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Lists / Best Colleges in California

Best Colleges in California

Created by College Confidential
Photo: Vlada Karpovich/Pexels

California is home to 339 colleges and more college students than any other state in the U.S. The schools below stand out as the Golden State's best colleges. Save your favorites by clicking the heart icon below.

Occidental College

  • Occidental College
    Los Angeles, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate38%
  • Loyola Marymount University

  • Loyola Marymount University
    Los Angeles, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate46%
  • Harvey Mudd College

  • Harvey Mudd College
    Claremont, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate10%
  • Claremont McKenna College

  • Claremont McKenna College
    Claremont, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate11%
  • Chapman University

  • Chapman University
    Orange, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate60%
  • Whittier College

  • Whittier College
    Whittier, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance RateN.A.
  • University of Southern California

  • University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate13%
  • University of San Francisco

  • University of San Francisco
    San Francisco, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate71%
  • University of San Diego

  • University of San Diego
    San Diego, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate53%
  • University of Redlands

  • University of Redlands
    Redlands, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance RateN.A.
  • University of California, Santa Cruz

  • University of California, Santa Cruz
    Santa Cruz, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate59%
  • University of California, Santa Barbara

  • University of California, Santa Barbara
    Santa Barbara, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate29%
  • University of California, San Diego

  • University of California, San Diego
    La Jolla, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate34%
  • University of California, Riverside

  • University of California, Riverside
    Riverside, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate66%
  • University of California, Merced

  • University of California, Merced
    Merced, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate85%
  • University of California, Los Angeles

  • University of California, Los Angeles
    Los Angeles, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate11%
  • University of California, Irvine

  • University of California, Irvine
    Irvine, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate29%
  • University of California, Davis

  • University of California, Davis
    Davis, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate46%
  • University of California, Berkeley

  • University of California, Berkeley
    Berkeley, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate15%
  • Thomas Aquinas College - California

  • Thomas Aquinas College - California
    Santa Paula, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate81%
  • Stanford University

  • Stanford University
    Stanford, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate4%
  • Sonoma State University

  • Sonoma State University
    Rohnert Park, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate92%
  • Scripps College

  • Scripps College
    Claremont, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate30%
  • Santa Clara University

  • Santa Clara University
    Santa Clara, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate54%
  • San Diego State University

  • San Diego State University
    San Diego, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate38%
  • Saint Mary's College of California

  • Saint Mary's College of California
    Moraga, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate70%
  • Pomona College

  • Pomona College
    Claremont, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate7%
  • Pitzer College

  • Pitzer College
    Claremont, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate18%
  • Pepperdine University

  • Pepperdine University
    Malibu, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate53%
  • California State University, Stanislaus

  • California State University, Stanislaus
    Turlock, CA 4-Year, Public
    Acceptance Rate89%
  • California Institute of Technology

  • California Institute of Technology
    Pasadena, CA 4-Year, Private
    Acceptance Rate4%
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