100+ Best Universities in California, US [2024 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 120M citations received by 2.95M academic publications made by 249 universities from California, the popularity of 13,435 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: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley

#5 in the United States

#5 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

3. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#10 in the United States

#10 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

4. University of California-San Diego

San Diego

#20 in the United States

#21 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

5. University of Southern California

Los Angeles

#21 in the United States

#22 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

6. University of California - Davis

Davis

#27 in the United States

#29 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

7. University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco

#35 in the United States

#38 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

8. University of California - Irvine

Irvine

#42 in the United States

#45 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

9. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

#48 in the United States

#52 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

10. University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

#52 in the United States

#56 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

11. University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz

#85 in the United States

#96 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

12. University of California - Riverside

Riverside

#88 in the United States

#100 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

13. San Diego State University

San Diego

#121 in the United States

#140 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $9,934
Enrollment: 37,402

14. San Francisco State University

San Francisco

#174 in the United States

#199 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $9,830
Enrollment: 25,282

15. San Jose State University

San Jose

#179 in the United States

#204 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $9,210
Enrollment: 35,751

16. California State University - Northridge

Los Angeles

#200 in the United States

#226 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $10,511
Enrollment: 37,579

17. Santa Clara University

Santa Clara

#202 in the United States

#229 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $50,551

18. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach

#212 in the United States

#239 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,478
Enrollment: 38,973

19. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo

#214 in the United States

#241 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $10,065
Enrollment: 22,000

20. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton

#216 in the United States

#243 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,194
Enrollment: 40,386

21. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda

#230 in the United States

#259 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 4,280
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1905

22. University of San Francisco

San Francisco

#238 in the United States

#268 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $42,953

23. Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey

#250 in the United States

#281 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 2,670
Male:Female: 78:22
Founded: 1909

24. University of San Diego

San Diego

#252 in the United States

#283 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Net Price: $36,008
Receiving Aid: 84%
Average Aid: $36,408

25. Chapman University

Orange

#269 in the United States

#300 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $45,033

26. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#272 in the United States

#303 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $10,907
Enrollment: 26,460

27. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles

#277 in the United States

#308 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $52,815

28. California State University - Sacramento

Sacramento

#280 in the United States

#311 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 82%
Average Aid: $9,590
Enrollment: 31,818

29. Pepperdine University

Malibu

#301 in the United States

#332 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1383
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $47,804

30. California State University - Fresno

Fresno

#309 in the United States

#344 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,968
Enrollment: 23,999

31. University of California - Merced

Merced

#311 in the United States

#346 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $25,868
Enrollment: 9,103

32. Humboldt State University

Arcata

#312 in the United States

#347 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Receiving Aid: 76%
Average Aid: $9,262
Enrollment: 6,025

33. Pomona College

Claremont

#314 in the United States

#350 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,962

34. University of the Pacific

Stockton

#316 in the United States

#352 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1272
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,164

35. Claremont Graduate University

Claremont

#324 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Enrollment: 1,903
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1925

36. California State University - Chico

Chico

#325 in the United States

#361 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 72%
Average Aid: $9,162
Enrollment: 14,183

37. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

Pomona

#330 in the United States

#367 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 77%
Average Aid: $9,040
Enrollment: 27,503

38. California State University - San Bernardino

San Bernardino

#334 in the United States

#371 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,871
Enrollment: 19,803

39. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park

#397 in the United States

#442 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $7,287
Enrollment: 6,637

40. Harvey Mudd College

Claremont

#398 in the United States

#443 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $39,850

41. Occidental College

Los Angeles

#410 in the United States

#455 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,853

42. California State University - San Marcos

San Marcos

#421 in the United States

#468 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $8,922
Enrollment: 15,109

43. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson

#454 in the United States

#501 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,819
Enrollment: 16,426

44. California State University - East Bay

Hayward

#468 in the United States

#515 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $8,659
Enrollment: 13,673

45. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont

#469 in the United States

#516 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,701

46. Alliant International University - San Diego

San Diego

#521 in the United States

#571 in North America

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

47. Azusa Pacific University

Azusa

#537 in the United States

#590 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,666

48. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield

#543 in the United States

#596 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $10,750
Enrollment: 9,613

49. California State University - Monterey Bay

Seaside

#558 in the United States

#612 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 77%
Average Aid: $8,702
Enrollment: 7,045

50. Golden Gate University - San Francisco

San Francisco

#572 in the United States

#626 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Enrollment: 2,661
Male:Female: 55:45
Founded: 1901

51. California State University - Stanislaus

Turlock

#574 in the United States

#628 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $9,696
Enrollment: 10,154

52. Biola University

La Mirada

#579 in the United States

#634 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $31,522

53. University of Redlands

Redlands

#586 in the United States

#641 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1196
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $28,157

54. Fuller Theological Seminary

Pasadena

#598 in the United States

#654 in North America

Enrollment: 2,089
Male:Female: 53:47

55. Mills College

Oakland

#607 in the United States

#663 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $25,283
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $22,278

56. Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga

#613 in the United States

#669 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Net Price: $32,129
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $39,139

57. University of California - Hastings College of Law

San Francisco

#648 in the United States

#706 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Enrollment: 1,193
Male:Female: 39:61
Founded: 1878

58. Dominican University of California

San Rafael

#651 in the United States

#711 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $49,907

59. Pitzer College

Claremont

#655 in the United States

#715 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Net Price: $39,809
Receiving Aid: 39%
Average Aid: $39,594

60. Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

Los Angeles

#683 in the United States

#745 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $27,637
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $11,419

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

Duarte

#698 in the United States

#760 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 90
Founded: 1994

62. Whittier College

Whittier

#716 in the United States

#780 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,368

63. Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

San Diego

#720 in the United States

#784 in North America

Enrollment: 44
Male:Female: 45:55

64. University of La Verne

La Verne

#738 in the United States

#805 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1137
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $25,103

65. John F. Kennedy University

Pleasant Hill

#760 in the United States

#827 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 1964

66. Scripps College

Claremont

#769 in the United States

#837 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,923

67. California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks

#776 in the United States

#844 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,416

68. Western University of Health Sciences

Pomona

#784 in the United States

#852 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,724
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1977

69. West Los Angeles College

Culver

#814 in the United States

#882 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $6,951
Enrollment: 8,656

70. California Institute of Integral Studies

San Francisco

#816 in the United States

#884 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Enrollment: 2,145
Male:Female: 18:82
Founded: 1968

71. Westmont College

Santa Barbara

#825 in the United States

#893 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1369
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,112

72. Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego

#834 in the United States

#902 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $34,933
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,422

73. Fielding Graduate University

Santa Barbara

#841 in the United States

#909 in North America

Enrollment: 1,000
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1974

74. Palo Alto University

Palo Alto

#842 in the United States

#910 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,129
Male:Female: 14:86
Founded: 1975

75. Antioch University

Culver

#866 in the United States

#934 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Enrollment: 867
Male:Female: 26:74

76. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

Los Angeles

#875 in the United States

#943 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Net Price: $39,401
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,599

77. California State University Maritime Academy

Vallejo

#886 in the United States

#954 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $9,529
Enrollment: 849

78. California Baptist University

Riverside

#893 in the United States

#961 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Net Price: $27,304
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $22,757

79. California Institute of the Arts

Santa Clarita

#895 in the United States

#963 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Net Price: $55,225
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,474

80. Santa Monica College

Santa Monica

#906 in the United States

#974 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $4,650
Enrollment: 22,375

81. La Sierra University

Riverside

#909 in the United States

#977 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Net Price: $25,076
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $21,867

82. California College of the Arts

San Francisco

#938 in the United States

#1007 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Net Price: $47,862
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $27,563

83. California Western School of Law

San Diego

#952 in the United States

#1022 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 623
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1924

84. Graduate Theological Union

Berkeley

#956 in the United States

#1026 in North America

Enrollment: 172
Male:Female: 48:52

85. Soka University of America

Aliso Viejo

#997 in the United States

#1068 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1340
Net Price: $17,928
Receiving Aid: 100%

86. Art Center College of Design

Pasadena

#1015 in the United States

#1086 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $53,617
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $16,665

87. Saybrook University

Oakland

#1032 in the United States

#1103 in North America

Enrollment: 1,013
Male:Female: 16:84
Founded: 1971

88. Foothill College

Los Altos Hills

#1041 in the United States

#1113 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $4,300
Enrollment: 12,434

89. Woodbury University

Burbank

#1042 in the United States

#1114 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Net Price: $32,182
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $23,816

90. California State University - Channel Islands

Camarillo

#1083 in the United States

#1155 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 76%
Average Aid: $9,412
Enrollment: 6,128

91. Keck Graduate Institute

Claremont

#1087 in the United States

#1159 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 668
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1997

92. Pacific Union College

Angwin

#1092 in the United States

#1165 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1095
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $21,841

93. Southwestern Law School

Los Angeles

#1104 in the United States

#1178 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 927
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1911

94. Fresno Pacific University

Fresno

#1115 in the United States

#1189 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $15,255
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,985

95. Ashford University

San Diego

#1121 in the United States

#1195 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $25,104
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $5,121

96. Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita

#1129 in the United States

#1203 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $30,783
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $13,010

97. Trident University International

Cypress

#1131 in the United States

#1205 in North America

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

98. Cypress College

Cypress

#1134 in the United States

#1208 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 87%
Average Aid: $7,377
Enrollment: 13,523

99. Samuel Merritt University

Oakland

#1143 in the United States

#1218 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Enrollment: 1,911
Male:Female: 23:77
Founded: 1909

100. Santa Ana College

Santa Ana

#1146 in the United States

#1221 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $7,374
Enrollment: 23,852

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Nevada	10	130
Oregon	31	63
Utah	20	40
Arizona	25	34
Idaho	10	148
Washington	57	8
Wyoming	1	141
Colorado	38	46
New Mexico	12	81
Montana	12	153
Nebraska	23	68
South Dakota	15	233
Kansas	32	75
Texas	119	26
Oklahoma	31	100
North Dakota	14	182
Minnesota	48	14
Iowa	39	47
Missouri	67	38
Arkansas	24	127
Louisiana	27	79
Wisconsin	47	13
Illinois	100	15
Mississippi	18	133
Indiana	55	39
Michigan	62	3
Tennessee	56	50
Alabama	33	84
Kentucky	38	60
Ohio	90	18
Georgia	63	44
West Virginia	26	112
South Carolina	37	87
North Carolina	65	24
Virginia	63	41
Alaska	6	181
Pennsylvania	155	12
Florida	109	22
District of Columbia	15	56
Maryland	34	9
New York	221	4
Delaware	5	90
New Jersey	47	23
Vermont	17	109
Hawaii	10	160
Connecticut	28	11
Massachusetts	88	1
New Hampshire	16	77
Rhode Island	12	49
Maine	19	152
Puerto Rico	52	373
US Virgin Islands	1	811
American Samoa	1	1702
Northern Mariana Islands	1	1594
Guam	2	614

Closest to California states