List of 100 best universities in California, US
Updated:
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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#213 in the United States
#240 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 47%
- Receiving Aid
- 82%
- Average Aid
- $10,512
- Enrollment
- 40,278
22. University of 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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#573 in the United States
#627 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Enrollment
- 2,262
- Male:Female
- 62:38
- Founded
- 1901
51. Biola University
#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
#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
#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
#584 in the United States
#639 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Average SAT
- 1201
- Average ACT
- 28
- Net Price
- $28,054
56. Mills College
#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
#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
#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
#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
#691 in the United States
#753 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 38%
- Enrollment
- 1,216
- Male:Female
- 40:60
- Founded
- 1878
61. Whittier College
#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
#732 in the United States
#798 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Average SAT
- 1137
- Average ACT
- 22
- Net Price
- $27,216
66. Western University of Health Sciences
#768 in the United States
#836 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 8%
- Enrollment
- 3,625
- Male:Female
- 36:64
- Founded
- 1977
67. Scripps College
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#838 in the United States
#906 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Average SAT
- 1275
- Average ACT
- 26
- Net Price
- $36,370
74. Chicago School of Professional Psychology at 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
#866 in the United States
#934 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 99%
- Receiving Aid
- 66%
- Average Aid
- $11,063
- Enrollment
- 805
76. Antioch University
#868 in the United States
#936 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Enrollment
- 888
- Male:Female
- 28:72
77. Palo Alto University
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#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
#959 in the United States
#1029 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Average SAT
- 1340
- Net Price
- $18,807
- Receiving Aid
- 100%
86. Master's University and Seminary
#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
#1007 in the United States
#1078 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Net Price
- $53,306
- Receiving Aid
- 70%
- Average Aid
- $18,219
89. Woodbury University
#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
#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
#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
#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
#1092 in the United States
#1165 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 31%
- Enrollment
- 951
- Male:Female
- 39:61
- Founded
- 1911
94. Keck Graduate Institute
#1099 in the United States
#1173 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 50%
- Enrollment
- 602
- Male:Female
- 30:70
- Founded
- 1997
96. Pacific Union College
#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
#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
#1135 in the United States
#1210 in North America
- Net Price
- $13,916
- Receiving Aid
- 94%
- Average Aid
- $4,188
99. Cypress College
#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
#1154 in the United States
#1230 in North America
- Acceptance Rate
- 100%
- Receiving Aid
- 97%
- Average Aid
- $6,162
- Enrollment
- 26,073
Closest to California states
| 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 |