Best Colleges in California

California is 163,696 square miles and contains the largest higher education system in the nation. Colleges in California include notable institutions such as Stanford University, CalTech, and UCLA. The Golden State is known for birthing the American film industry as well as the Internet, and its economy centers around professional and business services, educational and health services, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality. California has a largely mediterranean climate, but can range from polar to subtropical depending on region. The Golden Gate Bridge, Palm Springs, Yosemite National Park, and Universal Studios Hollywood are primary tourist spots. Lesser known hot spots in Cali include Victorville’s California Route 66 Museum, the Redwoods in Arcata, and the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Preserve.

How Were the Top Schools in California Chosen?

Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.

Explore the Best Universities in California with Appily!

Create a Appily account to start saving schools to your personal list. Wondering where you stand when applying to the best universities in the USA? You can also see your chances of acceptance and get insights into your target, reach, and likely schools.

College placeholder image

From its Pasadena campus, Fuller Theological Seminary is an evangelical graduate institution training Christians for leadership in the theological and professional fields. Fuller is composed of three schools of Theology, Psychology, and Intercultural...

“…

This school offers a diverse, genuine, and friendly student body. The academics are rich and challenging. The location is also beautiful.

” – Rebecca from Pasadena, CA
College placeholder image

The Graduate Theological Union is a non-denominational graduate center for the study of religion comprised of eight member schools, five academic centers, and four affiliates. GTU is home to four interdisciplinary departments of Sacred Texts, Ethics...

College placeholder image
College placeholder image

The High Tech High Graduate School of Education is a teaching grad school in San Diego with a focus on progressive educational theory. HTH offers a master’s degree in Educational Leadership designed for teachers and school leaders dedicated to...

College placeholder image

Homestead Schools, Inc. is a distance education-based organization headquartered in the Los Angeles metro area. With a focus on continuing education, Homestead Schools offers programs in eight health care-related fields of study. All Homestead...

College placeholder image

Founded in 1949, the Institute of Buddhist Studies is a Buddhist seminary and graduate school in Berkeley and a member of the Graduate Theological Union. IBS confers master’s degrees in Arts, Buddhist Studies, and Divinity. In addition, the institute...

College placeholder image

International Technological University is a graduate school of technology and business located in Silicon Valley. Dedicated to training future leaders of the tech industry, ITU features eight master’s degree programs and three doctorates in Digital...

College placeholder image

Established in 1994, Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope is a private, graduate education institution located in Duarte, California. The college offers a master’s degree in Translational Medicine as well as a...

College placeholder image

Part of the Claremont Colleges, the Keck Graduate Institute is a grad school in southern California and the first graduate school exclusively focusing on applied life sciences. KGI is home to the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences and the...

College placeholder image

Life Chiropractic College West is a chiropractic training school with a campus on the east side of the Bay Area. Life West confers a postgraduate Doctor of Chiropractic degree featuring training in 13 techniques and the program can be completed in 12...

“…

A true community environment in which learning is an enjoyable process. The commitment is high for a minimum of 3 and half years but the time flies by and you have a career for life. I have never been at school that implemented so many of my...

” – James from Hayward, CA
College placeholder image

Located in the historic RCA Building on Sunset Boulevard, the Los Angeles Film School is an academy of film and media studies in Hollywood. LAFS is home to degree-granting programs in Film, Animation, Music Production, Audio Production, and...

College placeholder image

Moreno Valley College is a 2-year community college in southern California’s inland empire with classes in seven academic departments and an Honors Program. MVC takes advantage of its location to offer biology and chemistry students the opportunity...

College placeholder image

The Naval Postgraduate School is a graduate institution established in Monterey, California. The college is operated by the United States Armed Forces and offers master’s, doctoral, and engineer’s degree programs to DOD employees, US Armed Forces...

College placeholder image

Norco College is a 2-year community college in southern California’s inland empire region focusing on courses centered around emerging technologies. Featuring a diverse and multicultural student body, Norco is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving...

College placeholder image
College placeholder image

Established in 1866, Pacific School of Religion is a private, Christ-centered institution located in Berkeley, California. The college offers 15 graduate degree and certificate programs, featuring a curriculum that combines traditional, theological...

College placeholder image

With a diverse student body drawn from over 40 countries, Pacific States University is a private school specializing in business and computer science in Los Angeles. PSU offers a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and two master’s programs...

Palo Alto University

Palo Alto University is a private school of psychology and counseling. PAU offers two bachelor’s degree options in Business Psychology and Psychology and Social Action. Students complete their PAU degrees in two years and all programs are available...

College placeholder image

Pardee RAND Graduate School is a private, doctoral institution established in Santa Monica, California. With an average student population of 100, Pardee RAND offers a full-time PhD program in policy analysis to a select group of diverse scholars...

College placeholder image

Phillips Graduate University is a graduate school focusing on psychology in Los Angeles. PGU’s programs are designed for graduate students in the field of counseling and consulting. In addition to a PhD program in Organizational Management and...