Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

51 Best Universities in California for Systems

Focusing specifically on Systems, our data science engine identified the 51 most influential universities in California. Our methodology evaluated 3.43M subject-specific papers and 167.37M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Systems California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Systems

#3 in United States #3 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Systems

#4 in United States #4 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Systems

#11 in United States #12 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Systems

#14 in United States #15 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Systems

#20 in United States #22 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

6

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Systems

#36 in United States #41 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

7

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Systems

#37 in United States #42 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

8

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Systems

#46 in United States #55 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

9

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Systems

#53 in United States #65 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

10

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Systems

#105 in United States #126 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

11

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Systems

#114 in United States #135 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

12

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Systems

#115 in United States #136 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

13

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Systems

#128 in United States #155 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

14

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Systems

#134 in United States #162 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

15

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Systems

#210 in United States #243 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Systems

#337 in United States #380 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

Claremont, CA

Scripps College

For Systems

#467 in United States #518 in North America

38% Acceptance

23,453 Enrollment

1490 Avg SAT

1926 Founded

18

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Systems

#300 in United States #342 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

19

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Systems

#230 in United States #267 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

20

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Systems

#459 in United States #510 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

21

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Systems

#433 in United States #483 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

22

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Systems

#497 in United States #550 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

23

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Systems

#356 in United States #400 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

24

Claremont, CA

For Systems

#373 in United States #421 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

25

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Systems

#226 in United States #263 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

26

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Systems

#397 in United States #446 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

27

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Systems

#305 in United States #347 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

28

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Systems

#214 in United States #249 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

29

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Systems

#432 in United States #482 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

30

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Systems

#239 in United States #276 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

31

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Systems

#173 in United States #204 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

32

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Systems

#416 in United States #466 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

33

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Systems

#297 in United States #339 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

34

Berkeley

Wright Institute

For Systems

#496 in United States #549 in North America

91% Acceptance

1,057 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1969 Founded

35

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Systems

#254 in United States #292 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

36

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Systems

#431 in United States #481 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

37

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Systems

#223 in United States #259 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

38

Rosemead

University of the West

For Systems

#522 in United States #576 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

39

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Systems

#231 in United States #268 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

40

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Systems

#504 in United States #558 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

41

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Systems

#247 in United States #284 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

42

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Systems

#546 in United States #600 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

43

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Systems

#120 in United States #144 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

44

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Systems

#347 in United States #390 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

45

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Systems

#426 in United States #476 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

46

Vallejo

California State University Maritime Academy

For Systems

#396 in United States #444 in North America

95% Acceptance

2,441 Enrollment

1135 Avg SAT

1929 Founded

47

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Systems

#427 in United States #477 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

48

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Systems

#381 in United States #429 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

49

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Systems

#354 in United States #398 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

50

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Systems

#264 in United States #302 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

51

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Systems

#311 in United States #353 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded