Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

26 Best Universities in California for Photography

If you are looking to study Photography in California, our index highlights the top 26 domain-leading institutions. Based on 3.19M scholarly articles and 161.66M peer-reviewed citations, we reveal the best research labs driving innovation in Photography. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Photography

#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 Photography

#2 in United States #3 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Photography

#18 in United States #20 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Photography

#24 in United States #26 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Photography

#35 in United States #38 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Photography

#47 in United States #52 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

7

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Photography

#51 in United States #57 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

8

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Photography

#64 in United States #73 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Photography

#91 in United States #107 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Photography

#101 in United States #118 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

11

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Photography

#105 in United States #122 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

12

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Photography

#107 in United States #124 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Photography

#134 in United States #158 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Photography

#200 in United States #236 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Photography

#180 in United States #213 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

16

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Photography

#272 in United States #309 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

17

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Photography

#188 in United States #222 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

18

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Photography

#102 in United States #119 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

19

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Photography

#177 in United States #208 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

20

Pasadena, CA

Art Center College of Design

For Photography

#199 in United States #235 in North America

75% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

21

San Diego

Newschool of Architecture and Design

For Photography

#276 in United States #314 in North America

100% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1229 Avg SAT

1980 Founded

22

San Francisco

California College of the Arts

For Photography

#241 in United States #278 in North America

91% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1907 Founded

23

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Photography

#210 in United States #247 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

24

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Photography

#166 in United States #195 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

25

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Photography

#230 in United States #267 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

26

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Photography

#269 in United States #306 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded