73 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy in California, US
Updated:
Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 15.1M citations received by 293K academic papers made by 73 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. California Institute of Technology
- Acceptance Rate
 - 3%
 - Net Price
 - $23,397
 - Receiving Aid
 - 68%
 - Average Aid
 - $60,201
 
2. University of California - Berkeley
- Acceptance Rate
 - 12%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 61%
 - Average Aid
 - $25,951
 - Enrollment
 - 45,699
 
3. Stanford University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 4%
 - Average SAT
 - 1545
 - Average ACT
 - 35
 - Net Price
 - $17,998
 
4. University of California - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
 - 9%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 60%
 - Average Aid
 - $22,441
 - Enrollment
 - 46,678
 
5. University of California-San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
 - 25%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 70%
 - Average Aid
 - $24,176
 - Enrollment
 - 42,376
 
6. University of California - Santa Barbara
- Acceptance Rate
 - 28%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 58%
 - Average Aid
 - $21,732
 - Enrollment
 - 26,068
 
7. University of California - Santa Cruz
- Acceptance Rate
 - 63%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 71%
 - Average Aid
 - $21,564
 - Enrollment
 - 19,764
 
8. University of California - Davis
- Acceptance Rate
 - 42%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 58%
 - Average Aid
 - $21,258
 - Enrollment
 - 39,707
 
9. University of California - Irvine
- Acceptance Rate
 - 26%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 71%
 - Average Aid
 - $21,533
 - Enrollment
 - 36,582
 
10. University of Southern California
- Acceptance Rate
 - 10%
 - Average SAT
 - 1495
 - Average ACT
 - 34
 - Net Price
 - $41,496
 
11. University of California - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
 - 13%
 - Enrollment
 - 3,126
 - Male:Female
 - 35:65
 - Founded
 - 1864
 
12. University of California - Riverside
- Acceptance Rate
 - 63%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 75%
 - Average Aid
 - $21,566
 - Enrollment
 - 26,426
 
13. San Diego State University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 34%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 95%
 - Average Aid
 - $5,459
 - Enrollment
 - 39,241
 
14. San Francisco State University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 96%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 79%
 - Average Aid
 - $11,498
 - Enrollment
 - 23,908
 
15. Naval Postgraduate School
- Acceptance Rate
 - 23%
 - Enrollment
 - 2,600
 - Male:Female
 - 79:21
 - Founded
 - 1909
 
16. San Jose State University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 80%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 67%
 - Average Aid
 - $11,311
 - Enrollment
 - 36,062
 
17. California State University - Fullerton
- Acceptance Rate
 - 87%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 82%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,445
 - Enrollment
 - 41,962
 
18. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
- Acceptance Rate
 - 30%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 60%
 - Average Aid
 - $12,707
 - Enrollment
 - 22,485
 
19. University of California - Merced
- Acceptance Rate
 - 39%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 85%
 - Average Aid
 - $24,868
 - Enrollment
 - 9,147
 
20. California State University - Northridge
- Acceptance Rate
 - 93%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 87%
 - Average Aid
 - $12,000
 - Enrollment
 - 37,760
 
21. Loma Linda University
- Enrollment
 - 4,202
 - Male:Female
 - 33:67
 - Founded
 - 1905
 
22. California State University - Los Angeles
- Acceptance Rate
 - 92%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 94%
 - Average Aid
 - $12,478
 - Enrollment
 - 25,080
 
23. Santa Clara University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 44%
 - Average SAT
 - 1420
 - Average ACT
 - 32
 - Net Price
 - $49,651
 
24. California State University - Fresno
- Acceptance Rate
 - 96%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 89%
 - Average Aid
 - $11,412
 - Enrollment
 - 23,986
 
25. California State University - Long Beach
- Acceptance Rate
 - 47%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 82%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,512
 - Enrollment
 - 40,278
 
26. Pomona College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 7%
 - Average SAT
 - 1520
 - Average ACT
 - 34
 - Net Price
 - $17,423
 
27. University of the Pacific
- Acceptance Rate
 - 95%
 - Average SAT
 - 1290
 - Average ACT
 - 27
 - Net Price
 - $30,975
 
28. Humboldt State University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 99%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 73%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,046
 - Enrollment
 - 6,156
 
29. University of San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
 - 51%
 - Average SAT
 - 1300
 - Average ACT
 - 29
 - Net Price
 - $44,104
 
30. Chapman University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 56%
 - Average SAT
 - 1340
 - Average ACT
 - 30
 - Net Price
 - $48,037
 
31. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona
- Acceptance Rate
 - 74%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 78%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,441
 - Enrollment
 - 26,848
 
32. Harvey Mudd College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 13%
 - Average SAT
 - 1520
 - Average ACT
 - 35
 - Net Price
 - $42,720
 
33. California State University - Sacramento
- Acceptance Rate
 - 94%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 85%
 - Average Aid
 - $11,503
 - Enrollment
 - 31,172
 
34. Palo Alto University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 12%
 - Enrollment
 - 1,223
 - Male:Female
 - 15:85
 - Founded
 - 1975
 
35. Loyola Marymount University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 40%
 - Net Price
 - $54,471
 - Receiving Aid
 - 100%
 - Average Aid
 - $21,575
 
36. University of San Diego
- Acceptance Rate
 - 47%
 - Net Price
 - $37,675
 - Receiving Aid
 - 86%
 - Average Aid
 - $37,444
 
37. Claremont Graduate University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 35%
 - Enrollment
 - 1,763
 - Male:Female
 - 40:60
 - Founded
 - 1925
 
38. John F. Kennedy University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 100%
 - Founded
 - 1964
 
39. Sonoma State University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 95%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 86%
 - Average Aid
 - $8,546
 - Enrollment
 - 5,990
 
40. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
- Enrollment
 - 48
 - Male:Female
 - 37:63
 
41. Occidental College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 40%
 - Average SAT
 - 1430
 - Average ACT
 - 33
 - Net Price
 - $47,113
 
42. California State University - San Marcos
- Acceptance Rate
 - 96%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 79%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,247
 - Enrollment
 - 15,431
 
43. Claremont McKenna College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 11%
 - Average SAT
 - 1505
 - Average ACT
 - 34
 - Net Price
 - $29,978
 
44. Western University of Health Sciences
- Acceptance Rate
 - 8%
 - Enrollment
 - 3,625
 - Male:Female
 - 36:64
 - Founded
 - 1977
 
45. California State University - Monterey Bay
- Acceptance Rate
 - 95%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 79%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,480
 - Enrollment
 - 6,742
 
46. California State University - Chico
- Acceptance Rate
 - 94%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 73%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,331
 - Enrollment
 - 14,523
 
47. California State University - Dominguez Hills
- Acceptance Rate
 - 91%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 95%
 - Average Aid
 - $11,074
 - Enrollment
 - 15,181
 
48. California State University Maritime Academy
- Acceptance Rate
 - 99%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 66%
 - Average Aid
 - $11,063
 - Enrollment
 - 805
 
49. California State University - San Bernardino
- Acceptance Rate
 - 98%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 89%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,421
 - Enrollment
 - 18,925
 
50. Pepperdine University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 50%
 - Average SAT
 - 1350
 - Average ACT
 - 29
 - Net Price
 - $52,216
 
51. California State University - East Bay
- Acceptance Rate
 - 97%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 80%
 - Average Aid
 - $10,886
 - Enrollment
 - 13,333
 
52. West Los Angeles College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 100%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 70%
 - Average Aid
 - $6,817
 - Enrollment
 - 9,299
 
53. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science
- Acceptance Rate
 - 39%
 - Net Price
 - $27,789
 - Receiving Aid
 - 43%
 - Average Aid
 - $6,184
 
54. University of the West
- Acceptance Rate
 - 100%
 - Net Price
 - $11,137
 - Receiving Aid
 - 100%
 - Average Aid
 - $13,807
 
55. University of Redlands
- Acceptance Rate
 - 81%
 - Average SAT
 - 1201
 - Average ACT
 - 28
 - Net Price
 - $28,054
 
56. California State University - Bakersfield
- Acceptance Rate
 - 88%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 91%
 - Average Aid
 - $12,437
 - Enrollment
 - 9,787
 
57. Westmont College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 80%
 - Average SAT
 - 1315
 - Average ACT
 - 32
 - Net Price
 - $36,412
 
58. Golden Gate University - San Francisco
- Acceptance Rate
 - 100%
 - Enrollment
 - 2,262
 - Male:Female
 - 62:38
 - Founded
 - 1901
 
59. Whittier College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 85%
 - Net Price
 - $32,436
 - Receiving Aid
 - 100%
 - Average Aid
 - $32,008
 
60. Soka University of America
- Acceptance Rate
 - 70%
 - Average SAT
 - 1340
 - Net Price
 - $18,807
 - Receiving Aid
 - 100%
 
61. California State University - Stanislaus
- Acceptance Rate
 - 97%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 89%
 - Average Aid
 - $11,362
 - Enrollment
 - 9,841
 
62. Saint Mary's College of California
- Acceptance Rate
 - 89%
 - Net Price
 - $31,615
 - Receiving Aid
 - 100%
 - Average Aid
 - $42,080
 
63. Graduate Theological Union
- Enrollment
 - 178
 - Male:Female
 - 50:50
 
64. Mills College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 17%
 - Average SAT
 - 1455
 - Average ACT
 - 32
 - Net Price
 - $25,283
 
65. Pitzer College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 17%
 - Net Price
 - $34,801
 - Receiving Aid
 - 39%
 - Average Aid
 - $48,031
 
66. Biola University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 60%
 - Average SAT
 - 1245
 - Average ACT
 - 27
 - Net Price
 - $30,510
 
67. United States University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 100%
 - Net Price
 - $20,197
 - Receiving Aid
 - 32%
 - Average Aid
 - $8,161
 
68. Scripps College
- Acceptance Rate
 - 34%
 - Average SAT
 - 1475
 - Average ACT
 - 33
 - Net Price
 - $45,505
 
69. Master's University and Seminary
- Acceptance Rate
 - 76%
 - Net Price
 - $33,463
 - Receiving Aid
 - 87%
 - Average Aid
 - $15,528
 
70. California Lutheran University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 89%
 - Average SAT
 - 1227
 - Average ACT
 - 26
 - Net Price
 - $27,080
 
71. Pacific States University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 100%
 - Receiving Aid
 - 0%
 - Enrollment
 - 40
 - Male:Female
 - 52:48
 
72. Azusa Pacific University
- Acceptance Rate
 - 79%
 - Average SAT
 - 1154
 - Average ACT
 - 22
 - Net Price
 - $26,117
 
73. Dominican University of California
- Acceptance Rate
 - 96%
 - Average SAT
 - 1181
 - Average ACT
 - 26
 - Net Price
 - $51,292
 
Closest to California states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy
| State |   Universities  Unis   |    Best university country rank  Best uni    |  
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 14 | 74 | 
| Utah | 6 | 50 | 
| Arizona | 5 | 7 | 
| Idaho | 4 | 170 | 
| Washington | 16 | 11 | 
| Colorado | 14 | 20 | 
| New Mexico | 6 | 69 | 
| Montana | 4 | 109 | 
| Nebraska | 7 | 93 | 
| South Dakota | 7 | 242 | 
| Kansas | 10 | 82 | 
| Texas | 53 | 15 | 
| Oklahoma | 9 | 72 | 
| North Dakota | 3 | 206 | 
| Minnesota | 21 | 28 | 
| Iowa | 11 | 53 | 
| Missouri | 16 | 45 | 
| Arkansas | 9 | 142 | 
| Louisiana | 17 | 64 | 
| Wisconsin | 21 | 19 | 
| Illinois | 35 | 10 | 
| Mississippi | 7 | 164 | 
| Indiana | 20 | 33 | 
| Michigan | 21 | 8 | 
| Tennessee | 20 | 63 | 
| Alabama | 16 | 91 | 
| Kentucky | 13 | 68 | 
| Ohio | 34 | 21 | 
| Georgia | 25 | 32 | 
| West Virginia | 5 | 108 | 
| South Carolina | 14 | 98 | 
| North Carolina | 24 | 47 | 
| Virginia | 28 | 36 | 
| Alaska | 3 | 116 | 
| Pennsylvania | 63 | 12 | 
| Florida | 28 | 29 | 
| District of Columbia | 8 | 101 | 
| Maryland | 18 | 14 | 
| New York | 85 | 9 | 
| New Jersey | 18 | 6 | 
| Vermont | 4 | 169 | 
| Hawaii | 4 | 61 | 
| Connecticut | 18 | 22 | 
| Massachusetts | 48 | 4 | 
| New Hampshire | 8 | 75 | 
| Rhode Island | 6 | 51 | 
| Maine | 7 | 202 | 
| Puerto Rico | 6 | 306 |