43 Best colleges for Data Science in California, US

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Data Science. A graph of 1.69M citations received by 32.4K academic papers made by 43 universities in California was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

Stanford

For Data Science

#1 in the United States

#1 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

For Data Science

#5 in the United States

#5 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

3. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

For Data Science

#8 in the United States

#8 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

4. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Data Science

#19 in the United States

#21 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

For Data Science

#21 in the United States

#23 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

6. University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco

For Data Science

#25 in the United States

#28 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

7. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

For Data Science

#33 in the United States

#36 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

For Data Science

#36 in the United States

#39 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

9. University of California - Davis

Davis

For Data Science

#39 in the United States

#42 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

10. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

For Data Science

#49 in the United States

#56 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

11. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

For Data Science

#85 in the United States

#99 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

12. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

For Data Science

#94 in the United States

#108 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

13. San Jose State University

San Jose

For Data Science

#136 in the United States

#159 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $9,210
Enrollment: 35,751

14. San Diego State University

San Diego

For Data Science

#148 in the United States

#171 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

15. Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey

For Data Science

#160 in the United States

#184 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,670
Male:Female: 78:22
Founded: 1909

16. University of California - Merced

Merced

For Data Science

#192 in the United States

#219 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $25,868
Enrollment: 9,103

17. Claremont Graduate University

Claremont

For Data Science

#199 in the United States

#227 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,903
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1925

18. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

For Data Science

#219 in the United States

#249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,129
Male:Female: 14:86
Founded: 1975

19. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

For Data Science

#232 in the United States

#265 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $50,551

20. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

For Data Science

#234 in the United States

#267 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $10,065
Enrollment: 22,000

21. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

For Data Science

#235 in the United States

#268 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $42,953

22. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

For Data Science

#240 in the United States

#273 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,194
Enrollment: 40,386

23. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

For Data Science

#253 in the United States

#287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $9,830
Enrollment: 25,282

24. Humboldt State University

Arcata

For Data Science

#293 in the United States

#329 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 76%
Average Aid: $9,262
Enrollment: 6,025

25. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

For Data Science

#310 in the United States

#346 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $9,590
Enrollment: 31,818

26. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

For Data Science

#312 in the United States

#349 in North America

Enrollment: 44
Male:Female: 45:55

27. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

For Data Science

#315 in the United States

#352 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 77%
Average Aid: $9,040
Enrollment: 27,503

28. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

For Data Science

#319 in the United States

#356 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,968
Enrollment: 23,999

29. Chapman University

Orange

For Data Science

#320 in the United States

#357 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $45,033

30. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

For Data Science

#327 in the United States

#364 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,478
Enrollment: 38,973

31. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

For Data Science

#330 in the United States

#367 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 4,280
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1905

32. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

For Data Science

#331 in the United States

#368 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $10,511
Enrollment: 37,579

33. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

For Data Science

#339 in the United States

#377 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $10,907
Enrollment: 26,460

34. Pomona College

Claremont

For Data Science

#343 in the United States

#381 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,962

35. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles

For Data Science

#345 in the United States

#383 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $52,815

36. California State University - East Bay

Hayward

For Data Science

#356 in the United States

#396 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $8,659
Enrollment: 13,673

37. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

For Data Science

#359 in the United States

#400 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,871
Enrollment: 19,803

38. University of San Diego

San Diego

For Data Science

#366 in the United States

#408 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Net Price: $36,008
Receiving Aid: 84%
Average Aid: $36,408

39. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield

For Data Science

#375 in the United States

#418 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $10,750
Enrollment: 9,613

40. California State University - Chico

Chico

For Data Science

#391 in the United States

#435 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 72%
Average Aid: $9,162
Enrollment: 14,183

41. University of the Pacific

Stockton

For Data Science

#405 in the United States

#452 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,164

42. Harvey Mudd College

Claremont

For Data Science

#412 in the United States

#461 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $39,850

43. California State University - Monterey Bay

Seaside

For Data Science

#436 in the United States

#487 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 77%
Average Aid: $8,702
Enrollment: 7,045

Closest to California states to learn Data Science

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Oregon	5	68
Utah	4	44
Arizona	3	23
Idaho	3	137
Washington	7	6
Colorado	8	50
New Mexico	3	113
Nebraska	4	72
South Dakota	3	220
Kansas	4	87
Texas	35	26
Oklahoma	5	123
North Dakota	2	171
Minnesota	5	13
Iowa	5	29
Missouri	9	59
Arkansas	6	144
Louisiana	5	107
Wisconsin	6	7
Illinois	15	10
Mississippi	5	147
Indiana	11	51
Michigan	11	4
Tennessee	10	46
Alabama	5	101
Kentucky	5	69
Ohio	14	34
Georgia	8	16
South Carolina	6	71
North Carolina	14	31
Virginia	10	42
Pennsylvania	20	9
Florida	17	45
District of Columbia	6	82
Maryland	11	12
New York	44	11
New Jersey	12	32
Vermont	3	118
Connecticut	7	20
Massachusetts	22	2
New Hampshire	3	75
Rhode Island	4	124

Closest to California states to learn Data Science

Computer Science subfields in California