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

#37 in the United States

#40 in North America

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

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

#42 in the United States

#45 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

#83 in the United States

#94 in North America

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

12. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

#87 in the United States

#99 in North America

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

13. San Diego State University

San Diego

#122 in the United States

#141 in North America

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

14. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

#174 in the United States

#199 in North America

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

15. San Jose State University

San Jose

#179 in the United States

#204 in North America

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

16. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

#198 in the United States

#224 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

#225 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

#212 in the United States

#239 in North America

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

20. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

#213 in the United States

#240 in North America

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

21. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

#229 in the United States

#258 in North America

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

22. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

#235 in the United States

#265 in North America

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

23. Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey

#251 in the United States

#282 in North America

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

24. University of San Diego

San Diego

#252 in the United States

#283 in North America

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

25. Chapman University

Orange

#269 in the United States

#300 in North America

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

26. Pepperdine University

Malibu

#274 in the United States

#305 in North America

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

27. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles

#278 in the United States

#309 in North America

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

28. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#280 in the United States

#311 in North America

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

29. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

#285 in the United States

#316 in North America

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

30. Humboldt State University

Arcata

#296 in the United States

#327 in North America

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

31. University of California - Merced

Merced

#305 in the United States

#337 in North America

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

32. Pomona College

Claremont

#311 in the United States

#343 in North America

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

33. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

#313 in the United States

#345 in North America

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

34. University of the Pacific

Stockton

#318 in the United States

#354 in North America

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

35. Claremont Graduate University

Claremont

#322 in the United States

#358 in North America

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

36. California State University - Chico

Chico

#330 in the United States

#367 in North America

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

37. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

#332 in the United States

#369 in North America

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

38. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

#341 in the United States

#378 in North America

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

39. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park

#381 in the United States

#423 in North America

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

40. Harvey Mudd College

Claremont

#407 in the United States

#453 in North America

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

41. Occidental College

Los Angeles

#412 in the United States

#458 in North America

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

42. California State University - San Marcos

San Marcos

#434 in the United States

#481 in North America

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

43. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson

#445 in the United States

#492 in North America

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

44. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont

#463 in the United States

#510 in North America

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

45. California State University - East Bay

Hayward

#469 in the United States

#516 in North America

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

46. Alliant International University - San Diego

San Diego

#521 in the United States

#572 in North America

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

47. Azusa Pacific University

Azusa

#532 in the United States

#584 in North America

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

48. California State University - Monterey Bay

Seaside

#552 in the United States

#605 in North America

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

49. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield

#553 in the United States

#606 in North America

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

50. Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco

#573 in the United States

#627 in North America

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

51. Biola University

La Mirada

#575 in the United States

#630 in North America

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

52. California State University - Stanislaus

Turlock

#581 in the United States

#636 in North America

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

53. Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga

#582 in the United States

#637 in North America

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

54. University of Redlands

Redlands

#584 in the United States

#639 in North America

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

55. Fuller Theological Seminary

Pasadena

#594 in the United States

#650 in North America

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

56. Mills College

Oakland

#613 in the United States

#670 in North America

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

57. Dominican University of California

San Rafael

#650 in the United States

#710 in North America

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

58. Pitzer College

Claremont

#656 in the United States

#717 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

#689 in the United States

#751 in North America

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

60. University of California - Hastings College of Law

San Francisco

#691 in the United States

#753 in North America

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

61. Whittier College

Whittier

#729 in the United States

#794 in North America

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

62. University of La Verne

La Verne

#732 in the United States

#798 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

#746 in the United States

#814 in North America

Enrollment: 48
Male:Female: 37:63

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

Duarte

#748 in the United States

#816 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 90
Founded: 1994

65. John F. Kennedy University

Pleasant Hill

#765 in the United States

#833 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1964

66. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

#768 in the United States

#836 in North America

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

67. Scripps College

Claremont

#770 in the United States

#838 in North America

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

68. California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks

#776 in the United States

#844 in North America

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

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

#826 in the United States

#894 in North America

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

71. Westmont College

Santa Barbara

#832 in the United States

#900 in North America

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

72. Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego

#838 in the United States

#906 in North America

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

73. Fielding Graduate University

Santa Barbara

#852 in the United States

#920 in North America

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

74. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#865 in the United States

#933 in North America

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

75. California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo

#866 in the United States

#934 in North America

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

76. Antioch University

Culver

#868 in the United States

#936 in North America

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

77. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

#872 in the United States

#940 in North America

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

78. California Baptist University

Riverside

#895 in the United States

#963 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. La Sierra University

Riverside

#900 in the United States

#968 in North America

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

81. Santa Monica College

Santa Monica

#910 in the United States

#978 in North America

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

82. California College of the Arts

San Francisco

#929 in the United States

#998 in North America

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

83. California Western School of Law

San Diego

#942 in the United States

#1011 in North America

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

84. Soka University of America

Aliso Viejo

#959 in the United States

#1029 in North America

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

85. Graduate Theological Union

Berkeley

#981 in the United States

#1052 in North America

Enrollment: 178
Male:Female: 50:50

86. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

#991 in the United States

#1062 in North America

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

87. Art Center College of Design

Pasadena

#1007 in the United States

#1078 in North America

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

88. Saybrook University

Oakland

#1028 in the United States

#1100 in North America

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

89. Woodbury University

Burbank

#1046 in the United States

#1118 in North America

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

90. Foothill College

Los Altos Hills

#1060 in the United States

#1133 in North America

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

91. California State University - Channel Islands

Camarillo

#1083 in the United States

#1156 in North America

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

92. Ashford University

San Diego

#1086 in the United States

#1159 in North America

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

93. Southwestern Law School

Los Angeles

#1092 in the United States

#1165 in North America

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

94. Keck Graduate Institute

Claremont

#1099 in the United States

#1173 in North America

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

95. Northcentral University

San Diego

#1101 in the United States

#1176 in North America

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

96. Pacific Union College

Angwin

#1105 in the United States

#1180 in North America

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

97. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno

#1109 in the United States

#1184 in North America

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

98. Trident University International

Cypress

#1135 in the United States

#1210 in North America

Net Price: $13,916
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $4,188

99. Cypress College

Cypress

#1138 in the United States

#1213 in North America

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

100. Santa Ana College

Santa Ana

#1154 in the United States

#1230 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	131
Oregon	31	63
Utah	20	41
Arizona	25	34
Idaho	10	147
Washington	57	8
Wyoming	1	144
Colorado	38	44
New Mexico	12	82
Montana	12	154
Nebraska	23	68
South Dakota	15	234
Kansas	32	72
Texas	119	26
Oklahoma	31	96
North Dakota	14	182
Minnesota	48	14
Iowa	39	48
Missouri	67	39
Arkansas	24	127
Louisiana	27	79
Wisconsin	47	13
Illinois	100	15
Mississippi	18	132
Indiana	55	32
Michigan	62	3
Tennessee	56	50
Alabama	33	85
Kentucky	38	61
Ohio	90	18
Georgia	63	47
West Virginia	26	110
South Carolina	37	88
North Carolina	65	24
Virginia	63	40
Alaska	6	177
Pennsylvania	155	12
Florida	109	23
District of Columbia	15	55
Maryland	34	9
New York	221	4
Delaware	5	90
New Jersey	47	21
Vermont	17	111
Hawaii	10	159
Connecticut	28	10
Massachusetts	88	1
New Hampshire	16	77
Rhode Island	12	49
Maine	19	153
Puerto Rico	52	360
US Virgin Islands	1	796
American Samoa	1	1705
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1596
Guam	2	616

Closest to California states