List of 100 best universities in California, US
Top 100 universities in California ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 117M citations received by 1.93M academic publications made by 249 universities from California, the popularity of 12,671 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.
1. Stanford University
#2 in the United States
#2 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $14,402
2. University of California - Berkeley
#5 in the United States
#5 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Receiving Aid
- 61%
- Average Aid
- $21,406
- Enrollment
- 45,036
3. University of California - Los Angeles
#6 in the United States
#6 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Receiving Aid
- 56%
- Average Aid
- $17,592
- Enrollment
- 46,116
4. University of California-San Diego
#25 in the United States
#26 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Receiving Aid
- 54%
- Average Aid
- $18,083
- Enrollment
- 41,885
5. University of Southern California
#26 in the United States
#27 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 13%
- Average SAT
- 1475
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $26,021
6. University of California - Davis
#28 in the United States
#30 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
- Average Aid
- $17,628
- Enrollment
- 40,050
7. University of California - San Francisco
#38 in the United States
#41 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Enrollment
- 3,165
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1864
8. California Institute of Technology
#41 in the United States
#44 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 4%
- Net Price
- $30,162
- Receiving Aid
- 67%
- Average Aid
- $47,556
9. University of California - Irvine
#43 in the United States
#46 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $16,868
- Enrollment
- 36,505
10. University of California - Santa Barbara
#55 in the United States
#59 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $18,107
- Enrollment
- 26,124
11. University of California - Santa Cruz
#84 in the United States
#94 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 59%
- Receiving Aid
- 63%
- Average Aid
- $19,199
- Enrollment
- 19,841
12. University of California - Riverside
#93 in the United States
#106 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 65%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $18,676
- Enrollment
- 26,847
13. San Diego State University
#121 in the United States
#140 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 38%
- Receiving Aid
- 58%
- Average Aid
- $9,026
- Enrollment
- 36,484
14. San Francisco State University
#175 in the United States
#200 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
- Average Aid
- $9,586
- Enrollment
- 26,899
15. San Jose State University
#186 in the United States
#211 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Receiving Aid
- 69%
- Average Aid
- $9,184
- Enrollment
- 37,133
16. California State University - Long Beach
#198 in the United States
#224 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $9,433
- Enrollment
- 40,190
17. Santa Clara University
#207 in the United States
#234 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 54%
- Average SAT
- 1410
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $48,469
18. California State University - Northridge
#211 in the United States
#238 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $10,882
- Enrollment
- 40,108
19. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
#218 in the United States
#245 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 33%
- Receiving Aid
- 65%
- Average Aid
- $5,988
- Enrollment
- 22,231
20. California State University - Fullerton
#224 in the United States
#251 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 59%
- Receiving Aid
- 79%
- Average Aid
- $9,215
- Enrollment
- 40,738
21. Humboldt State University
#234 in the United States
#265 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 81%
- Average Aid
- $9,716
- Enrollment
- 5,908
23. University of San Francisco
#246 in the United States
#277 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Average SAT
- 1290
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $39,825
24. Naval Postgraduate School
#248 in the United States
#279 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 23%
- Enrollment
- 2,787
- Male:Female
- 79:21
- Founded
- 1909
25. Pepperdine University
#261 in the United States
#292 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Average SAT
- 1350
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $40,945
26. Loyola Marymount University
#267 in the United States
#298 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 46%
- Average SAT
- 1335
- Average ACT
- 30
- Net Price
- $40,180
27. Chapman University
#272 in the United States
#303 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Average SAT
- 1310
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $40,451
28. University of San Diego
#273 in the United States
#304 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 53%
- Net Price
- $34,155
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
- Average Aid
- $34,413
29. California State University - Los Angeles
#295 in the United States
#327 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
- Average Aid
- $10,909
- Enrollment
- 27,513
30. California State University - Fresno
#297 in the United States
#329 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Receiving Aid
- 85%
- Average Aid
- $10,314
- Enrollment
- 25,047
31. Pomona College
#299 in the United States
#331 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 7%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $17,000
32. California State University - Sacramento
#302 in the United States
#334 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 83%
- Average Aid
- $9,769
- Enrollment
- 32,498
33. University of the Pacific
#307 in the United States
#339 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1250
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $21,311
34. Claremont Graduate University
#317 in the United States
#354 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 35%
- Enrollment
- 1,953
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1925
35. University of California - Merced
#324 in the United States
#361 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $21,623
- Enrollment
- 9,093
36. California State University - Chico
#333 in the United States
#370 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Receiving Aid
- 71%
- Average Aid
- $8,691
- Enrollment
- 15,702
37. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
#342 in the United States
#379 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 61%
- Receiving Aid
- 80%
- Average Aid
- $9,025
- Enrollment
- 29,456
38. California State University - San Bernardino
#359 in the United States
#399 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 91%
- Receiving Aid
- 89%
- Average Aid
- $10,157
- Enrollment
- 19,514
39. Sonoma State University
#377 in the United States
#419 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Receiving Aid
- 73%
- Average Aid
- $8,547
- Enrollment
- 7,371
40. Harvey Mudd College
#383 in the United States
#426 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 10%
- Average SAT
- 1520
- Average ACT
- 35
- Net Price
- $33,838
41. Occidental College
#399 in the United States
#444 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 38%
- Average SAT
- 1415
- Average ACT
- 32
- Net Price
- $43,047
42. California State University - San Marcos
#411 in the United States
#457 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 77%
- Average Aid
- $9,298
- Enrollment
- 16,255
43. California State University - Dominguez Hills
#436 in the United States
#485 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
- Average Aid
- $10,180
- Enrollment
- 17,837
44. Claremont McKenna College
#453 in the United States
#502 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 11%
- Average SAT
- 1475
- Average ACT
- 34
- Net Price
- $21,663
45. Alliant International University - San Diego
#466 in the United States
#515 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $25,481
- Receiving Aid
- 33%
- Average Aid
- $9,411
46. California State University - East Bay
#470 in the United States
#519 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Receiving Aid
- 92%
- Average Aid
- $8,540
- Enrollment
- 15,189
47. Azusa Pacific University
#517 in the United States
#568 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Average SAT
- 1116
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $27,112
48. Saint Mary's College of California
#525 in the United States
#576 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Net Price
- $25,022
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $37,096
49. California State University - Monterey Bay
#534 in the United States
#586 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 75%
- Average Aid
- $9,097
- Enrollment
- 7,503
50. Mills College
#544 in the United States
#596 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Average SAT
- 1396
- Average ACT
- 31
- Net Price
- $25,283
51. Biola University
#549 in the United States
#601 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 61%
- Average SAT
- 1226
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $29,123
52. University of California - Hastings College of Law
#566 in the United States
#622 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Enrollment
- 1,140
- Male:Female
- 38:62
- Founded
- 1878
54. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
#577 in the United States
#633 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Net Price
- $26,470
- Receiving Aid
- 93%
- Average Aid
- $10,193
55. University of Redlands
#584 in the United States
#640 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Average SAT
- 1195
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $21,578
56. California State University - Stanislaus
#587 in the United States
#643 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 95%
- Receiving Aid
- 88%
- Average Aid
- $9,785
- Enrollment
- 10,481
57. California State University - Bakersfield
#593 in the United States
#649 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Receiving Aid
- 90%
- Average Aid
- $10,725
- Enrollment
- 10,972
58. Golden Gate University - San Francisco
#605 in the United States
#661 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 83%
- Enrollment
- 2,425
- Male:Female
- 55:45
- Founded
- 1901
59. Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope
#611 in the United States
#668 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 14%
- Enrollment
- 95
- Male:Female
- 37:63
- Founded
- 1994
60. Pitzer College
#649 in the United States
#709 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 18%
- Net Price
- $19,153
- Receiving Aid
- 48%
- Average Aid
- $39,399
61. Dominican University of California
#694 in the United States
#757 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Average SAT
- 1169
- Average ACT
- 23
- Net Price
- $45,001
63. University of La Verne
#718 in the United States
#785 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 72%
- Average SAT
- 1020
- Average ACT
- 21
- Net Price
- $22,538
64. California Lutheran University
#731 in the United States
#798 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1190
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $24,065
65. Whittier College
#744 in the United States
#811 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1230
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $22,091
66. Scripps College
#776 in the United States
#844 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 30%
- Average SAT
- 1450
- Average ACT
- 33
- Net Price
- $44,770
67. California Institute of Integral Studies
#783 in the United States
#851 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 90%
- Enrollment
- 1,833
- Male:Female
- 21:79
- Founded
- 1968
68. Soka University of America
#784 in the United States
#852 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 52%
- Average SAT
- 1303
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $10,586
69. West Los Angeles College
#793 in the United States
#862 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 59%
- Average Aid
- $6,319
- Enrollment
- 9,481
70. Westmont College
#797 in the United States
#866 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 79%
- Average SAT
- 1310
- Average ACT
- 29
- Net Price
- $33,554
71. Antioch University
#798 in the United States
#867 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Enrollment
- 815
- Male:Female
- 26:74
72. Point Loma Nazarene University
#803 in the United States
#872 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Average SAT
- 1260
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $34,851
73. Western University of Health Sciences
#813 in the United States
#882 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Enrollment
- 3,788
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1977
74. California Institute of the Arts
#833 in the United States
#902 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 29%
- Net Price
- $53,916
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $18,119
75. Ashford University
#861 in the United States
#930 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Net Price
- $23,585
- Receiving Aid
- 95%
- Average Aid
- $4,803
76. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
#879 in the United States
#948 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Net Price
- $33,638
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $2,389
77. California College of the Arts
#881 in the United States
#950 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Net Price
- $40,231
- Receiving Aid
- 84%
- Average Aid
- $28,928
78. La Sierra University
#888 in the United States
#957 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Average SAT
- 1010
- Average ACT
- 23
- Net Price
- $25,230
79. California Baptist University
#898 in the United States
#967 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 64%
- Net Price
- $23,494
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $23,083
81. Santa Monica College
#918 in the United States
#987 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 72%
- Average Aid
- $4,809
- Enrollment
- 23,408
83. California Western School of Law
#958 in the United States
#1029 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 60%
- Enrollment
- 758
- Male:Female
- 41:59
- Founded
- 1924
84. Art Center College of Design
#992 in the United States
#1063 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Net Price
- $50,420
- Receiving Aid
- 67%
- Average Aid
- $17,667
85. Keck Graduate Institute
#1010 in the United States
#1082 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Enrollment
- 573
- Male:Female
- 35:65
- Founded
- 1997
86. California State University - Channel Islands
#1038 in the United States
#1112 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $9,261
- Enrollment
- 6,966
87. Pacific Union College
#1052 in the United States
#1126 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 58%
- Net Price
- $22,767
- Receiving Aid
- 99%
- Average Aid
- $22,072
88. California State University Maritime Academy
#1054 in the United States
#1128 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Receiving Aid
- 74%
- Average Aid
- $7,663
- Enrollment
- 925
89. Trident University International
#1057 in the United States
#1131 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 49%
- Net Price
- $13,916
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $4,188
90. Woodbury University
#1067 in the United States
#1141 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 63%
- Net Price
- $32,293
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
- Average Aid
- $23,275
91. Southwestern Law School
#1075 in the United States
#1149 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Enrollment
- 952
- Male:Female
- 41:59
- Founded
- 1911
92. MiraCosta College
#1098 in the United States
#1172 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 76%
- Average Aid
- $4,697
- Enrollment
- 11,125
93. Foothill College
#1105 in the United States
#1179 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
- Average Aid
- $3,927
- Enrollment
- 12,438
94. Samuel Merritt University
#1107 in the United States
#1181 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 56%
- Enrollment
- 2,048
- Male:Female
- 24:76
- Founded
- 1909
95. Palo Alto University
#1130 in the United States
#1204 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 12%
- Enrollment
- 1,149
- Male:Female
- 17:83
- Founded
- 1975
97. Vanguard University of Southern California
#1165 in the United States
#1239 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Average SAT
- 1090
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $20,427
99. Fresno Pacific University
#1174 in the United States
#1249 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Average SAT
- 1105
- Average ACT
- 21
- Net Price
- $15,350
Closest to California states
State | Universities Unis | Best university country rank Best uni |
---|---|---|
Nevada | 10 | 132 |
Oregon | 31 | 68 |
Utah | 20 | 44 |
Arizona | 25 | 31 |
Idaho | 10 | 160 |
Washington | 57 | 7 |
Wyoming | 1 | 141 |
Colorado | 38 | 45 |
New Mexico | 12 | 76 |
Montana | 12 | 151 |
Nebraska | 23 | 70 |
South Dakota | 15 | 242 |
Kansas | 32 | 65 |
Texas | 119 | 21 |
Oklahoma | 31 | 94 |
North Dakota | 14 | 187 |
Minnesota | 48 | 14 |
Iowa | 39 | 49 |
Missouri | 67 | 36 |
Arkansas | 24 | 126 |
Louisiana | 27 | 80 |
Wisconsin | 47 | 13 |
Illinois | 100 | 15 |
Mississippi | 18 | 136 |
Indiana | 55 | 33 |
Michigan | 62 | 3 |
Tennessee | 56 | 51 |
Alabama | 33 | 87 |
Kentucky | 38 | 61 |
Ohio | 90 | 20 |
Georgia | 63 | 48 |
West Virginia | 26 | 109 |
South Carolina | 37 | 88 |
North Carolina | 65 | 18 |
Virginia | 63 | 42 |
Alaska | 6 | 178 |
Pennsylvania | 155 | 11 |
Florida | 109 | 27 |
District of Columbia | 15 | 66 |
Maryland | 34 | 12 |
New York | 221 | 8 |
Delaware | 5 | 91 |
New Jersey | 47 | 16 |
Vermont | 17 | 106 |
Hawaii | 10 | 190 |
Connecticut | 28 | 10 |
Massachusetts | 88 | 1 |
New Hampshire | 16 | 74 |
Rhode Island | 12 | 52 |
Maine | 19 | 158 |
Puerto Rico | 52 | 407 |
US Virgin Islands | 1 | 808 |
American Samoa | 1 | 1666 |
Northern Mariana Islands | 1 | 1633 |
Guam | 2 | 590 |