Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

33 Best Universities in California for Computational

We ranked the top 33 universities for Computational in California based on strict academic metrics. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.31M specialized research publications which collectively generated 165.34M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Computational California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Computational

#1 in United States #1 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Computational

#4 in United States #4 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Computational

#7 in United States #7 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Computational

#14 in United States #14 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Computational

#20 in United States #20 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

6

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Computational

#30 in United States #32 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

7

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Computational

#33 in United States #35 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Computational

#38 in United States #40 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Computational

#39 in United States #41 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

10

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Computational

#41 in United States #43 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Computational

#62 in United States #71 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Computational

#105 in United States #117 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Computational

#196 in United States #223 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

14

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Computational

#210 in United States #237 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Computational

#288 in United States #326 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Computational

#291 in United States #329 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

17

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Computational

#319 in United States #362 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

18

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Computational

#279 in United States #315 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

19

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Computational

#203 in United States #230 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

20

Claremont, CA

For Computational

#212 in United States #240 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

21

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Computational

#227 in United States #255 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

22

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Computational

#259 in United States #293 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

23

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Computational

#271 in United States #307 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

24

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Computational

#140 in United States #164 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

25

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Computational

#262 in United States #296 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

26

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Computational

#313 in United States #355 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

27

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Computational

#294 in United States #334 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

28

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Computational

#284 in United States #322 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

29

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Computational

#236 in United States #266 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

30

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Computational

#330 in United States #374 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

31

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Computational

#237 in United States #267 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

32

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Computational

#275 in United States #311 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

33

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Computational

#273 in United States #309 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded