Best California Colleges

Ranked list of Colleges and Universities in California for 2025

With its desirable climate, dynamic cities, huge economy and reputation the global leader in technology, California is a highly desirable state for students to choose to attend college. The state is home to world-renowned research universities like Stanford and CalTech. The University of California (UC) system has ten campuses serving over a quarter of a million students. The UC system is home to the extremely competitive and rival colleges UCLA and UC Berkeley. The CSU system is the largest public four-year university system in the US and enrolls nearly a half million students per year. Also significant is the California Community Colleges system, the largest of its kind, which serves 2.1 million students through its 2-year programs at 116 colleges. Notable highly rated small liberal arts schools like Pomona, Harvey Mudd and Claremont McKenna also call the Golden State home.

There are 311 colleges and universities in California enrolling 2,509,410 students. Explore the list of top colleges in California below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in California offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 California is home to nationally ranked institutions like Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Claremont McKenna College and Pomona College. The highest ranked college in California is Stanford University and the top rated public state college is University of California Los Angeles.

Local college options can be explored in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco or other cities.

California Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

311 results

List of the Best California Colleges

Grossmont College
G
El Cajon, CA

Grossmont College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 13,591enrollment
  • $6,298net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Hartnell College
H
Salinas, CA

Hartnell College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 8,478enrollment
  • $5,641net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Harvey Mudd College
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H
Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

 

  • 949enrollment
  • $42,720net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 34-36ACT range
  • 3.96Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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Holy Names University
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H
Oakland, CA

Holy Names University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 959enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.35Avg GPA

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Humphreys College Stockton and Modesto Campuses
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H
Stockton, CA
 

Humphreys College Stockton and Modesto Campuses

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 575enrollment
  • $7,108net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Imperial Valley College
I
Imperial, CA
 

Imperial Valley College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 8,111enrollment
  • $2,730net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Irvine Valley College
I
Irvine, CA
 

Irvine Valley College

Public 2 Year

3 reviews

 

  • 11,994enrollment
  • $5,189net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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American Jewish University
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A
Los Angeles, CA
 

American Jewish University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 209enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Reedley College
R
Reedley, CA

Reedley College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 8,174enrollment
  • $3,803net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Life Pacific College
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L
San Dimas, CA

Life Pacific College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 504enrollment
  • $23,311net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 930-1085SAT range
  • 16-25ACT range
  • 2.91Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Laguna College of Art and Design
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L
Laguna Beach, CA
 

Laguna College of Art and Design

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 807enrollment
  • $44,285net price
  • 78%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 15

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Lake Tahoe Community College
L
South Lake Tahoe, CA
 

Lake Tahoe Community College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 3,376enrollment
  • $14,384net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Laney College
L
Oakland, CA

Laney College

Public 2 Year

1 reviews

 

  • 10,211enrollment
  • $17,691net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Lassen Community College
L
Susanville, CA
 

Lassen Community College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 1,783enrollment
  • $10,336net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Latin American Bible Institute
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L
La Puente, California
 

Latin American Bible Institute

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 78enrollment
  • $9,140net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Lincoln University
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L
Oakland, CA
 

Lincoln University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 474enrollment
  • $30,324net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 2.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 13

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Southern California Seminary
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S
El Cajon, CA
 

Southern California Seminary

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 138enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Loma Linda University
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L
Loma Linda, CA
 

Loma Linda University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

 

  • 4,202enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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