · $14,050 tuition · 33% grad rate
- 108. Lincoln University — Oakland, CA · $13,150 tuition · 100% grad rate
- 109. La Sierra University — Riverside, CA · 91.5% acceptance · $37,710 tuition · 60% grad rate
- 110. Loma Linda University — Loma Linda, CA
- 111. Los Angeles Harbor College — Wilmington, CA · $10,568 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 112. Los Angeles Pierce College — Woodland Hills, CA · $10,572 tuition · 46% grad rate
- 113. Los Angeles Southwest College — Los Angeles, CA · $10,572 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 114. Los Angeles Valley College — Valley Glen, CA · $10,572 tuition · 32% grad rate
- 115. The Master's University and Seminary — Santa Clarita, CA · 84% acceptance · $39,020 tuition · 68% grad rate
- 116. Los Angeles City College — Los Angeles, CA · $10,572 tuition · 29% grad rate
- 117. Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health — Los Angeles, CA
- 118. Los Angeles Mission College — Sylmar, CA · $10,572 tuition · 20% grad rate
- 119. Los Medanos College — Pittsburg, CA · $10,320 tuition · 41% grad rate
- 120. College of Marin — Kentfield, CA · $9,334 tuition · 39% grad rate
- 121. Mendocino College — Ukiah, CA · $10,003 tuition · 25% grad rate
- 122. Merced College — Merced, CA · $8,520 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 123. Northeastern University Oakland — Oakland, CA · 16.7% acceptance · SAT 1,472 · $67,778 tuition
- 124. Mission College — Santa Clara, CA · $12,500 tuition · 39% grad rate
- 125. Modesto Junior College — Modesto, CA · $9,264 tuition · 30% grad rate
- 126. Monterey Peninsula College — Monterey, CA · $10,572 tuition · 40% grad rate
- 127. Moorpark College — Moorpark, CA · $9,615 tuition · 44% grad rate
- 128. Mt San Antonio College — Walnut, CA · $10,464 tuition · 45% grad rate
- 129. Mt San Jacinto Community College District — San Jacinto, CA · $12,728 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 130. Napa Valley College — Napa, CA · $11,908 tuition · 43% grad rate
- 131. National University — San Diego, CA · $13,284 tuition · 43% grad rate
- 132. Newschool of Architecture and Design — San Diego, CA · 100% acceptance · $30,291 tuition · 62% grad rate
- 133. San Francisco Bay University — Fremont, CA · 95.8% acceptance · $8,830 tuition
- 134. Ohlone College — Fremont, CA · $8,714 tuition · 52% grad rate
- 135. Otis College of Art and Design — Los Angeles, CA · 81.8% acceptance · SAT 1,310 · $56,488 tuition · 66% grad rate
- 136. Oxnard College — Oxnard, CA · $9,615 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 137. Hope International University — Fullerton, CA · 33% acceptance · SAT 1,020 · $38,050 tuition · 49% grad rate
- 138. Pacific Oaks College — Pasadena, CA · 34.4% acceptance · $32,520 tuition
- 139. Pacific Union College — Angwin, CA · 47.3% acceptance · $37,173 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 140. Palo Verde College — Blythe, CA · $12,880 tuition · 31% grad rate
- 141. Pasadena City College — Pasadena, CA · $9,820 tuition · 48% grad rate
- 142. Point Loma Nazarene University — San Diego, CA · 83.7% acceptance · SAT 1,287 · $46,250 tuition · 77% grad rate
- 143. Porterville College — Porterville, CA · $11,308 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 144. College of the Redwoods — Eureka, CA · $8,854 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 145. Rio Hondo College — Whittier, CA · $9,884 tuition · 25% grad rate
- 146. Riverside City College — Riverside, CA · $12,498 tuition · 37% grad rate
- 147. Sacramento City College — Sacramento, CA · $12,616 tuition · 33% grad rate
- 148. Saddleback College — Mission Viejo, CA · $11,860 tuition · 48% grad rate
- 149. Samuel Merritt University — Oakland, CA
- 150. San Diego City College — San Diego, CA · $10,002 tuition · 30% grad rate
- 151. San Diego Mesa College — San Diego, CA · $10,002 tuition · 35% grad rate
- 152. San Diego Miramar College — San Diego, CA · $10,002 tuition · 48% grad rate
- 153. San Francisco Conservatory of Music — San Francisco, CA · 54.9% acceptance · $56,150 tuition · 74% grad rate
- 154. San Joaquin Delta College — Stockton, CA · $9,772 tuition · 35% grad rate
- 155. William Jessup University — Rocklin, CA · 93.3% acceptance · SAT 1,150 · $37,150 tuition · 56% grad rate
- 156. San Jose City College — San Jose, CA · $11,922 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 157. College of San Mateo — San Mateo, CA · $11,384 tuition · 61% grad rate
- 158. Santa Barbara City College — Santa Barbara, CA · $10,432 tuition · 34% grad rate
- 159. Santa Monica College — Santa Monica, CA · $10,708 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 160. College of the Sequoias — Visalia, CA · $9,038 tuition · 39% grad rate
- 161. Shasta College — Redding, CA · $8,853 tuition · 23% grad rate
- 162. Sierra College — Rocklin, CA · $1,446 tuition · 42% grad rate
- 163. Simpson University — Redding, CA · 86% acceptance · $39,708 tuition · 49% grad rate
- 164. College of the Siskiyous — Weed, CA · $9,394 tuition · 33% grad rate
- 165. Skyline College — San Bruno, CA · $9,956 tuition · 44% grad rate
- 166. San Bernardino Valley College — San Bernardino, CA · $14,382 tuition · 28% grad rate
- 167. Saint Mary's College of California — Moraga, CA · 86.5% acceptance · $57,803 tuition · 70% grad rate
- 168. Solano Community College — Fairfield, CA · $9,812 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 169. Southwestern College — Chula Vista, CA · $10,640 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 170. Southern California Institute of Architecture — Los Angeles, CA · 76.6% acceptance · $56,162 tuition · 71% grad rate
- 171. Taft College — Taft, CA · $10,852 tuition · 28% grad rate
- 172. Thomas Aquinas College — Santa Paula, CA · 83.1% acceptance · SAT 1,329 · $30,200 tuition · 84% grad rate
- 173. Ventura College — Ventura, CA · $9,615 tuition · 38% grad rate
- 174. Berkeley City College — Berkeley, CA · $9,898 tuition · 36% grad rate
- 175. West Los Angeles College — Culver City, CA · $10,572 tuition · 28% grad rate
- 176. West Valley College — Saratoga, CA · $8,702 tuition · 51% grad rate
- 177. Westmont College — Santa Barbara, CA · 77.1% acceptance · SAT 1,328 · $53,584 tuition · 70% grad rate
- 178. Whittier College — Whittier, CA · 80.8% acceptance · $51,350 tuition · 60% grad rate
- 179. Woodbury University — Burbank, CA · 81.7% acceptance · $47,056 tuition · 60% grad rate
- 180. Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary — Los Angeles, CA · 58.2% acceptance · $16,900 tuition · 12% grad rate
- 181. Yuba College — Marysville, CA · $8,208 tuition · 40% grad rate
- 182. Ashford University — San Diego, CA · $11,960 tuition · 11% grad rate
- 183. Platt College-Los Angeles — Alhambra, CA · $14,922 tuition · 63% grad rate
- 184. University of Massachusetts Global — Aliso Viejo, CA · $12,540 tuition · 43% grad rate
- 185. Las Positas College — Livermore, CA · $9,808 tuition · 53% grad rate
- 186. California State University-San Marcos — San Marcos, CA · 95.1% acceptance · $20,682 tuition · 55% grad rate
- 187. Fremont University — Cerritos, CA · 39% grad rate
- 188. Copper Mountain Community College — Joshua Tree, CA · $13,570 tuition · 20% grad rate
- 189. Soka University of America — Aliso Viejo, CA · 43.4% acceptance · SAT 1,440 · $38,728 tuition · 92% grad rate
- 190. World Mission University — Los Angeles, CA · $6,920 tuition · 100% grad rate
- 191. Premiere Career College — Irwindale, CA · 52% grad rate
- 192. Pacific College — Costa Mesa, CA · 56% acceptance · 63% grad rate
- 193. Platt College-Ontario — Ontario, CA · $14,922 tuition · 58% grad rate
- 194. American University of Health Sciences — Signal Hill, CA · 50% acceptance · $24,575 tuition · 50% grad rate
- 195. Career Networks Institute — Santa Ana, CA · 89% grad rate
- 196. California Aeronautical University — Bakersfield, CA · $37,667 tuition · 30% grad rate
- 197. Los Angeles Film School — Hollywood, CA · 41% grad rate
- 198. Universal Technical Institute of California Inc — Rancho Cucamonga, CA · 72% grad rate
- 199. CBD College — Los Angeles, CA · 82% grad rate
- 200. PCI College — Cerritos, CA · 68% grad rate
Best Colleges in California on PickACampus