Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

64 Best Universities in California for Oceanography

Focusing specifically on Oceanography, our data science engine identified the 64 most influential universities in California. Our methodology evaluated 3.46M subject-specific papers and 167.92M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Oceanography California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Oceanography

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Oceanography

#4 in United States #4 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Oceanography

#6 in United States #6 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

4

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Oceanography

#17 in United States #18 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Oceanography

#21 in United States #23 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

6

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Oceanography

#23 in United States #25 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

7

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Oceanography

#30 in United States #33 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Oceanography

#40 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 Oceanography

#42 in United States #47 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

10

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Oceanography

#51 in United States #57 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Oceanography

#69 in United States #84 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Oceanography

#84 in United States #103 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

13

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Oceanography

#90 in United States #110 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

14

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Oceanography

#99 in United States #120 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Oceanography

#247 in United States #292 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Oceanography

#335 in United States #385 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

San Diego

Ashford University

For Oceanography

#610 in United States #674 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

18

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Oceanography

#288 in United States #336 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

19

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Oceanography

#258 in United States #304 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

20

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Oceanography

#607 in United States #671 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

21

Whittier

Whittier College

For Oceanography

#736 in United States #803 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

22

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Oceanography

#378 in United States #431 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

23

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Oceanography

#565 in United States #627 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

24

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Oceanography

#350 in United States #402 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

25

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Oceanography

#599 in United States #663 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

26

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Oceanography

#307 in United States #357 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

27

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Oceanography

#315 in United States #365 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

28

Claremont, CA

For Oceanography

#410 in United States #464 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

29

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Oceanography

#728 in United States #795 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

30

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Oceanography

#256 in United States #302 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

31

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Oceanography

#507 in United States #567 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

32

Rosemead

University of the West

For Oceanography

#485 in United States #544 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

33

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Oceanography

#232 in United States #271 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

34

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Oceanography

#665 in United States #730 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

35

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Oceanography

#216 in United States #253 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

36

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Oceanography

#431 in United States #486 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

37

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Oceanography

#602 in United States #666 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

38

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Oceanography

#167 in United States #198 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

39

Oakland

For Oceanography

#771 in United States #838 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

40

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Oceanography

#209 in United States #246 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

41

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Oceanography

#421 in United States #475 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

42

Riverside

La Sierra University

For Oceanography

#718 in United States #785 in North America

91% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

43

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Oceanography

#388 in United States #441 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

44

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Oceanography

#733 in United States #800 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

45

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Oceanography

#212 in United States #249 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

46

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Oceanography

#374 in United States #427 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

47

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Oceanography

#505 in United States #564 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

48

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Oceanography

#393 in United States #446 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

49

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Oceanography

#675 in United States #740 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

50

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Oceanography

#174 in United States #206 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

51

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Oceanography

#336 in United States #386 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

52

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Oceanography

#578 in United States #642 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

53

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Oceanography

#233 in United States #273 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

54

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Oceanography

#701 in United States #767 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

55

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Oceanography

#176 in United States #208 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

56

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Oceanography

#618 in United States #682 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

57

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Oceanography

#278 in United States #326 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

58

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Oceanography

#499 in United States #558 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

59

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Oceanography

#494 in United States #553 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

60

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Oceanography

#416 in United States #470 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

61

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Oceanography

#228 in United States #265 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

62

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Oceanography

#292 in United States #341 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

63

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Oceanography

#380 in United States #433 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

64

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Oceanography

#325 in United States #375 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded