Best colleges in California
Follow the Bear
Once you come to The Golden State, you never go back
California’s gorgeous scenery makes West Coast living easy. With the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Sierra Nevadas to the east, California is the most populous state in the country. Major universities have campuses in Los Angeles, Chico, Berkley, San Diego, San Francisco and more.* Have a soft spot for food production, viniculture, aerospace, or education? California leads the country in wine production and single-origin produce agriculture. The Golden State also has robust aerospace and education programs for all the engineers and teaching students out there. IT majors are also in good company with San Francisco’s iconic Silicon Valley. Recent job growth is at 1.36%, well over the nation’s average, with major industries including finance, business, engineering and technology.*
Once you’re in California, it’s a little work and a lot of play. Fill time between classes with wine tasting in Napa Valley or surfing in San Diego. Outdoor lovers can’t get enough with hiking and camping in Yosemite National Park, skiing in Mammoth, or rock climbing at Joshua Tree. California has thousands of restaurants and bars, concerts all year long, and the famous Hollywood. With over 20 professional sports teams, Lakers, 49ers, Angels, Kings, and more, as well as the Rose Bowl, you’re sure to find a good reason to show some spirit. Regardless of where you choose to live in California, make sure to own something that shows off your new state flag with that iconic big, brown bear.
*Wikipedia, “Colleges and Universities in California” *www.bestplaces.net/economy/state/CaliforniaBest Four Year Universities in California
California Institute of Technology offers 93 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 587 students graduated with students earning 241 Bachelor's degrees, 207 Doctoral degrees, and 139 Master's degrees.
Harvey Mudd College offers 18 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 211 students graduated with students earning 211 Bachelor's degrees.
At Stanford, the sky is almost always sunny. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford University has become a laboratory for numerous successful companies. Lucrative internships and exciting company partnerships are awaiting – students at Stanford are encouraged to think big, motivated to make a difference. The campus is in short driving distance of the entire Bay Area, including lovely San Francisco, and shorts as well as t-shirts and flip-flops are the norm. Enjoy the relaxed attitude of California and the vibrant social life the university has to offer. Have you heard of fountain hopping yet?
Stanford’s interdisciplinary programs link departments and disciplines together. This kind of bridge-building helps students to work together with people who have different perspectives, ideas, and methods. Problems are solved due to the collaboration and integration of multiple academic disciplines. As one of the world’s leading teaching and research universities Stanford’s dedication is to find solutions to challenges of every kind – since its opening in 1891.
Pomona College offers 52 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 392 students graduated with students earning 392 Bachelor's degrees.
Soka University of America offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 126 students graduated with students earning 118 Bachelor's degrees, and 8 Master's degrees.
Claremont McKenna College offers 56 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 339 students graduated with students earning 327 Bachelor's degrees, and 12 Master's degrees.
University of Southern California offers 603 degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 17,244 students graduated with students earning 9,171 Master's degrees, 5,018 Bachelor's degrees, 1,859 Doctoral degrees, and 1,196 Certificates.
University of California-Berkeley offers 317 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 13,168 students graduated with students earning 8,506 Bachelor's degrees, 3,238 Master's degrees, 1,272 Doctoral degrees, and 152 Certificates.
Scripps College offers 68 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 262 students graduated with students earning 243 Bachelor's degrees, and 19 Certificates.
Best Community Colleges in California
Hacienda La Puente Adult Education offers 24 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 541 students graduated with students earning 537 Certificates, and 4 Associate's degrees.
Laurus College offers 18 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 153 students graduated with students earning 153 Associate's degrees.
Mayfield College offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 307 students graduated with students earning 307 Certificates.
CBD College offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 308 students graduated with students earning 206 Associate's degrees, and 102 Certificates.
Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 213 students graduated with students earning 200 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.
Advanced Training Associates offers 10 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 94 students graduated with students earning 68 Certificates, and 26 Associate's degrees.
Concorde Career College-San Diego offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2019, 411 students graduated with students earning 316 Certificates, and 95 Associate's degrees.
West Coast Ultrasound Institute offers 10 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 471 students graduated with students earning 353 Associate's degrees, and 118 Certificates.
East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program offers 17 degree programs. It's a very small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2019, 233 students graduated with students earning 209 Certificates, and 24 Associate's degrees.
Learnet Academy Inc offers 0 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city.
List of all colleges in California
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA | 6 : 1 | 2,237 | |
|
Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA | 8 : 1 | 904 | |
|
Stanford University Stanford, CA | 11 : 1 | 17,249 | |
|
Pomona College Claremont, CA | 7 : 1 | 1,637 | |
|
Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA | 8 : 1 | 419 | |
|
Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA | 8 : 1 | 1,346 | |
|
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | 22 : 1 | 48,321 | |
|
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 24 : 1 | 43,185 | |
|
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 21 : 1 | 44,371 | |
|
Scripps College Claremont, CA | 11 : 1 | 1,109 | |
|
Occidental College Los Angeles, CA | 10 : 1 | 1,985 | |
|
University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 26 : 1 | 36,908 | |
|
Pitzer College Claremont, CA | 11 : 1 | 1,086 | |
|
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | 24 : 1 | 26,314 | |
|
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 28 : 1 | 38,736 | |
|
University of California-Davis Davis, CA | 22 : 1 | 38,634 | |
|
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA | 15 : 1 | 8,669 | |
|
Pepperdine University Malibu, CA | 22 : 1 | 8,824 | |
|
University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA | 26 : 1 | 25,547 | |
|
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA | 16 : 1 | 9,822 | |