Colleges in California
California has the largest public university system in the US — the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems together enroll over 700,000 students. From research powerhouses like UC Berkeley and UCLA to career-focused CSUs and private schools like USC and Stanford, California offers options at every price point.
Top Colleges in California by Enrollment
| School | |
|---|---|
California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA · Public | View → |
California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public | View → |
San Diego State University San Diego, CA · Public | View → |
University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public | View → |
University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | View → |
University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | View → |
California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA · Public | View → |
University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public | View → |
University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA · Public | View → |
California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA · Public | View → |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | View → |
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA · Public | View → |
University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public | View → |
University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA · Public | View → |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA · Public | View → |
California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA · Public | View → |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private Non-Profit | View → |
Ashford University San Diego, CA · For-Profit | View → |
California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | View → |
San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions — Colleges in California
How many colleges are in California?
California has 100+ bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities. California has more than 400 degree-granting colleges and universities — more than any other state.
What is the cheapest college in California?
Average net prices at California colleges range from under $10,000/year at some public schools for in-state students to over $35,000 at private institutions. Use the DecideMyCampus search to filter CA schools by net price and find the most affordable option for your income level.
What is the best public university in California?
University of California, Berkeley is widely considered the flagship public university in California. However, "best" depends on your major, budget, and priorities. Use DecideMyCampus to compare all CA public schools by graduation rates, earnings, and cost.
Do California colleges offer in-state tuition?
Yes — public universities in California offer significantly lower tuition for residents. In-state tuition savings can be $10,000–$25,000 per year compared to out-of-state rates. The DecideMyCampus school pages show both in-state and out-of-state tuition costs.
College Cities in California
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