Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

31 Best Universities in California for Ophthalmology

We ranked the top 31 universities for Ophthalmology in California based on strict academic metrics. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.26M specialized research publications which collectively generated 164.31M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Ophthalmology California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Ophthalmology

#4 in United States #4 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Ophthalmology

#6 in United States #6 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Ophthalmology

#9 in United States #10 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

4

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Ophthalmology

#10 in United States #11 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Ophthalmology

#11 in United States #12 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Ophthalmology

#20 in United States #21 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Ophthalmology

#33 in United States #34 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Ophthalmology

#37 in United States #38 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Ophthalmology

#66 in United States #75 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

10

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Ophthalmology

#72 in United States #82 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Ophthalmology

#141 in United States #157 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Ophthalmology

#171 in United States #189 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Ophthalmology

#244 in United States #272 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Ophthalmology

#299 in United States #329 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

15

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Ophthalmology

#220 in United States #243 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

16

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Ophthalmology

#116 in United States #130 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

17

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Ophthalmology

#252 in United States #280 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

18

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Ophthalmology

#257 in United States #285 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

19

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Ophthalmology

#181 in United States #202 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

20

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Ophthalmology

#260 in United States #288 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

21

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Ophthalmology

#187 in United States #209 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

22

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Ophthalmology

#312 in United States #343 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

23

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Ophthalmology

#201 in United States #223 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

24

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Ophthalmology

#263 in United States #292 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

25

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Ophthalmology

#227 in United States #253 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

26

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Ophthalmology

#119 in United States #134 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

27

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Ophthalmology

#267 in United States #297 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

28

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Ophthalmology

#320 in United States #352 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

29

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Ophthalmology

#232 in United States #258 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

30

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Ophthalmology

#326 in United States #358 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

31

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Ophthalmology

#189 in United States #211 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded