A Complete Guide to Colleges in California

Updated on September 19, 2023

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California has some of the most popular and prestigious colleges in the U.S. We’ve highlighted 10 schools and compiled a list of all colleges in California.

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10 Popular Colleges and Universities in California

We’ve highlighted 10 popular and prestigious schools in California based on factors like enrollment, affordability, acceptance rate, and overall reputation.

All school data below comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Tuition and fees are from 2022-2023, while acceptance rates, enrollment statistics, net prices, and number of applicants are from 2021.

1. Stanford University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $58,416
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Total Student Enrollment: 17,680
Though California doesn’t have any Ivy League schools, Stanford has been called a “Hidden Ivy.” Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the private university has one of the largest campuses in the U.S., spanning over 8,000 acres.
Stanford is an extremely competitive school, with an acceptance rate of just 4%. It’s especially renowned for its STEM programs. Its close proximity to Silicon Valley gives it a strong entrepreneurial campus culture and tons of networking opportunities.
Ivy-level colleges may have an intimidating price tag, but Stanford’s need-based financial aid program and need-blind admissions policy means every student can afford to attend.

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2. University of California, Los Angeles
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $13,401 (in-state) | $43,473 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Total Student Enrollment: 19,096
UCLA is a large public university with a reputation for academic and athletic excellence. The school has won 120 NCAA championships and produced Olympic athletes, Nobel Laureates, and MacArthur Fellows.
In 2021, UCLA received 140,000 applications — nearly 100,000 more than the entire student population, making it an extremely competitive institution. What’s more, 45% of students pay no tuition at all, and 86% graduate without any student debt.
Popular majors include biology, computer science, psychology, economics, and political science.

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3. University of California, Berkeley
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $14,395 (in-state) | $44,467 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 14%
- Total Student Enrollment: 45,036
A prestigious public university, UC Berkeley is famous for its academic rigor and premier biological sciences program. Students whose families earn less than $80,000 per year qualify for the school’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.
Some of the most popular majors include cellular and molecular biology, computer science, business administration, electrical engineering, economics, and political science.
UC Berkeley is also known for its history of student activism. Most notably, the school was the birthplace of the 1964 Free Speech Movement.

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4. University of Southern California
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $64,726
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Total Student Enrollment: 49,318
A private research university in Los Angeles and home to the famous Trojans football team, USC received just over 70,000 undergraduate applications in 2021.
Popular majors here include business administration, computer science, engineering, biology, and economics. USC’s School of Cinematic Arts is one of the oldest in the country and has produced famous alums like filmmakers George Lucas and Judd Apatow.
Through USC’s affordability initiative, students whose families earn $80,000 or less per year can attend tuition-free.
5. California Institute of Technology
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $60,864
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Total Student Enrollment: 2,397
A small private institution in Pasadena, Caltech specializes in STEM programs like computer science, engineering, physics, and math. Students can also work with faculty advisors to create a personalized curriculum through the school’s Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
Caltech focuses heavily on research and is credited with many scientific advancements. Around 90% of undergrads participate in research opportunities.
The total student population is just under 2,400, with an impressive 3-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Caltech aims to meet 100% of students’ demonstrated financial need through a combination of scholarships, loans, and work-study.
6. University of California, San Diego
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $14,906 (in-state) | $44,978 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 34%
- Total Student Enrollment: 41,885
UCSD is a public research university in San Diego, a city home to beautiful beaches, a bustling downtown, and delicious food. Popular majors here include anatomy, computer science, international studies, economics, biology, political science, and psychology.
UCSD boasts a thriving campus culture, tons of student organizations, an active Greek life, and even an aquarium. One of the university’s most popular events is its Sun God Festival, which features a carnival, concerts, and food trucks.
7. Pomona College
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $59,238
- Acceptance Rate: 7%
- Total Student Enrollment: 1,764
A private liberal arts school in Claremont, Pomona is extremely small, with a total student population of just 1,760. Classes typically consist of around 15 students, and 97% of students live on campus.
Pomona is one of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven institutions formed to allow students to cross-register for classes and share resources. In 2021-2022, just over half of Pomona students received need-based scholarships.
Interestingly, the college is home to a not-so-secret secret club called Mufti. Since the 1940s, Mufti has left cryptic notes around campus. These notes typically feature social commentary, campus controversies, and wordplay.
8. San Diego State University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $8,174 (in-state) | $20,054 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 38%
- Total Student Enrollment: 36,484
A public university and federally designated Hispanic-serving institution, SDSU offers over 700 scholarship opportunities. The school has received a lot of buzz recently after its basketball team placed second in the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament.
The institution is especially known for its study abroad opportunities, with over 700 programs available. SDSU is also home to thousands of international students.
Popular majors include business administration, criminal justice, kinesiology, psychology, biology, and computer science.
9. Harvey Mudd College
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $62,817
- Acceptance Rate: 10%
- Total Student Enrollment: 905
Harvey Mudd is another member of the Claremont Colleges consortium. Around 7 in 10 students receive some form of financial aid, with the average award amount being just under $45,000.
Harvey Mudd is a private STEM-focused college that only offers bachelor of science degrees. Computer science, math, and engineering are the most popular programs. Regardless of their major, all students are required to take arts and humanities courses.
The school is known for its research focus — students have access to workshops and labs 24/7.
10. Pepperdine University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $63,142
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Total Student Enrollment: 10,446
A private Christian university, Pepperdine is based in Malibu, an attractive location boasting beautiful beaches, celebrity homes, and a stunning campus.
The most popular majors at Pepperdine include business administration, biology, advertising, public relations, psychology, and economics. What’s more, 96% of beginning undergrads receive a grant or scholarship.
Pepperdine offers top-notch study abroad programs and international internships. The school also runs five global campuses in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Florence, Italy; Heidelberg, Germany; Lausanne, Switzerland; and London, England.

List of All Colleges in California

We’ve compiled an exhaustive list of all four-year nonprofit schools in California. You can search for specific schools and view information on student enrollment, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.

All Colleges in California
School	Total Student Enrollment	Avg. Annual Net Price	Acceptance Rate	Number of Applicants
Art Center College of Design	2,319	$50,420	76%	982
Azusa Pacific University	8,126	$27,112	94%	3,967
Bakersfield College	24,479	$6,989	100%	N/A
Biola University	5,551	$29,123	61%	4,354
California Baptist University	11,489	$23,494	64%	9,474
California College of the Arts	1,630	$40,231	78%	2,847
California Institute of Technology	2,397	$30,162	4%	13,026
California Institute of the Arts	1,444	$53,916	29%	2,364
California Lutheran University	3,766	$24,065	82%	4,041
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo	22,231	$20,708	33%	54,570
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt	5,908	$13,904	91%	7,013
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona	29,456	$12,942	61%	41,226
California State University Maritime Academy	925	$16,924	82%	1,005
California State University, Bakersfield	10,972	$7,368	85%	12,334
California State University, Channel Islands	6,966	$14,493	93%	9,244
California State University, Chico	15,702	$13,749	85%	19,990
California State University, Dominguez Hills	17,837	$4,500	86%	7,014
California State University, East Bay	15,189	$12,631	82%	14,448
California State University, Fresno	25,047	$6,336	97%	15,231
California State University, Fullerton	40,738	$4,939	59%	45,140
California State University, Long Beach	40,190	$9,171	47%	67,122
California State University, Los Angeles	27,513	$2,695	91%	29,223
California State University, Monterey Bay	7,503	$6,085	93%	10,026
California State University, Northridge	40,108	$8,708	88%	23,656
California State University, Sacramento	32,498	$7,778	94%	22,706
California State University, San Bernardino	19,514	$3,254	91%	13,057
California State University, San Marcos	16,255	$14,296	93%	13,986
California State University, Stanislaus	10,481	$7,230	95%	5,740
Chapman University	9,991	$40,451	60%	15,098
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science	895	$26,470	63%	1,185
Claremont McKenna College	1,422	$21,663	11%	5,632
Concordia University Irvine	3,710	$25,640	81%	3,265
Cypress College	13,406	$7,951	100%	N/A
Dominican University of California	1,855	$45,001	93%	1,981
Foothill College	12,438	$9,820	100%	N/A
Fresno Pacific University	3,524	$15,350	78%	917
Harvey Mudd College	905	$33,838	10%	4,737
Holy Names University	1,015	$21,515	95%	703
Hope International University	1,138	$18,801	40%	723
La Sierra University	1,738	$25,230	66%	2,726
Laguna College of Art and Design	766	$40,669	83%	581
Los Angeles Pacific University	2,009	$20,487	100%	N/A
Loyola Marymount University	10,184	$40,180	46%	19,045
Menlo College	745	$35,658	70%	2,134
Minerva University	636	$17,432	1%	25,026
MiraCosta College	11,125	$6,946	100%	N/A
Modesto Junior College	14,642	$14,421	100%	N/A
Mount Saint Mary’s University	2,625	$24,508	90%	1,710
National University	17,135	$9,966	55%	154
Occidental College	1,964	$43,047	38%	6,495
Otis College of Art and Design	1,252	$45,402	80%	2,284
Pacific Union College	829	$22,767	58%	1,216
Pepperdine University	10,446	$40,945	53%	11,855
Pitzer College	1,168	$19,153	18%	3,676
Point Loma Nazarene University	4,445	$34,851	84%	3,060
Pomona College	1,764	$17,000	7%	11,620
Rio Hondo College	15,593	$7,873	100%	N/A
Saint Mary’s College of California	3,165	$25,022	70%	3,523
San Diego Mesa College	18,028	$7,663	100%	N/A
San Diego State University	36,484	$6,867	38%	67,660
San Francisco State University	26,899	$13,641	93%	27,777
San Jose State University	37,133	$14,603	84%	30,441
Santa Ana College	23,936	$6,351	100%	N/A
Santa Clara University	8,918	$48,469	54%	16,848
Santa Monica College	23,408	$6,380	100%	N/A
Scripps College	1,116	$44,770	30%	2,952
Shasta College	7,075	$7,973	100%	N/A
Simpson University	993	$25,311	67%	953
Skyline College	7,776	$4,885	100%	N/A
Solano Community College	8,105	$5,950	100%	N/A
Sonoma State University	7,371	$7,055	94%	10,598
Stanford University	17,680	$14,402	4%	55,471
University of California, Berkeley	45,036	$17,652	14%	112,843
University of California, Davis	40,050	$16,640	49%	87,120
University of California, Irvine	36,505	$11,633	29%	107,950
University of California, Los Angeles	46,116	$13,393	11%	139,489
University of California, Merced	9,093	$11,586	87%	27,793
University of California, Riverside	26,847	$13,502	65%	52,672
University of California, San Diego	41,885	$15,632	34%	118,386
University of California, Santa Barbara	26,124	$17,333	29%	105,641
University of California, Santa Cruz	19,841	$19,615	59%	61,695
University of La Verne	6,201	$22,538	72%	5,004
University of Redlands	4,059	$21,578	83%	3,746
University of San Diego	9,041	$34,155	53%	14,326
University of San Francisco	10,034	$39,825	71%	22,372
University of Southern California	49,318	$26,021	13%	71,031
University of the Pacific	6,066	$21,311	79%	10,901
Vanguard University of Southern California	2,268	$20,427	69%	2,917
West Los Angeles College	9,481	$10,259	100%	N/A
Westmont College	1,238	$33,554	79%	2,344
Whittier College	1,387	$22,091	82%	2,884
William Jessup University	1,685	$27,823	78%	666
Woodbury University	1,036	$32,293	63%	1,453

Source: NCES

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in California

What is the No. 1 college in California?

Stanford is often the highest-ranked college in California and one of the highest-ranked colleges in the country. While there are no Ivy League schools in California, many rank just as highly.

Other prestigious colleges in California include UC Berkeley, UCLA, Caltech, and USC.

What is the hardest college to get into in California?

Both Stanford and Caltech have the lowest acceptance rates in California, accepting just 4% of applicants in fall 2021.

Stanford received a significantly higher number of applicants (55,470) than Caltech (13,000) but also admitted significantly more. Stanford’s total student population is 17,680, whereas Caltech’s is just 2,397, according to the latest NCES data.

Do I qualify for in-state tuition in California?

In order to qualify for in-state tuition in California, you must be a resident for more than one full year and plan to live in California for a year after you graduate. If you’re under 19, your residency status is based on your parents or guardians.

The Western Undergraduate Exchange program allows students in Western states — including California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah — to pay in-state tuition at participating colleges.

Examples of California colleges that allow students from these states to pay in-state tuition include some California State University campuses and Sonoma State University.

How many colleges are in California?

There are over 500 colleges and universities in California, according to NCES. This number includes both four- and two-year institutions. When it comes to nonprofit four-year colleges, there are just over 200 schools in California.