Explore California Colleges
Colleges in California
Explore 214 colleges and universities in California, including 49 public institutions and 165 private schools. Compare tuition costs, acceptance rates, and find your perfect fit.
214
Total Colleges
49
Public
165
Private
California at a Glance
Avg Acceptance Rate
4135%
Average acceptance rate for California colleges
Avg Net Price
$23,965.27
After financial aid
Avg In-State Tuition
$22,132.167
For public universities
California College Systems
California has several major public university systems that serve students across the state. Understanding these systems can help you find the right fit.
The CSU system is the largest four-year public university system in the US, offering accessible education across 23 campuses throughout California.
Explore California by Region
California is a diverse state with distinct college regions. Explore schools by area to find the campus environment that fits your lifestyle.
San Francisco Bay Area
17 colleges
Southern California
57 colleges
See how California colleges compare head-to-head on acceptance rates, costs, and outcomes.
California Colleges Directory
Browse 214 colleges in California, sorted by ranking and selectivity.

Stanford, CA•Private
4%
Acceptance Rate$79,018/yr
1510-1580
96%
"Silicon Valley's neighboring research university where undergraduates launch companies alongside future Nobel winners."

Los Angeles, CA•Private
10%
Acceptance Rate$83,399/yr
1450-1550
93%
"LA's ambitious private giant where film visionaries, business leaders, and engineers thrive amid urban energy and Trojan pride."

Claremont, CA•Private
13%
Acceptance Rate$84,834/yr
1500-1570
94%
"Harvey Mudd College turns math geeks and tinkerers into collaborative problem-solvers who tackle real-world tech challenges in sunny Claremont."

Claremont, CA•Private
7%
Acceptance Rate$80,212/yr
1490-1560
94%
"Pomona College wraps you in the tight-knit intellectual buzz of a true liberal arts haven, amplified by the shared playground of five neighboring Claremont Colleges."

Los Angeles, CA•Public
9%
Acceptance Rate$29,933/yr
1330-1530
94%
"Sun-drenched Bruin hub fuses blockbuster film dreams with biotech breakthroughs in bustling Westwood."

Berkeley, CA•Public
11%
Acceptance Rate$35,314/yr
1350-1510
94%
"Public research powerhouse born from 1868 merger, fueling Silicon Valley brains and Free Speech legacy."

Claremont, CA•Private
10%
Acceptance Rate$81,310/yr
1470-1560
93%
"CMC turns ambitious undergrads into suited-up leaders ready to conquer Wall Street or Washington, all from a sunny Southern California consortium campus."

La Jolla, CA•Public
27%
Acceptance Rate$30,534/yr
1340-1540
90%
"Sunny La Jolla's research powerhouse where biotech breakthroughs happen amid ocean breezes and eucalyptus groves."

Santa Barbara, CA•Public
33%
Acceptance Rate$31,843/yr
1290-1520
88%
"Where Gauchos bike to class past palm trees and crashing waves, blending beach bonfires with breakthrough science at a sun-drenched UC powerhouse."

Irvine, CA•Public
29%
Acceptance Rate$30,555/yr
1270-1490
86%
"UC Irvine drops you into a meticulously planned Orange County oasis where anteaters lead the charge in bio-tech breakthroughs and sun-drenched study sessions."

Pasadena, CA•Private
3%
Acceptance Rate$78,762/yr
1530-1580
94%
"Pasadena's fiercely selective STEM haven where undergrads tackle real research alongside Nobel-winning faculty."

San Francisco, CA•Private
62%
Acceptance Rate$74,717/yr
1190-1390
77%
"Jesuit hilltop outpost in foggy San Francisco, where business acumen and nursing rigor collide with city streets."

Santa Clara, CA•Private
48%
Acceptance Rate$76,773/yr
1350-1490
90%
"Nestled in Silicon Valley's epicenter, Santa Clara University fuses Jesuit values with tech ambition, turning undergraduates into ethical innovators amid startup dreams and sunny sprawl."

Claremont, CA•Private
25%
Acceptance Rate$82,432/yr
1340-1500
88%
"At Pitzer, you dive into progressive activism and interdisciplinary adventures within the sunny Claremont Colleges consortium, where small classes fuel big ideas on social justice and sustainability."

Davis, CA•Public
42%
Acceptance Rate$30,990/yr
1231-1478
89%
"Pedal through almond orchards to world-leading vet school and wine labs at this bike-mad ag powerhouse."

Riverside, CA•Public
76%
Acceptance Rate$32,255/yr
1140-1370
80%
"At UC Riverside, you'll join a scrappy underdog in California's UC system, turning citrus groves into a powerhouse for diverse dreamers tackling real-world problems."

Santa Cruz, CA•Public
66%
Acceptance Rate$31,512/yr
1230-1440
80%
"Perched amid redwoods overlooking crashing waves, UC Santa Cruz channels its 1960s counterculture roots into a quirky haven for independent thinkers who surf before seminars."

Malibu, CA•Private
63%
Acceptance Rate$84,140/yr
1290-1450
81%
"Pepperdine University is located in Malibu, CA."

Claremont, CA•Private
38%
Acceptance Rate$82,286/yr
1440-1540
83%
"Nestled in sunny Claremont, Scripps College empowers bold, creative women through intimate liberal arts seminars and cross-campus adventures at one of America's tightest college consortia."

Aliso Viejo, CA•Private
43%
Acceptance Rate$47,596/yr
1333-1510
90%
"Tiny Soka University of America in Orange County forges global peacemakers from 440 students through mandatory study abroad and intimate, value-driven seminars."

Los Angeles, CA•Private
44%
Acceptance Rate$80,250/yr
1380-1520
81%
"Tucked in LA's Eagle Rock hills, Occidental delivers intimate liberal arts seminars with Hollywood glamour and urban grit just minutes away—where even Barack Obama once crashed in the dorms."

Stockton, CA•Private
71%
Acceptance Rate$70,108/yr
1183-1480
72%
"Stockton's private university powerhouse, renowned for its elite conservatory of music alongside pharmacy and dentistry programs."

San Diego, CA•Private
52%
Acceptance Rate$73,728/yr
1240-1440
81%
"Sun-drenched Catholic hilltop haven where Torero spirit meets Pacific views and peace studies innovation."

Orange, CA•Private
65%
Acceptance Rate$78,102/yr
1260-1440
81%
"Film dreamers sharpen scripts and lenses at Chapman's Dodge College in historic Orange."

Los Angeles, CA•Private
45%
Acceptance Rate$76,656/yr
1260-1430
80%
"Jesuit-Marymount merger on ocean bluffs fuses Hollywood filmmaking with ethical liberal arts in vibrant Los Angeles."

Santa Paula, CA•Private
83%
Acceptance Rate$38,200/yr
1220-1400
88%
"Dive into the Great Books with fellow seekers of truth in a tight-knit Catholic community where faith and reason dance together daily."

Loma Linda, CA•Private
37%
Acceptance Rate$33,552/yr
1050-1300
88%
"Loma Linda University is located in Loma Linda, CA."

Santa Barbara, CA•Private
77%
Acceptance Rate$65,800/yr
1240-1450
75%
"Faith-infused liberal arts college on a hillside overlooking Santa Barbara's Pacific shores."

Whittier, CA•Private
81%
Acceptance Rate$64,653/yr
1140-1340
69%
"Quaker-founded liberal arts college in suburban Los Angeles, where small classes build lasting faculty connections amid palm-lined paths."

Oakland, CA•Private
69%
Acceptance Rate$47,931/yr
1050-1260
95%
"Samuel Merritt University is located in Oakland, CA."

Redlands, CA•Private
83%
Acceptance Rate$73,536/yr
1107-1350
65%
"University of Redlands is located in Redlands, CA."

Rosemead, CA•Private
100%
Acceptance Rate$12,912/yr
940-1080
94%
"University of the West is located in Rosemead, CA."

La Verne, CA•Private
71%
Acceptance Rate$61,982/yr
986-1236
49%
"Church of the Brethren-founded liberal arts school in leafy Southern California suburbs, emphasizing practical degrees and community ties."

Redding, CA•Private
86%
Acceptance Rate$48,080/yr
941-1151
70%
"Faith-infused liberal arts education amid Northern California's lakes and mountains at a close-knit Christian university."

Thousand Oaks, CA•Private
76%
Acceptance Rate$64,310/yr
1150-1330
77%
"California Lutheran University is located in Thousand Oaks, CA."

La Mirada, CA•Private
74%
Acceptance Rate$57,472/yr
1160-1370
71%
"Sunny Southern California campus fusing evangelical faith with degrees in film, theology, and business."

Azusa, CA•Private
88%
Acceptance Rate$52,324/yr
983-1238
74%
"Evangelical Christian university fusing faith with professional training in nursing, education, and ministry amid San Gabriel foothills."

Los Angeles, CA•Private
77%
Acceptance Rate$49,490/yr
1020-1230
71%
"Southern California Institute of Architecture is located in Los Angeles, CA."

Fullerton, CA•Public
91%
Acceptance Rate$24,822/yr
N/A
79%
"Sunny Orange County commuter powerhouse churning out business grads and performers from a palm-shaded campus."

Long Beach, CA•Public
46%
Acceptance Rate$20,664/yr
N/A
83%
"Beachside CSU giant excelling in performing arts and business amid Long Beach's port-city energy."

San Diego, CA•Public
36%
Acceptance Rate$28,566/yr
N/A
79%
"Sunny San Diego's sprawling public university fueling careers in business, aerospace engineering, and hospitality amid beach access."

Fresno, CA•Public
95%
Acceptance Rate$16,613/yr
N/A
71%
"A vibrant public university in California's Central Valley, blending agricultural roots with diverse academic growth."

San Francisco, CA•Public
96%
Acceptance Rate$22,292/yr
N/A
66%
"Urban powerhouse launching careers in film, ethnic studies, and broadcasting from the heart of San Francisco."

San Bernardino, CA•Public
94%
Acceptance Rate$18,732/yr
N/A
70%
"A dynamic public university in Southern California where accessible education meets a close-knit desert campus vibe."

Hayward, CA•Public
97%
Acceptance Rate$24,306/yr
N/A
68%
"A vibrant public university in Hayward with a focus on accessibility and real-world impact."

San Francisco, CA•Private
100%
Acceptance Rate$58,494/yr
N/A
32%
"Academy of Art University is located in San Francisco, CA."

San Diego, CA•Private
N/A
Acceptance Rate$16,569/yr
N/A
64%
"A focused haven in sunny San Diego for students driven by psychology and education careers."

Irvine, CA•Private
66%
Acceptance Rate$53,000/yr
N/A
68%
"A tight-knit Lutheran university in sunny Irvine, blending faith with a personalized liberal arts education."

Santa Clarita, CA•Private
84%
Acceptance Rate$47,050/yr
N/A
60%
"Biblically grounded liberal arts university fused with seminary training amid Southern California's sunny valleys."

Costa Mesa, CA•Private
62%
Acceptance Rate$51,450/yr
N/A
64%
"Vanguard University of Southern California is located in Costa Mesa, CA."
Showing top 50 of 214 colleges in California
Frequently Asked Questions About California Colleges
Stanford University is the highest-ranked university in California, ranked #3 nationally. The state is home to several prestigious institutions offering world-class education across various fields.
The average tuition at California colleges varies by institution type. For public universities, the average in-state tuition is $22,132 per year. Out-of-state students pay an average of $25,553. After financial aid, the average net price is $23,965.
The average acceptance rate for colleges in California is 41%. However, acceptance rates vary significantly by institution, with some highly selective universities accepting less than 10% of applicants while others maintain open enrollment policies.
California has several major public university systems: University of California (UC), California State University (CSU). Together, these systems include 33 campuses serving hundreds of thousands of students. The UC system includes 10 campuses and is one of the most prestigious public university systems in the world, known for groundbreaking research and selective admissions.
The University of California (UC) has 10 campuses and the uc system includes 10 campuses and is one of the most prestigious public university systems in the world, known for groundbreaking research and selective admissions. The California State University (CSU) has 23 campuses and the csu system is the largest four-year public university system in the us, offering accessible education across 23 campuses throughout california.
To qualify for in-state tuition at California public universities, you typically need to establish residency for at least 12 months before enrolling. Requirements usually include living in the state, having a California driver's license, registering to vote in the state, and demonstrating intent to remain. Specific requirements vary by institution, so check with your chosen school's admissions office.
California is located in the West region of the United States. The West is home to world-renowned research universities, innovative tech hubs, and stunning natural settings from coastal California to the Rocky Mountains.
California offers a range of affordable college options. The average net price after financial aid is $23,965. Public universities in California provide particularly strong value for in-state residents, with lower tuition rates and access to state financial aid programs.