Best Reliability and Quality Universities in California [2026 Rankings]

1

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Reliability and Quality

#1 in United States #1 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

2

Stanford

Stanford University

For Reliability and Quality

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

3

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Reliability and Quality

#10 in United States #10 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

4

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Reliability and Quality

#17 in United States #20 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Reliability and Quality

#21 in United States #25 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

6

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Reliability and Quality

#28 in United States #33 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

7

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Reliability and Quality

#34 in United States #40 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

8

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Reliability and Quality

#46 in United States #56 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

9

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Reliability and Quality

#47 in United States #57 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

10

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Reliability and Quality

#87 in United States #106 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

11

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Reliability and Quality

#95 in United States #118 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

12

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Reliability and Quality

#103 in United States #126 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

13

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Reliability and Quality

#105 in United States #128 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

14

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Reliability and Quality

#188 in United States #221 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Reliability and Quality

#207 in United States #242 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Reliability and Quality

#179 in United States #211 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

17

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Reliability and Quality

#221 in United States #256 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

18

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Reliability and Quality

#266 in United States #302 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

19

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Reliability and Quality

#163 in United States #192 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

20

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Reliability and Quality

#147 in United States #174 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

21

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Reliability and Quality

#280 in United States #319 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

22

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Reliability and Quality

#228 in United States #263 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

23

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Reliability and Quality

#229 in United States #264 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

24

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Reliability and Quality

#243 in United States #279 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

25

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Reliability and Quality

#237 in United States #273 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

26

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Reliability and Quality

#216 in United States #251 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

27

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Reliability and Quality

#215 in United States #250 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

27 Best Universities in California for Reliability and Quality

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