Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

39 Best Universities in California for Condensed Matter

We ranked the top 39 universities for Condensed Matter in California based on strict academic metrics. Our methodology evaluated 3.36M subject-specific papers and 166.09M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Condensed Matter California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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1

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Condensed Matter

#2 in United States #2 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Condensed Matter

#3 in United States #3 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Stanford

Stanford University

For Condensed Matter

#4 in United States #4 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Condensed Matter

#12 in United States #12 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Condensed Matter

#13 in United States #13 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

6

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Condensed Matter

#16 in United States #16 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Condensed Matter

#40 in United States #42 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Condensed Matter

#43 in United States #45 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Condensed Matter

#44 in United States #46 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

10

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Condensed Matter

#54 in United States #59 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Condensed Matter

#72 in United States #81 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Condensed Matter

#144 in United States #167 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Condensed Matter

#162 in United States #187 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Condensed Matter

#214 in United States #241 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Condensed Matter

#277 in United States #317 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Condensed Matter

#437 in United States #486 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

17

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Condensed Matter

#372 in United States #416 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

18

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Condensed Matter

#361 in United States #405 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

19

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Condensed Matter

#367 in United States #411 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

20

Claremont, CA

For Condensed Matter

#347 in United States #391 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

21

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Condensed Matter

#234 in United States #266 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

22

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Condensed Matter

#303 in United States #346 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

23

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Condensed Matter

#286 in United States #328 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

24

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Condensed Matter

#184 in United States #210 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

25

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Condensed Matter

#135 in United States #156 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

26

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Condensed Matter

#296 in United States #339 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

27

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Condensed Matter

#208 in United States #235 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

28

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Condensed Matter

#326 in United States #370 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

29

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Condensed Matter

#446 in United States #495 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

30

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Condensed Matter

#183 in United States #209 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

31

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Condensed Matter

#440 in United States #489 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

32

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Condensed Matter

#128 in United States #149 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

33

San Diego

United States University

For Condensed Matter

#444 in United States #493 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

34

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Condensed Matter

#420 in United States #467 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

35

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Condensed Matter

#308 in United States #351 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

36

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Condensed Matter

#287 in United States #329 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

37

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Condensed Matter

#390 in United States #436 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

38

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Condensed Matter

#339 in United States #383 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

39

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Condensed Matter

#346 in United States #390 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded