100+ Best Universities in California, US [2025 Rankings]

Top 100 universities in California ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 163M citations received by 3.46M academic publications made by 249 universities from California, the popularity of 14,081 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. Stanford University

Stanford

#2 in the United States

#2 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

2. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

#5 in the United States

#5 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

3. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#11 in the United States

#11 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

4. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

#20 in the United States

#21 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

#22 in the United States

#23 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

6. University of California - Davis

Davis

#28 in the United States

#30 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

7. University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco

#32 in the United States

#34 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

#43 in the United States

#46 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

9. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

#45 in the United States

#49 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

10. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

#52 in the United States

#56 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

11. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

#85 in the United States

#97 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

12. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

#88 in the United States

#100 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

13. San Diego State University

San Diego

#125 in the United States

#144 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $5,459
Enrollment: 39,241

14. San Jose State University

San Jose

#170 in the United States

#195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $11,311
Enrollment: 36,062

15. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

#178 in the United States

#203 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $11,498
Enrollment: 23,908

16. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

#198 in the United States

#225 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $49,651

17. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

#199 in the United States

#226 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $12,000
Enrollment: 37,760

18. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

#211 in the United States

#238 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $10,445
Enrollment: 41,962

19. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

#213 in the United States

#240 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $12,707
Enrollment: 22,485

20. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

#214 in the United States

#241 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $10,512
Enrollment: 40,278

21. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

#227 in the United States

#254 in North America

Enrollment: 4,202
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1905

22. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

#236 in the United States

#266 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $44,104

23. Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey

#244 in the United States

#275 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,600
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

24. University of San Diego

San Diego

#256 in the United States

#287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Net Price: $37,675
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $37,444

25. Chapman University

Orange

#260 in the United States

#291 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $48,037

26. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#275 in the United States

#306 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $12,478
Enrollment: 25,080

27. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

#276 in the United States

#307 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $11,503
Enrollment: 31,172

28. Pepperdine University

Malibu

#280 in the United States

#311 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $52,216

29. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles

#283 in the United States

#314 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Net Price: $54,471
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $21,575

30. Humboldt State University

Arcata

#300 in the United States

#331 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $10,046
Enrollment: 6,156

31. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

#304 in the United States

#335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $11,412
Enrollment: 23,986

32. University of California - Merced

Merced

#309 in the United States

#341 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $24,868
Enrollment: 9,147

33. Pomona College

Claremont

#312 in the United States

#344 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,423

34. University of the Pacific

Stockton

#313 in the United States

#345 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $30,975

35. Claremont Graduate University

Claremont

#325 in the United States

#361 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,763
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1925

36. California State University - Chico

Chico

#332 in the United States

#369 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $10,331
Enrollment: 14,523

37. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

#335 in the United States

#372 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $10,441
Enrollment: 26,848

38. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

#342 in the United States

#379 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,421
Enrollment: 18,925

39. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park

#386 in the United States

#427 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $8,546
Enrollment: 5,990

40. Occidental College

Los Angeles

#398 in the United States

#443 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,113

41. Harvey Mudd College

Claremont

#412 in the United States

#458 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $42,720

42. California State University - San Marcos

San Marcos

#437 in the United States

#483 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,247
Enrollment: 15,431

43. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont

#450 in the United States

#497 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,978

44. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson

#453 in the United States

#500 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $11,074
Enrollment: 15,181

45. California State University - East Bay

Hayward

#459 in the United States

#506 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 13,333

46. Alliant International University - San Diego

San Diego

#527 in the United States

#578 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 0%
Net Price: $25,481
Receiving Aid: 33%
Average Aid: $9,411

47. Azusa Pacific University

Azusa

#542 in the United States

#594 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1154
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $26,117

48. California State University - Monterey Bay

Seaside

#560 in the United States

#614 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,480
Enrollment: 6,742

49. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield

#561 in the United States

#615 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $12,437
Enrollment: 9,787

50. Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco

#581 in the United States

#637 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 2,262
Male:Female: 62:38
Founded: 1901

51. Biola University

La Mirada

#585 in the United States

#641 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $30,510

52. California State University - Stanislaus

Turlock

#594 in the United States

#650 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $11,362
Enrollment: 9,841

53. Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga

#595 in the United States

#651 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $31,615
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $42,080

54. University of Redlands

Redlands

#597 in the United States

#654 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1201
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $28,054

55. Fuller Theological Seminary

Pasadena

#608 in the United States

#665 in North America

Enrollment: 1,935
Male:Female: 52:48

56. Mills College

Oakland

#625 in the United States

#683 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $25,283

57. Dominican University of California

San Rafael

#661 in the United States

#722 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1181
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $51,292

58. Pitzer College

Claremont

#670 in the United States

#731 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Net Price: $34,801
Receiving Aid: 39%
Average Aid: $48,031

59. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles

#680 in the United States

#741 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $27,789
Receiving Aid: 43%
Average Aid: $6,184

60. Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

Duarte

#729 in the United States

#796 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 90
Founded: 1994

61. Whittier College

Whittier

#732 in the United States

#799 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $32,436
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,008

62. University of La Verne

La Verne

#737 in the United States

#804 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1137
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $27,216

63. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

#757 in the United States

#825 in North America

Enrollment: 48
Male:Female: 37:63

64. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

#760 in the United States

#828 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,625
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1977

65. California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks

#767 in the United States

#835 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1227
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $27,080

66. John F. Kennedy University

Pleasant Hill

#780 in the United States

#848 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1964

67. Scripps College

Claremont

#783 in the United States

#851 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,505

68. University of California - Hastings College of Law

San Francisco

#796 in the United States

#864 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 1,216
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1878

69. California Institute of Integral Studies

San Francisco

#813 in the United States

#881 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 2,047
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1968

70. West Los Angeles College

Culver

#832 in the United States

#900 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $6,817
Enrollment: 9,299

71. Westmont College

Santa Barbara

#836 in the United States

#904 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,412

72. Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego

#842 in the United States

#910 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $36,370

73. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

#844 in the United States

#912 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,223
Male:Female: 15:85
Founded: 1975

74. Fielding Graduate University

Santa Barbara

#854 in the United States

#922 in North America

Enrollment: 937
Male:Female: 19:81
Founded: 1974

75. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#867 in the United States

#935 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Net Price: $39,401
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,599

76. California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo

#868 in the United States

#936 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $11,063
Enrollment: 805

77. Antioch University

Culver

#871 in the United States

#939 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 888
Male:Female: 28:72

78. California Baptist University

Riverside

#877 in the United States

#945 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $28,596
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,828

79. California Institute of the Arts

Santa Clarita

#899 in the United States

#967 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Net Price: $57,288
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $22,071

80. Santa Monica College

Santa Monica

#926 in the United States

#994 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $5,515
Enrollment: 23,164

81. La Sierra University

Riverside

#941 in the United States

#1010 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $28,076
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $21,762

82. California College of the Arts

San Francisco

#946 in the United States

#1015 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $49,945
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $29,175

83. Soka University of America

Aliso Viejo

#954 in the United States

#1023 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1340
Net Price: $18,807
Receiving Aid: 100%

84. California Western School of Law

San Diego

#958 in the United States

#1027 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 625
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1924

85. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

#959 in the United States

#1028 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $33,463
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $15,528

86. Saybrook University

Oakland

#965 in the United States

#1035 in North America

Enrollment: 1,055
Male:Female: 16:84
Founded: 1971

87. Graduate Theological Union

Berkeley

#982 in the United States

#1053 in North America

Enrollment: 178
Male:Female: 50:50

88. Art Center College of Design

Pasadena

#1039 in the United States

#1111 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $53,306
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $18,219

89. Woodbury University

Burbank

#1068 in the United States

#1141 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $31,257
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $27,165

90. Foothill College

Los Altos Hills

#1079 in the United States

#1152 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $4,298
Enrollment: 12,931

91. California State University - Channel Islands

Camarillo

#1096 in the United States

#1170 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $12,804
Enrollment: 5,688

92. Ashford University

San Diego

#1102 in the United States

#1176 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $25,771
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $5,234

93. Southwestern Law School

Los Angeles

#1108 in the United States

#1182 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 951
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1911

94. Cypress College

Cypress

#1109 in the United States

#1183 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $7,660
Enrollment: 13,992

95. Keck Graduate Institute

Claremont

#1112 in the United States

#1186 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 602
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1997

96. Pacific Union College

Angwin

#1115 in the United States

#1189 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $22,799

97. Samuel Merritt University

Oakland

#1131 in the United States

#1205 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 1,894
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1909

98. Northcentral University

San Diego

#1137 in the United States

#1213 in North America

Enrollment: 10,518
Male:Female: 24:76

99. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno

#1142 in the United States

#1218 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Net Price: $15,668
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $27,472

100. Santa Ana College

Santa Ana

#1144 in the United States

#1220 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $6,162
Enrollment: 26,073

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Nevada	10	129
Oregon	31	60
Utah	20	41
Arizona	25	35
Idaho	10	149
Washington	57	8
Wyoming	1	146
Colorado	38	44
New Mexico	12	84
Montana	12	145
Nebraska	23	64
South Dakota	15	232
Kansas	32	74
Texas	119	26
Oklahoma	31	99
North Dakota	14	177
Minnesota	48	14
Iowa	39	48
Missouri	67	39
Arkansas	24	128
Louisiana	27	79
Wisconsin	47	13
Illinois	100	15
Mississippi	18	132
Indiana	55	33
Michigan	62	3
Tennessee	56	50
Alabama	33	87
Kentucky	38	63
Ohio	90	18
Georgia	63	47
West Virginia	26	105
South Carolina	37	89
North Carolina	65	24
Virginia	63	40
Alaska	6	181
Pennsylvania	155	12
Florida	109	23
District of Columbia	15	55
Maryland	34	9
New York	221	4
Delaware	5	82
New Jersey	47	21
Vermont	17	111
Hawaii	10	159
Connecticut	28	10
Massachusetts	88	1
New Hampshire	16	76
Rhode Island	12	49
Maine	19	154
Puerto Rico	52	367
US Virgin Islands	1	790
American Samoa	1	1689
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1585
Guam	2	601

Closest to California states