Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

89 Best Universities in California for Machine Learning

Focusing specifically on Machine Learning, our data science engine identified the 89 most influential universities in California. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.53M specialized research publications which collectively generated 170.35M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Machine Learning California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Machine Learning

#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 Machine Learning

#2 in United States #2 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Machine Learning

#9 in United States #10 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Machine Learning

#15 in United States #16 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Machine Learning

#19 in United States #20 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Machine Learning

#37 in United States #42 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Machine Learning

#38 in United States #44 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Machine Learning

#42 in United States #49 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

9

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Machine Learning

#44 in United States #51 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

10

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Machine Learning

#54 in United States #61 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Machine Learning

#71 in United States #83 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Machine Learning

#84 in United States #97 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Machine Learning

#135 in United States #160 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Machine Learning

#212 in United States #243 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Machine Learning

#218 in United States #250 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Machine Learning

#368 in United States #414 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Machine Learning

#957 in United States #1029 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

18

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Machine Learning

#442 in United States #494 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

19

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Machine Learning

#777 in United States #844 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

20

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Machine Learning

#261 in United States #296 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

21

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Machine Learning

#713 in United States #776 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

22

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Machine Learning

#377 in United States #423 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

23

Cypress

Trident University International

For Machine Learning

#851 in United States #920 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price

24

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Machine Learning

#349 in United States #392 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

25

Claremont, CA

For Machine Learning

#285 in United States #323 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

26

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Machine Learning

#696 in United States #759 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

27

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Machine Learning

#186 in United States #217 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

28

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Machine Learning

#708 in United States #771 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

29

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Machine Learning

#483 in United States #536 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

30

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Machine Learning

#955 in United States #1027 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

31

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Machine Learning

#646 in United States #705 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

32

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Machine Learning

#329 in United States #371 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

33

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Machine Learning

#546 in United States #599 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

34

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Machine Learning

#256 in United States #291 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

35

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Machine Learning

#303 in United States #342 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

36

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Machine Learning

#535 in United States #588 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

37

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Machine Learning

#681 in United States #743 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

38

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Machine Learning

#837 in United States #906 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

39

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Machine Learning

#181 in United States #211 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

40

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Machine Learning

#521 in United States #574 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

41

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Machine Learning

#228 in United States #261 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

42

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Machine Learning

#491 in United States #544 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

43

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Machine Learning

#481 in United States #534 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

44

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Machine Learning

#858 in United States #927 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

45

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Machine Learning

#312 in United States #351 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

46

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Machine Learning

#317 in United States #358 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

47

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Machine Learning

#539 in United States #592 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

48

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Machine Learning

#190 in United States #221 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

49

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Machine Learning

#745 in United States #811 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

50

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Machine Learning

#656 in United States #716 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

51

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Machine Learning

#660 in United States #720 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

52

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Machine Learning

#326 in United States #368 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

53

La Mirada

Biola University

For Machine Learning

#791 in United States #858 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

54

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Machine Learning

#253 in United States #288 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

55

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Machine Learning

#898 in United States #969 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

56

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Machine Learning

#543 in United States #596 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

57

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Machine Learning

#793 in United States #860 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

58

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Machine Learning

#278 in United States #314 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

59

Rosemead

University of the West

For Machine Learning

#637 in United States #696 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

60

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Machine Learning

#860 in United States #929 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

61

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Machine Learning

#172 in United States #202 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

62

San Diego

Ashford University

For Machine Learning

#870 in United States #939 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

63

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Machine Learning

#340 in United States #383 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

64

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Machine Learning

#475 in United States #528 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

65

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Machine Learning

#404 in United States #451 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

66

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Machine Learning

#794 in United States #861 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

67

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Machine Learning

#623 in United States #682 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

68

Atherton

For Machine Learning

#949 in United States #1021 in North America

68% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

69

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Machine Learning

#703 in United States #766 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

70

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Machine Learning

#428 in United States #480 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

71

Claremont, CA

For Machine Learning

#845 in United States #914 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

72

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Machine Learning

#330 in United States #372 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

73

Santa Monica

Pardee RAND Graduate School

For Machine Learning

#876 in United States #945 in North America

13% Acceptance

15,182 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1970 Founded

74

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Machine Learning

#460 in United States #513 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

75

San Diego

United States University

For Machine Learning

#770 in United States #837 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

76

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Machine Learning

#976 in United States #1049 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

77

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Machine Learning

#327 in United States #369 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

78

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Machine Learning

#946 in United States #1018 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

79

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Machine Learning

#331 in United States #373 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

80

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Machine Learning

#896 in United States #967 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

81

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Machine Learning

#603 in United States #662 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

82

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Machine Learning

#1012 in United States #1085 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

83

Whittier

Whittier College

For Machine Learning

#814 in United States #883 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

84

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Machine Learning

#292 in United States #331 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

85

Oakland

For Machine Learning

#788 in United States #855 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

86

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Machine Learning

#305 in United States #344 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

87

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Machine Learning

#960 in United States #1032 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

88

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Machine Learning

#416 in United States #466 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

89

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Machine Learning

#933 in United States #1004 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT