Academic Index Last updated: June 15, 2026

54 Best Universities in California

Discover the top 54 universities in California with our comprehensive academic index. The algorithmic evaluation processed 47.6K scholarly outputs and 1.25M peer-reviewed citations, mapping the region's total research impact. Factoring in the global influence of 351.6K notable graduates, this index isolates true institutional success beyond traditional prestige.

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1

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

#221 in United States #249 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

2

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

#563 in United States #618 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

3

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

#691 in United States #755 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

4

La Verne

University of La Verne

#717 in United States #784 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

5

Riverside

California Baptist University

#794 in United States #862 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

6

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

#801 in United States #869 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

7

San Diego

Ashford University

#808 in United States #876 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

8

Santa Monica

Santa Monica College

#874 in United States #943 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,592 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

9

Los Altos Hills

Foothill College

#1060 in United States #1134 in North America

100% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

10

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

#1081 in United States #1156 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

11

Bakersfield

Bakersfield College

#1101 in United States #1176 in North America

100% Acceptance

27,248 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

12

Cypress

Cypress College

#1118 in United States #1193 in North America

100% Acceptance

24,427 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

13

San Francisco

Academy of Art University

#1172 in United States #1247 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,644 Enrollment

1929 Founded

$36,761 Net Price

14

Santa Ana, CA

Santa Ana College

#1175 in United States #1250 in North America

100% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

15

Oceanside

MiraCosta College

#1178 in United States #1253 in North America

100% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

16

Modesto

Modesto Junior College

#1233 in United States #1311 in North America

100% Acceptance

12,949 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

17

San Bruno

Skyline College

#1289 in United States #1367 in North America

100% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

18

Angwin

Pacific Union College

#1323 in United States #1401 in North America

47% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

19

San Diego

San Diego Mesa College

#1363 in United States #1443 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

20

Los Angeles

Musicians Institute

#1380 in United States #1461 in North America

78% Acceptance

800 Enrollment

$49,657 Net Price

21

San Diego

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine – San Diego

#1440 in United States #1525 in North America

100% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

$51,918 Net Price

22

San Diego

California Miramar University

#1481 in United States #1567 in North America

18% Acceptance

27,248 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

$12,480 Net Price

23

Lancaster, CA

Antelope Valley College

#1486 in United States #1572 in North America

100% Acceptance

13,532 Enrollment

24

Redding

#1545 in United States #1631 in North America

100% Acceptance

9,073 Enrollment

25

Whittier

Rio Hondo College

#1600 in United States #1687 in North America

100% Acceptance

17,441 Enrollment

26

Irvine

Brandman University

#1620 in United States #1707 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

2009 Founded

27

Fairfield, CA

Solano Community College

#1675 in United States #1763 in North America

100% Acceptance

9,282 Enrollment

28

Visalia

San Joaquin Valley College – Visalia

#1732 in United States #1821 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,318 Enrollment

$27,525 Net Price

29

Fullerton

Hope International University

#1736 in United States #1825 in North America

33% Acceptance

564 Enrollment

1030 Avg SAT

1928 Founded

30

Quincy, CA

Feather River Community College District

#1752 in United States #1841 in North America

100% Acceptance

2,055 Enrollment

31

Irvine

Stanbridge University

#1770 in United States #1859 in North America

10% Acceptance

2,643 Enrollment

$42,130 Net Price

32

Stockton

Humphreys University – Stockton and Modesto Campuses

#1796 in United States #1885 in North America

100% Acceptance

172 Enrollment

1896 Founded

$5,524 Net Price

33

Los Alamitos

Touro University Worldwide

#1806 in United States #1895 in North America

100% Acceptance

469 Enrollment

2008 Founded

$19,522 Net Price

34

San Dimas

Life Pacific College

#1819 in United States #1908 in North America

96% Acceptance

460 Enrollment

1923 Founded

$21,602 Net Price

35

Santee

San Diego Christian College

#1829 in United States #1919 in North America

31% Acceptance

89 Enrollment

1970 Founded

$21,199 Net Price

36

Burbank

New York Film Academy

#1836 in United States #1926 in North America

100% Acceptance

849 Enrollment

$51,622 Net Price

37

Pasadena, CA

University of the People

#1877 in United States #1968 in North America

100% Acceptance

36,901 Enrollment

$1,575 Net Price

38

Los Angeles

FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising – Los Angeles

#1948 in United States #2041 in North America

63% Acceptance

535 Enrollment

$39,494 Net Price

39

San Diego

National University

#1958 in United States #2051 in North America

100% Acceptance

11,237 Enrollment

1971 Founded

$25,043 Net Price

40

Los Angeles

Mount Saint Mary’s University

#1985 in United States #2078 in North America

73% Acceptance

1,731 Enrollment

1925 Founded

$27,368 Net Price

41

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Film School

#1997 in United States #2090 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,472 Enrollment

$30,501 Net Price

42

Los Angeles

Columbia College Hollywood

#2085 in United States #2181 in North America

100% Acceptance

71 Enrollment

1952 Founded

$28,425 Net Price

43

Pasadena, CA

Los Angeles College of Music

#2087 in United States #2183 in North America

88% Acceptance

227 Enrollment

$44,586 Net Price

44

Cerritos

Fremont College

#2099 in United States #2196 in North America

100% Acceptance

157 Enrollment

$34,045 Net Price

45

Alhambra

Platt College-Los Angeles

#2126 in United States #2223 in North America

100% Acceptance

570 Enrollment

$27,195 Net Price

46

Berkeley

California Jazz Conservatory

#2144 in United States #2242 in North America

67% Acceptance

6 Enrollment

$25,843 Net Price

47

Irvine

California Intercontinental University

#2179 in United States #2278 in North America

100% Acceptance

151 Enrollment

$11,062 Net Price

48

San Mateo

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts

#2184 in United States #2283 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,421 Enrollment

$30,975 Net Price

49

Fremont, CA

#2187 in United States #2286 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,725 Enrollment

$25,458 Net Price

50

El Dorado Hills

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

#2197 in United States #2296 in North America

41% Acceptance

198 Enrollment

$22,276 Net Price

51

Newport Beach

Interior Designers Institute

#2203 in United States #2302 in North America

100% Acceptance

97 Enrollment

$26,518 Net Price

52

Costa Mesa

Pacific College

#2229 in United States #2329 in North America

56% Acceptance

225 Enrollment

$26,511 Net Price

53

Los Angeles

World Mission University

#2249 in United States #2350 in North America

100% Acceptance

207 Enrollment

$15,785 Net Price

54

Orange, CA

Career Networks Institute

#2324 in United States #2425 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,133 Enrollment

$44,485 Net Price