Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

88 Best Universities in California for Education

Focusing specifically on Education, our data science engine identified the 88 most influential universities in California. Our methodology evaluated 3.51M subject-specific papers and 169.14M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Education California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Education

#2 in United States #2 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Education

#13 in United States #14 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Education

#20 in United States #22 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Education

#35 in United States #39 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

5

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Education

#47 in United States #52 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

6

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Education

#52 in United States #57 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Education

#58 in United States #63 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Education

#60 in United States #65 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Education

#76 in United States #87 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

10

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Education

#78 in United States #89 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

11

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Education

#96 in United States #108 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Education

#129 in United States #145 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Education

#132 in United States #149 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Education

#255 in United States #286 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Education

#273 in United States #305 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

16

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Education

#303 in United States #337 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

17

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Education

#620 in United States #673 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

18

Claremont, CA

For Education

#552 in United States #604 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

19

Redlands

University of Redlands

For Education

#563 in United States #615 in North America

83% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

20

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Education

#164 in United States #187 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

21

Pleasant Hill

John F. Kennedy University

For Education

#557 in United States #609 in North America

100% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1964 Founded

22

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Education

#446 in United States #493 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

23

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Education

#827 in United States #893 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

24

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Education

#729 in United States #789 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

25

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Education

#453 in United States #500 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

26

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Education

#483 in United States #532 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

27

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Education

#139 in United States #158 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

28

Berkeley

Graduate Theological Union

For Education

#1003 in United States #1074 in North America

91% Acceptance

124 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

29

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Education

#400 in United States #441 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

30

San Francisco

California Institute of Integral Studies

For Education

#812 in United States #878 in North America

90% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

31

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Education

#292 in United States #326 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

32

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Education

#443 in United States #490 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

33

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Education

#221 in United States #249 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

34

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Education

#822 in United States #888 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

35

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Education

#489 in United States #538 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

36

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Education

#506 in United States #556 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

37

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Education

#253 in United States #284 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

38

Pasadena, CA

Fuller Theological Seminary

For Education

#934 in United States #1003 in North America

82% Acceptance

833 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

39

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Education

#179 in United States #203 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

40

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Education

#591 in United States #643 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

41

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Education

#598 in United States #651 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

42

La Verne

University of La Verne

For Education

#710 in United States #770 in North America

71% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

43

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Education

#226 in United States #254 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

44

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Education

#1041 in United States #1113 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

45

La Mirada

Biola University

For Education

#732 in United States #792 in North America

74% Acceptance

1,890 Enrollment

1265 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

46

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Education

#149 in United States #170 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

47

Culver, CA

Antioch University

For Education

#649 in United States #705 in North America

81% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

48

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Education

#351 in United States #387 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

49

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Education

#928 in United States #996 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

50

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Education

#236 in United States #264 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

51

Rosemead

University of the West

For Education

#625 in United States #678 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

52

San Francisco

Golden Gate University – San Francisco

For Education

#832 in United States #898 in North America

83% Acceptance

28,313 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

53

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Education

#133 in United States #150 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

54

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Education

#603 in United States #656 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

55

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Education

#251 in United States #282 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

56

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Education

#823 in United States #889 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

57

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Education

#311 in United States #346 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

58

Camarillo

California State University – Channel Islands

For Education

#582 in United States #634 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

2002 Founded

59

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Education

#404 in United States #446 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

60

San Diego

United States University

For Education

#830 in United States #896 in North America

100% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

61

San Diego

Ashford University

For Education

#913 in United States #981 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

$32,265 Net Price

62

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Education

#314 in United States #349 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

63

Claremont, CA

For Education

#806 in United States #871 in North America

25% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

64

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Education

#350 in United States #386 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

65

Burbank

Woodbury University

For Education

#1067 in United States #1140 in North America

82% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1884 Founded

66

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Education

#427 in United States #474 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

67

San Diego

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

For Education

#1071 in United States #1145 in North America

50% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

68

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Education

#1014 in United States #1085 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

69

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Education

#299 in United States #333 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

70

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Education

#671 in United States #728 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

71

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Education

#248 in United States #279 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

72

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Education

#762 in United States #825 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

73

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Education

#339 in United States #375 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

74

San Diego

Northcentral University

For Education

#662 in United States #719 in North America

81% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1060 Avg SAT

75

Whittier

Whittier College

For Education

#855 in United States #921 in North America

81% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

76

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Education

#235 in United States #263 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

77

Oakland

For Education

#379 in United States #419 in North America

17% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1852 Founded

78

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Education

#224 in United States #252 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

79

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Education

#737 in United States #797 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

80

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Education

#381 in United States #421 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

81

Anaheim

West Coast University – Orange County

For Education

#1048 in United States #1120 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,926 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

82

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Education

#933 in United States #1002 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

83

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Education

#423 in United States #468 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

84

Moraga

Saint Mary’s College of California

For Education

#544 in United States #595 in North America

87% Acceptance

9,724 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1863 Founded

85

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Education

#448 in United States #495 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

86

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Education

#940 in United States #1009 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

87

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Education

#293 in United States #327 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

88

Cypress

Trident University International

For Education

#903 in United States #971 in North America

69% Acceptance

9,489 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

$13,916 Net Price