100+ Best Universities in California, US [2026 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 171M citations received by 3.55M academic publications made by 249 universities from California, the popularity of 14,790 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: $25,078

2. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

#5 in the United States

#5 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

3. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#11 in the United States

#11 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

4. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

#20 in the United States

#21 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

#22 in the United States

#23 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

6. University of California - Davis

Davis

#28 in the United States

#30 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

7. University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco

#32 in the United States

#35 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

#43 in the United States

#46 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

9. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

#46 in the United States

#50 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

10. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

#55 in the United States

#59 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

11. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

#84 in the United States

#96 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

12. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

#89 in the United States

#101 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

13. San Diego State University

San Diego

#124 in the United States

#143 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

14. San Jose State University

San Jose

#168 in the United States

#192 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 69%
Average Aid: $12,353
Enrollment: 37,661

15. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

#184 in the United States

#208 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $12,996
Enrollment: 22,563

16. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

#205 in the United States

#232 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $53,883

17. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

#206 in the United States

#233 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $12,825
Enrollment: 38,313

18. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

#209 in the United States

#236 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $14,338
Enrollment: 23,069

19. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

#211 in the United States

#238 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $11,795
Enrollment: 42,003

20. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

#216 in the United States

#244 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $11,234
Enrollment: 43,662

21. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

#221 in the United States

#249 in North America

Enrollment: 4,210
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1905

22. Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey

#231 in the United States

#260 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,441
Male:Female: 79:21
Founded: 1909

23. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

#234 in the United States

#264 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $45,443

24. University of San Diego

San Diego

#248 in the United States

#279 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Net Price: $37,918
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $40,965

25. Chapman University

Orange

#251 in the United States

#282 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $47,902

26. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles

#266 in the United States

#297 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $59,926

27. Pepperdine University

Malibu

#275 in the United States

#306 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $66,585

28. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#278 in the United States

#309 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $13,824
Enrollment: 23,163

29. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

#282 in the United States

#313 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $12,767
Enrollment: 31,943

30. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

#287 in the United States

#318 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $12,326
Enrollment: 24,427

31. University of California - Merced

Merced

#296 in the United States

#327 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $27,292
Enrollment: 9,110

32. Humboldt State University

Arcata

#297 in the United States

#328 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,748
Enrollment: 6,237

33. Pomona College

Claremont

#304 in the United States

#337 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,938

34. University of the Pacific

Stockton

#312 in the United States

#346 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1332
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $31,670

35. Claremont Graduate University

Claremont

#316 in the United States

#351 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,771
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1925

36. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

#321 in the United States

#357 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $11,833
Enrollment: 27,636

37. California State University - Chico

Chico

#324 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $11,509
Enrollment: 15,257

38. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

#331 in the United States

#368 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $12,167
Enrollment: 18,492

39. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park

#372 in the United States

#416 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $9,094
Enrollment: 5,891

40. Occidental College

Los Angeles

#381 in the United States

#427 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $48,400

41. Harvey Mudd College

Claremont

#418 in the United States

#464 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $43,966

42. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson

#430 in the United States

#477 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $13,951
Enrollment: 15,182

43. California State University - East Bay

Hayward

#433 in the United States

#480 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $12,369
Enrollment: 12,326

44. California State University - San Marcos

San Marcos

#440 in the United States

#487 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $11,123
Enrollment: 16,237

45. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont

#452 in the United States

#500 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,895

46. California State University - Monterey Bay

Seaside

#517 in the United States

#568 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 76%
Average Aid: $12,185
Enrollment: 7,713

47. Alliant International University - San Diego

San Diego

#528 in the United States

#580 in North America

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

48. Azusa Pacific University

Azusa

#548 in the United States

#603 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1111
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,143

49. Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco

#563 in the United States

#618 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 3,098
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1901

50. Biola University

La Mirada

#564 in the United States

#619 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $34,082

51. Fuller Theological Seminary

Pasadena

#567 in the United States

#622 in North America

Enrollment: 1,890
Male:Female: 53:47

52. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield

#568 in the United States

#623 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,966
Enrollment: 10,419

53. California State University - Stanislaus

Turlock

#577 in the United States

#632 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $12,492
Enrollment: 9,724

54. University of Redlands

Redlands

#583 in the United States

#640 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1229
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,482

55. Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga

#599 in the United States

#656 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $35,332
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $42,407

56. Mills College

Oakland

#625 in the United States

#684 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,473

57. Dominican University of California

San Rafael

#631 in the United States

#690 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1255
Net Price: $37,456
Receiving Aid: 100%

58. Pitzer College

Claremont

#644 in the United States

#704 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Net Price: $34,979
Receiving Aid: 45%
Average Aid: $51,487

59. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles

#691 in the United States

#755 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $35,558
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $4,276

60. Scripps College

Claremont

#697 in the United States

#762 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,396

61. University of La Verne

La Verne

#717 in the United States

#784 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1111
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,530

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

Duarte

#720 in the United States

#787 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 90
Founded: 1994

63. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

#727 in the United States

#794 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,065
Male:Female: 16:84
Founded: 1975

64. California Institute of Integral Studies

San Francisco

#728 in the United States

#795 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 1,874
Male:Female: 19:81
Founded: 1968

65. California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks

#745 in the United States

#813 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $32,774

66. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

#759 in the United States

#827 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,665
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1977

67. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

#763 in the United States

#831 in North America

Enrollment: 52
Male:Female: 32:68

68. Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego

#769 in the United States

#837 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $39,696

69. Westmont College

Santa Barbara

#785 in the United States

#853 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $32,172

70. Whittier College

Whittier

#786 in the United States

#854 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $28,101
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $36,176

71. California Baptist University

Riverside

#794 in the United States

#862 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $27,862
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,743

72. West Los Angeles College

Culver

#801 in the United States

#869 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $5,857
Enrollment: 9,255

73. Ashford University

San Diego

#808 in the United States

#876 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $32,265
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $5,648

74. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#809 in the United States

#877 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Net Price: $39,401
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,599

75. Antioch University

Culver

#812 in the United States

#880 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 910
Male:Female: 32:68

76. Fielding Graduate University

Santa Barbara

#844 in the United States

#912 in North America

Enrollment: 915
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1974

77. California Institute of the Arts

Santa Clarita

#871 in the United States

#940 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Net Price: $56,239
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $21,416

78. Santa Monica College

Santa Monica

#874 in the United States

#943 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $5,540
Enrollment: 23,453

79. California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo

#880 in the United States

#950 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $11,038
Enrollment: 837

80. Graduate Theological Union

Berkeley

#881 in the United States

#951 in North America

Enrollment: 150
Male:Female: 46:54

81. John F. Kennedy University

Pleasant Hill

#888 in the United States

#958 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1964

82. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

#894 in the United States

#964 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $37,919
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $16,990

83. California College of the Arts

San Francisco

#902 in the United States

#973 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $46,823
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $32,953

84. Soka University of America

Aliso Viejo

#911 in the United States

#983 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1422
Net Price: $15,691
Receiving Aid: 100%

85. California Western School of Law

San Diego

#941 in the United States

#1013 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 650
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1924

86. Saybrook University

Oakland

#950 in the United States

#1022 in North America

Enrollment: 1,057
Male:Female: 17:83
Founded: 1971

87. Art Center College of Design

Pasadena

#977 in the United States

#1049 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $53,271
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,412

88. La Sierra University

Riverside

#997 in the United States

#1070 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $23,848
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $27,646

89. Woodbury University

Burbank

#1014 in the United States

#1087 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $37,258
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,081

90. Pardee RAND Graduate School

Santa Monica

#1023 in the United States

#1096 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 230
Male:Female: 58:42
Founded: 1970

91. Foothill College

Los Altos Hills

#1060 in the United States

#1134 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $4,223
Enrollment: 12,949

92. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno

#1068 in the United States

#1142 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $15,261
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,616

93. California State University - Channel Islands

Camarillo

#1080 in the United States

#1155 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $12,528
Enrollment: 5,592

94. Concordia University - Irvine

Irvine

#1081 in the United States

#1156 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Net Price: $29,845
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $28,966

95. University of the West

Rosemead

#1086 in the United States

#1161 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $14,713
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,445

96. Samuel Merritt University

Oakland

#1088 in the United States

#1163 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 1,926
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1909

97. Southwestern Law School

Los Angeles

#1094 in the United States

#1169 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 1,006
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1911

98. Bakersfield College

Bakersfield

#1101 in the United States

#1176 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $5,940
Enrollment: 30,746

99. Wright Institute

Berkeley

#1108 in the United States

#1183 in North America

Enrollment: 518
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1969

100. Pacifica Graduate Institute

Carpinteria

#1116 in the United States

#1191 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 833
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1974

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Nevada	10	131
Oregon	31	61
Utah	20	41
Arizona	25	35
Idaho	10	146
Washington	57	8
Wyoming	1	142
Colorado	38	45
New Mexico	12	83
Montana	12	153
Nebraska	23	64
South Dakota	15	223
Kansas	32	73
Texas	119	26
Oklahoma	31	97
North Dakota	14	180
Minnesota	48	14
Iowa	39	49
Missouri	67	39
Arkansas	24	128
Louisiana	27	79
Wisconsin	47	13
Illinois	100	15
Mississippi	18	132
Indiana	55	34
Michigan	62	3
Tennessee	56	48
Alabama	33	85
Kentucky	38	59
Ohio	90	18
Georgia	63	47
West Virginia	26	108
South Carolina	37	88
North Carolina	65	24
Virginia	63	40
Alaska	6	182
Pennsylvania	155	12
Florida	109	23
District of Columbia	15	51
Maryland	34	9
New York	221	4
Delaware	5	90
New Jersey	47	21
Vermont	17	114
Hawaii	10	357
Connecticut	28	10
Massachusetts	88	1
New Hampshire	16	74
Rhode Island	12	50
Maine	19	155
Puerto Rico	52	366
US Virgin Islands	1	789
American Samoa	1	1625
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1521
Guam	2	623

Closest to California states