Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

100 Best Universities in California

Discover the top 100 universities in California with our comprehensive academic index. The algorithmic evaluation processed 3.52M scholarly outputs and 170.02M peer-reviewed citations, mapping the region's total research impact. Factoring in the global influence of 796.6K notable graduates, this index isolates true institutional success beyond traditional prestige.

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

#2 in United States #2 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

#5 in United States #5 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

#11 in United States #11 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

#20 in United States #21 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

#22 in United States #23 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

#28 in United States #30 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

#32 in United States #35 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

#43 in United States #46 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

#46 in United States #50 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

10

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

#55 in United States #59 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

#84 in United States #96 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

#89 in United States #101 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

#124 in United States #143 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

#168 in United States #192 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

15

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

#184 in United States #208 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

16

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

#205 in United States #232 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

17

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

#206 in United States #233 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

18

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

#209 in United States #236 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

19

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

#211 in United States #238 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

20

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

#216 in United States #244 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

21

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

#221 in United States #249 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

22

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

#231 in United States #260 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

23

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

#234 in United States #264 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

24

San Diego

University of San Diego

#248 in United States #279 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

25

Orange, CA

Chapman University

#251 in United States #282 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

26

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

#266 in United States #297 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

27

Malibu

Pepperdine University

#275 in United States #306 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

28

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

#278 in United States #309 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

29

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

#282 in United States #313 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

30

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

#287 in United States #318 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

31

Merced

University of California – Merced

#296 in United States #327 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

32

Arcata

Humboldt State University

#297 in United States #328 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

33

Stockton

University of the Pacific

#312 in United States #346 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

34

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

#316 in United States #351 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

35

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

#321 in United States #357 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

36

Chico

California State University – Chico

#324 in United States #360 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

37

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

#331 in United States #368 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

38

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

#372 in United States #416 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

39

Los Angeles

Occidental College

#381 in United States #427 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

40

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

#430 in United States #477 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

41

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

#433 in United States #480 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

42

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

#440 in United States #487 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

43

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

#452 in United States #500 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

44

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

#517 in United States #568 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

45

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

#528 in United States #580 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

46

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

#548 in United States #603 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

47

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

48

La Mirada

Biola University

#564 in United States #619 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

49

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

#567 in United States #622 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

50

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

#568 in United States #623 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

51

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

#577 in United States #632 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

52

Redlands

University of Redlands

#583 in United States #640 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

53

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

#599 in United States #656 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

54

Oakland

#625 in United States #684 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

55

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

#631 in United States #690 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

56

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

57

La Verne

University of La Verne

#717 in United States #784 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

58

Duarte

Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope

#720 in United States #787 in North America

14% Acceptance

359 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

59

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

#727 in United States #794 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

60

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

#728 in United States #795 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

61

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

#745 in United States #813 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

62

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

#759 in United States #827 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

63

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

#763 in United States #831 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

64

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

#769 in United States #837 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

65

Whittier

Whittier College

#786 in United States #854 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

66

Riverside

California Baptist University

#794 in United States #862 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

67

San Diego

Ashford University

#808 in United States #876 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

68

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

#809 in United States #877 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

69

Culver, CA

Antioch University

#812 in United States #880 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

70

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

#844 in United States #912 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

71

Santa Clarita

California Institute of the Arts

#871 in United States #940 in North America

32% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1150 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

72

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

#880 in United States #950 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

73

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

#881 in United States #951 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

74

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

#888 in United States #958 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

75

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

#894 in United States #964 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

76

San Francisco

California College of the Arts

#902 in United States #973 in North America

91% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

77

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

#911 in United States #983 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

78

San Diego

California Western School of Law

#941 in United States #1013 in North America

46% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1924 Founded

79

Oakland

Saybrook University

#950 in United States #1022 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

80

Pasadena, CA

Art Center College of Design

#977 in United States #1049 in North America

75% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

81

Riverside

La Sierra University

#997 in United States #1070 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

82

Burbank

Woodbury University

#1014 in United States #1087 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

83

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

#1023 in United States #1096 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

84

Fresno

Fresno Pacific University

#1068 in United States #1142 in North America

64% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1944 Founded

85

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

#1080 in United States #1155 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

86

Irvine

Concordia University – Irvine

#1081 in United States #1156 in North America

66% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1976 Founded

87

Rosemead

University of the West

#1086 in United States #1161 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

88

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

#1088 in United States #1163 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

89

Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School

#1094 in United States #1169 in North America

31% Acceptance

650 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

90

Berkeley

Wright Institute

#1108 in United States #1183 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

91

Carpinteria

Pacifica Graduate Institute

#1116 in United States #1191 in North America

75% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

92

Costa Mesa

Vanguard University of Southern California

#1125 in United States #1200 in North America

62% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1920 Founded

93

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

#1143 in United States #1218 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

94

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

95

Los Angeles

Southern California Institute of Architecture

#1210 in United States #1287 in North America

77% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1972 Founded

$28,985 Net Price

96

San Diego

Northcentral University

#1211 in United States #1288 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

97

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

#1220 in United States #1297 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

98

Atherton

#1241 in United States #1319 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

99

Los Angeles

American Film Institute Conservatory

#1249 in United States #1327 in North America

25% Acceptance

1969 Founded

100

San Francisco

San Francisco Art Institute

#1296 in United States #1374 in North America

66% Acceptance

1871 Founded

$42,757 Net Price