Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

39 Best Universities in California for Theoretical

Focusing specifically on Theoretical, our data science engine identified the 39 most influential universities in California. To determine these leaders, we isolated 3.35M specialized research publications which collectively generated 165.36M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

Active Filters: Theoretical California Clear All

Ranking Methodology Notice

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Theoretical

#4 in United States #4 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Theoretical

#5 in United States #5 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

3

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Theoretical

#6 in United States #6 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

4

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Theoretical

#7 in United States #7 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Theoretical

#22 in United States #23 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

6

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Theoretical

#24 in United States #27 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

7

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Theoretical

#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 Theoretical

#35 in United States #39 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

9

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Theoretical

#37 in United States #42 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

10

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Theoretical

#40 in United States #46 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

11

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Theoretical

#63 in United States #71 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

12

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Theoretical

#189 in United States #222 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

13

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Theoretical

#193 in United States #226 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

14

Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

For Theoretical

#213 in United States #246 in North America

48% Acceptance

37,661 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

15

Monterey

Naval Postgraduate School

For Theoretical

#218 in United States #251 in North America

23% Acceptance

837 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

16

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Theoretical

#290 in United States #328 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

17

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Theoretical

#358 in United States #400 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

18

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Theoretical

#299 in United States #338 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

19

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Theoretical

#252 in United States #287 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

20

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Theoretical

#221 in United States #255 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

21

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Theoretical

#250 in United States #285 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

22

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Theoretical

#187 in United States #220 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

23

Claremont, CA

For Theoretical

#289 in United States #327 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

24

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Theoretical

#235 in United States #269 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

25

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Theoretical

#268 in United States #304 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

26

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Theoretical

#166 in United States #197 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

27

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Theoretical

#234 in United States #268 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

28

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Theoretical

#109 in United States #128 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

29

Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

For Theoretical

#270 in United States #306 in North America

10% Acceptance

1,771 Enrollment

1515 Avg SAT

1946 Founded

30

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Theoretical

#181 in United States #213 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

31

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Theoretical

#208 in United States #241 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

32

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Theoretical

#337 in United States #379 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

33

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Theoretical

#348 in United States #390 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

34

Claremont, CA

Harvey Mudd College

For Theoretical

#256 in United States #291 in North America

13% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1955 Founded

35

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Theoretical

#265 in United States #301 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

36

Los Angeles

Occidental College

For Theoretical

#394 in United States #441 in North America

44% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

37

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Theoretical

#190 in United States #223 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

38

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Theoretical

#399 in United States #448 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

39

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Theoretical

#381 in United States #427 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded