Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

53 Best Universities in California for Advertising

If you are looking to study Advertising in California, our index highlights the top 53 domain-leading institutions. Based on 3.41M scholarly articles and 166.74M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Advertising. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Field of Study

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1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Advertising

#1 in United States #1 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Advertising

#3 in United States #3 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Advertising

#4 in United States #4 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Advertising

#26 in United States #28 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Advertising

#28 in United States #30 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Advertising

#44 in United States #46 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Advertising

#51 in United States #54 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Advertising

#64 in United States #70 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Advertising

#73 in United States #81 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Advertising

#104 in United States #118 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

11

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Advertising

#110 in United States #126 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Advertising

#148 in United States #169 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Advertising

#167 in United States #192 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Advertising

#175 in United States #200 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Advertising

#176 in United States #201 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

16

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Advertising

#319 in United States #354 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

17

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Advertising

#449 in United States #490 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

18

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Advertising

#644 in United States #700 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

19

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Advertising

#242 in United States #272 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

20

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Advertising

#629 in United States #682 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

21

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Advertising

#254 in United States #284 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

22

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Advertising

#375 in United States #411 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

23

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Advertising

#114 in United States #131 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

24

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Advertising

#519 in United States #565 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

25

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Advertising

#286 in United States #317 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

26

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Advertising

#576 in United States #626 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

27

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Advertising

#155 in United States #178 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

28

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Advertising

#397 in United States #435 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

29

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Advertising

#336 in United States #371 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

30

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Advertising

#520 in United States #567 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

31

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Advertising

#326 in United States #361 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

32

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Advertising

#325 in United States #360 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

33

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Advertising

#599 in United States #651 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

34

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Advertising

#337 in United States #372 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

35

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Advertising

#253 in United States #283 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

36

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Advertising

#566 in United States #616 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

37

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Advertising

#222 in United States #252 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

38

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Advertising

#208 in United States #236 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

39

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Advertising

#521 in United States #568 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

40

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Advertising

#251 in United States #281 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

41

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Advertising

#216 in United States #246 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

42

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Advertising

#624 in United States #677 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

43

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Advertising

#391 in United States #428 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

44

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Advertising

#178 in United States #203 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

45

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Advertising

#428 in United States #468 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

46

Claremont, CA

For Advertising

#543 in United States #591 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

47

Rosemead

University of the West

For Advertising

#637 in United States #691 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

48

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Advertising

#180 in United States #205 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

49

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Advertising

#384 in United States #421 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

50

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Advertising

#437 in United States #478 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

51

San Diego

California Western School of Law

For Advertising

#420 in United States #460 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

52

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Advertising

#200 in United States #227 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

53

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Advertising

#616 in United States #669 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded