Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

49 Best Universities in California for Physical

We ranked the top 49 universities for Physical in California based on strict academic metrics. Our methodology evaluated 3.41M subject-specific papers and 167.76M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Physical California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

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1

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Physical

#2 in United States #2 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Physical

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Physical

#13 in United States #14 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Physical

#14 in United States #15 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

5

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Physical

#21 in United States #22 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

6

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Physical

#23 in United States #25 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Physical

#29 in United States #33 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

8

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Physical

#46 in United States #52 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

9

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Physical

#50 in United States #56 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

10

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Physical

#51 in United States #57 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

11

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Physical

#94 in United States #109 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

12

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Physical

#100 in United States #116 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

13

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Physical

#156 in United States #184 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

14

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Physical

#253 in United States #291 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Physical

#300 in United States #344 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Physical

#560 in United States #615 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

17

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Physical

#246 in United States #284 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

18

Aliso Viejo

Soka University of America

For Physical

#540 in United States #594 in North America

43% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1422 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

19

Claremont, CA

Keck Graduate Institute

For Physical

#597 in United States #654 in North America

50% Acceptance

44,256 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1997 Founded

20

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Physical

#357 in United States #406 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

21

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Physical

#399 in United States #449 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

22

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Physical

#673 in United States #733 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

23

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Physical

#327 in United States #373 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

24

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Physical

#302 in United States #346 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

25

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Physical

#435 in United States #486 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

26

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Physical

#564 in United States #619 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

27

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Physical

#371 in United States #420 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

28

Santa Barbara

Westmont College

For Physical

#634 in United States #693 in North America

77% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

29

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Physical

#457 in United States #509 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

30

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Physical

#266 in United States #305 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

31

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Physical

#323 in United States #369 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

32

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Physical

#308 in United States #352 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

33

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Physical

#283 in United States #325 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

34

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Physical

#461 in United States #513 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

35

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Physical

#295 in United States #339 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

36

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Physical

#222 in United States #257 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

37

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Physical

#503 in United States #557 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

38

Claremont, CA

For Physical

#347 in United States #396 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

39

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Physical

#273 in United States #315 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

40

Turlock

California State University – Stanislaus

For Physical

#683 in United States #744 in North America

98% Acceptance

15,257 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

41

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Physical

#286 in United States #329 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

42

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Physical

#237 in United States #275 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

43

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Physical

#652 in United States #711 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

44

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Physical

#221 in United States #256 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

45

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Physical

#257 in United States #296 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

46

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Physical

#427 in United States #477 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

47

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Physical

#335 in United States #382 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

48

Rosemead

University of the West

For Physical

#592 in United States #649 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

49

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Physical

#227 in United States #262 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded