Why This Matters
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225 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN CALIFORNIA
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in California include 54 public and 171 private non-profit options.
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$10,249 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in California is $10,249, according to College Board.
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$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in California. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of higher education programs in California, Hawaii, and the Pacific.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 50 Colleges in California
intelligent score 98.60
Award
Rankings
#1 Best Colleges
#1 College Advisor
#1 College Factual
#1 College Vine
#1 Study Finds
#1 USNews
School Information
Stanford, CA
Graduation Rate: 96%
Admission Rate: 4%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Stanford University is one of the most prestigious universities - not just in California but across the globe. Even though it is not an Ivy League institution, it consistently ranks in the top 10 of lists by U.S. News & World Report and other outlets and is one of the most difficult undergraduate universities to get into, with an admit rate of just 5%. Stanford faculty are luminaries in their fields; among their ranks are dozens of Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, National Medal of Science recipients, and Macarthur fellows. Stanford is known for cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset in its students, no doubt thanks to its location in Silicon Valley. The School of Engineering is the most well-renowned, ranked #2 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 121-180
Graduate: 36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $961- $1,602
Graduate: $1,255 - $1,417
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
650-723-2091
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 121-180
Graduate: 36
intelligent score 97.93
Award
Rankings
#2 College Advisor
#2 College Vine
#2 USNews
#3 Best Colleges
#4 Study Finds
#5 College Factual
School Information
Pasadena, CA
Graduation Rate: 94%
Admission Rate: 4%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
When it comes to STEM, you can't do much better than California Institute of Technology, better known as Caltech. Times Higher Education has ranked Caltech #1 (or #2) in its World Universities Rankings, and with good reason: in just over 120 years, Caltech has produced 34 Nobel laureates and counting and has contributed to many advances in science and technology. Caltech is a small and highly research-oriented institution. Counting faculty and postdoctoral fellows, there's a 1:1 ratio of doctoral researchers to students on campus. Such a ratio provides many opportunities for students to take part in research projects and gain meaningful experiences in the lab. Caltech's core curriculum ensures you emerge as not only a better scientist but also a more critical, well-rounded problem-solver.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 121-136
Graduate: 30-35
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,720 - $1,933
Graduate: $3,220 - $4,175
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
626-395-6341
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 121-136
Graduate: 30-35
intelligent score 96.75
Award
Rankings
#2 Study Finds
#3 College Advisor
#3 College Factual
#3 USNews
#5 Best Colleges
#7 College Vine
School Information
Berkeley, CA
Graduation Rate: 94%
Admission Rate: 14%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
University of California, Berkeley is consistently ranked the #1 public university in California, United States, and the world by outlets such as U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. Like Stanford and Caltech, UC Berkeley is home to an illustrious faculty who are known around the world for their research contributions. Because UC Berkeley is a public university, it is likely to be considerably less expensive than private options, especially if you're a resident of California and qualify for in-state tuition. Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, UC Berkeley is its own world within a world, with a range of multidisciplinary labs, research centers, museums and institutes all on one campus.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $397
Graduate: $650 - $780
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
510-642-3175
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-36
intelligent score 96.74
Award
Rankings
#4 College Factual
#5 College Advisor
#5 College Vine
#5 Study Finds
#5 USNews
#6 Best Colleges
#6 Learn.org
School Information
Los Angeles, CA
Graduation Rate: 93%
Admission Rate: 13%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
University of Southern California is a highly ranked, highly regarded private university located in the heart of Los Angeles. Apart from USC's stellar academic reputation, the university stands out for its strong athletics, school spirit, and alumni network. Graduates of USC are Trojans for life and benefit from the university's extensive, well-connected, and influential group of alumni across the globe. Notable alumni include Neil Armstrong, George Lucas, Jane Goodall, and even Will Ferrell. While many of USC's alumni are connected to Hollywood, the influence of the alumni network extends well beyond film and television; the USC name can open doors across industries that include business and tech.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 32-48
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,851 - $2,776
Graduate: $3,332
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
213-740-1111
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 32-48
intelligent score 95.79
Award
Rankings
#3 Study Finds
#4 College Advisor
#4 USNews
#6 College Factual
#7 Best Colleges
#8 College Vine
School Information
Los Angeles, CA
Graduation Rate: 92%
Admission Rate: 11%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
University of California, Los Angeles is another highly regarded university within the UC system - in fact, in 2022, UCLA beat out UC Berkeley for the #1 spot in U.S. News & World Report's ranking of top public universities. UCLA is known for stellar academics across disciplines, but it truly shines in Theater, Film, and Television. Taking advantage of its location in the heart of Los Angeles, UCLA has educated household name actors like Mayim Bialik, George Takei, and James Franco. Whatever your degree level and whatever your field, UCLA is bound to have a high-quality program that suits your needs and goals. In California, the United States, and beyond, the UCLA name carries significant weight and can open doors inside or outside of show business.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-172
Graduate: 87
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $345 - $406
Graduate
In-State: $417
Out-of-State: $764
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
310-825-3101
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-172
Graduate: 87
intelligent score 95.69
Award
Rankings
#3 Learn.org
#8 College Advisor
#8 USNews
#9 College Factual
#12 Best Colleges
#12 College Vine
School Information
La Jolla, CA
Graduation Rate: 89%
Admission Rate: 34%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Although many locations in California boast breathtaking views and beach access, University of California, San Diego arguably takes the cake for best location. Situated in the swanky La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, UCSD offers a seaside paradise with an average of 300 sunny days per year, coupled with nearly endless cultural and career opportunities. San Diego provides easy access to Los Angeles, but it's also a bustling city in its own right with everything from a historic district and theaters to thousands of businesses, including tech start-ups, large corporations, and everything in between. If you want to couple strong academics with a beautiful location and easy access to cultural outlets, multiple transit options, and plenty of internship and career opportunities, UCSD is worth checking out.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 32-46
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
Resident: $604
Non-Resident: $1,085
Graduate
Resident: $1,119
Non-Resident: $1,006
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
858-534-4831
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 32-46
intelligent score 94.22
Award
Rankings
#7 College Advisor
#7 USNews
#14 Best Colleges
#14 College Factual
#15 College Vine
School Information
Irvine, CA
Graduation Rate: 86%
Admission Rate: 29%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
University of California, Irvine is home to one of the strongest Honors Colleges in the UC system. The highly selective Campuswide Honors Collegium provides unique opportunities for intellectually motivated students with a track record of academic excellence to engage in everything from a specialized curriculum and hands-on research with a faculty mentor to personalized one-on-one honors academic advising and special honors housing. As an honors student, your UCI degree will contain special honors notations on your transcript and diploma. UCI's Campuswide Honors Collegium is like a rigorous liberal arts college within a world-class research university. This means you get all the benefits and personal attention of a small school while maintaining access to the immense resources of UCI.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-130
Graduate: 32-48
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
Resident: $352
Non-Resident: $915
Graduate
Resident: $715
Non-Resident: $943
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
949-824-6703
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-130
Graduate: 32-48
intelligent score 93.29
Award
Rankings
#6 College Advisor
#6 USNews
#10 College Factual
School Information
Santa Barbara, CA
Graduation Rate: 85%
Admission Rate: 29%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Large
University of California, Santa Barbara, considered one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, is located on a striking strip of Pacific coastline. But beyond its gorgeous beaches, UCSB is home to some unique joint-degree programs that can help you increase your earning potential and career prospects in less time than you would spend earning two degrees separately. In five years, you can complete joint bachelor's-master's degree programs in fields like Actuarial Science, Computer Engineering, Earth Science, Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, and many others. Admission to the five-year joint programs takes place in your sophomore or junior year at UCSB, depending on your field.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 122-128
Graduate: 30-42
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $430
Graduate: $856
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
805-893-8000
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 122-128
Graduate: 30-42
intelligent score 93.09
Award
Rankings
#1 Learn.org
#9 College Advisor
#9 USNews
#11 College Factual
#18 College Vine
School Information
Davis, CA
Graduation Rate: 89%
Admission Rate: 49%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Large
The history of University of California, Davis is deeply rooted in agriculture, as evidenced by its mascot, the Aggies, and its school newspaper, The California Aggie. Even today, agriculture features prominently on UCD's campus and curriculum. UCD devotes nearly half of its 5,300 acres of land to agriculture and even houses a dairy center and slaughterhouse. In the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, you can study everything from animal biology or biotechnology to sustainable agriculture and food systems or marine and coastal science. You can even major in Viticulture and Enology, also known as wine-making. You'll be hard-pressed to find another university that offers degree specializations that match the caliber of UCD's programs.
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-140
Graduate: 30-48
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $436
Graduate: $873
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
530-752-1011
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-140
Graduate: 30-48
intelligent score 92.79
Award
Rankings
#10 College Vine
#11 USNews
#12 College Factual
#16 Learn.org
School Information
Santa Clara, CA
Graduation Rate: 91%
Admission Rate: 54%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-175
Graduate: 36-48
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,627
Graduate: $726
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
408-554-4000
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-175
Graduate: 36-48
intelligent score 92.76
Award
Rankings
School Information
Malibu, CA
Graduation Rate: 84%
Admission Rate: 53%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-134
Graduate: 32-60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,290 - $1,810
Graduate: $1,365 - $3,985
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
310-506-4000
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-134
Graduate: 32-60
intelligent score 92.08
Award
Rankings
School Information
Santa Cruz, CA
Graduation Rate: 79%
Admission Rate: 59%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate
Resident: $509
Non-Resident: $1,085
Graduate
Resident: $927
Non-Resident: $943
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
831-459-4008
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 36
intelligent score 91.22
Award
Rankings
School Information
Claremont, CA
Graduation Rate: 95%
Admission Rate: 7%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
120
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$2,063
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
909-621-8134
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
120
intelligent score 90.05
Award
Rankings
School Information
Los Angeles, CA
Graduation Rate: 82%
Admission Rate: 46%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-128
Graduate: 30-36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $487
Graduate: $1,536
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
310-338-2700
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-128
Graduate: 30-36
intelligent score 89.44
Award
Rankings
School Information
Claremont, CA
Graduation Rate: 93%
Admission Rate: 11%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128-144
Graduate: 36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,890
Graduate: $3,360
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
909-621-8000
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128-144
Graduate: 36
intelligent score 89.32
Award
Rankings
School Information
Claremont, CA
Graduation Rate: 93%
Admission Rate: 10%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$515
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
909-621-8011
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128
intelligent score 89.27
Award
Rankings
School Information
Riverside, CA
Graduation Rate: 79%
Admission Rate: 65%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $278
Graduate: $952 - $1,434
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
951-827-3411
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
intelligent score 88.15
Award
Rankings
School Information
Merced, CA
Graduation Rate: 71%
Admission Rate: 87%
Urbanicity: Rural
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 24
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $381
Graduate: $953
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
209-228-7178
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 24
intelligent score 86.67
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Diego, CA
Graduation Rate: 80%
Admission Rate: 53%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 70-88 Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,920
Graduate: $925-$1,690
accreditation
WASC Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
619-260-4600
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 70-88 Graduate: 30
intelligent score 85.80
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Francisco, CA
Graduation Rate: 77%
Admission Rate: 71%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128 Graduate: 60
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,802
Graduate: $1,275 - $1,615
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
415-422-5555
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128 Graduate: 60
intelligent score 85.80
Award
Rankings
School Information
Claremont, CA
Graduation Rate: 85%
Admission Rate: 18%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
128
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,949
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
909-621-8129
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
128
intelligent score 84.05
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Luis Obispo, CA
Graduation Rate: 84%
Admission Rate: 33%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,914
Graduate: $2,392
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
805-756-2311
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
intelligent score 83.20
Award
Rankings
School Information
Claremont, CA
Graduation Rate: 89%
Admission Rate: 30%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
128
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$987
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
909-621-8000
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
128
intelligent score 82.6
Award
Rankings
School Information
Aliso Viejo, CA
Graduation Rate: 90%
Admission Rate: 52%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 24-40
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,432
Graduate: $3,820
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
888-600-7652
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 24-40
intelligent score 82.59
Award
Rankings
School Information
Orange, CA
Graduation Rate: 81%
Admission Rate: 60%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-50
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,940
Graduate: $1,200 - $1,955
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
714-997-6815
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-50
intelligent score 81.82
Award
Rankings
School Information
Long Beach, CA
Graduation Rate: 81%
Admission Rate: 47%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,665
Graduate: $2,082
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
562-985-4111
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
intelligent score 80.37
Award
Rankings
School Information
Stockton, CA
Graduation Rate: 45%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Associate: 61-72
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 26-34
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $410
Graduate: $350 - $446
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
209-478-0800
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Associate: 61-72
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 26-34
intelligent score 79.53
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Jose, CA
Graduation Rate: 75%
Admission Rate: 84%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Associate: 60
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,665
Graduate: $2,082
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
408-283-7500
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Associate: 60
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
intelligent score 79.38
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Diego, CA
Graduation Rate: 79%
Admission Rate: 38%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 32-48
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $396
Graduate: $270
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
619-594-5200
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 128
Graduate: 32-48
intelligent score 76.76
Award
Rankings
School Information
Rohnert Park, CA
Graduation Rate: 70%
Admission Rate: 94%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,665
Graduate: $2,082
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
707-664-2778
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
intelligent score 76.66
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Rafael, CA
Graduation Rate: 70%
Admission Rate: 93%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $2,075
Graduate: $855 - $1,130
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
415-457-4440
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-36
intelligent score 76.03
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Diego, CA
Graduation Rate: 76%
Admission Rate: 84%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-128
Graduate: 36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,420 - $1,775
Graduate: $320 - $890
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
800-733-7770
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-128
Graduate: 36
intelligent score 75.00
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Francisco, CA
Graduation Rate: 68%
Admission Rate: 93%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
$1,074
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
415-338-6486
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
intelligent score 74.36
Award
Rankings
School Information
Oakland, CA
Graduation Rate: 64%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undegraduate: 122-123
Graduate: 36-93
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undegraduate: $300 - $475
Graduate: $545 - $650
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
510-628-8010
Delivery Format
On-Campus, Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undegraduate: 122-123
Graduate: 36-93
intelligent score 73.82
Award
Rankings
School Information
Sacramento, CA
Graduation Rate: 69%
Admission Rate: 94%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Large
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-32
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $277
Graduate: $347
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
916-278-1000
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30-32
intelligent score 71.59
Award
Rankings
School Information
San Diego, CA
Graduation Rate: 36%
Admission Rate: 55%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus and Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-124
Graduate: 30-36
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $555
Graduate: $663
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
855-355-6288
Delivery Format
On-Campus and Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-124
Graduate: 30-36
intelligent score 71.49
Award
Rankings
School Information
Redlands, CA
Graduation Rate: 76%
Admission Rate: 83%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus and Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-122
Graduate: 36-56
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,789
Graduate: $816
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
909-793-2121
Delivery Format
On-Campus and Online
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120-122
Graduate: 36-56
intelligent score 70.79
Award
Rankings
School Information
Thousand Oaks, CA
Graduation Rate: 73%
Admission Rate: 82%
Urbanicity: City
School Size: Medium
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 124
Graduate: 24-30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $1,615
Graduate: $500
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
805-493-3135
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 124
Graduate: 24-30
intelligent score 70.11
Award
Rankings
School Information
Rosemead, CA
Graduation Rate: 45%
Admission Rate: 100%
Urbanicity: Suburban
School Size: Small
Award
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Department
Estimated Cost per Credit
Undergraduate: $565
Graduate: $681 - $708
accreditation
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
more program informationEmail:
[email protected]
Phone:
626-571-8811
Delivery Format
On-Campus
Programs
Required Credits to Graduate
Undergraduate: 120
Graduate: 30
Discover More Options
What You Should Know About Graduating From College in California
If you’re still undecided on your major, you should consider the jobs with the most career potential in the state. As of May 2022, the five California industries with the highest number of employees are office and administrative support occupations, transportation and material moving, food preparation and serving, sales, and management.
For workers with a bachelor’s degree, the five fastest growing jobs in California are data scientists, logisticians, medical and health services managers, software developers, and market research analysts.
Some of the biggest employers in California are the Los Angeles International Airport, the University of California system, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, Alphabet Inc. (Google), and the California Department of Transportation, among others.
What’s Next?
While college can get very expensive, there are financial aid programs available to offset some, most, or even all of the costs. Listed below are federal and state resources to help you find financial aid, such as grants and scholarships, for college students in California.
- The California Student Aid Commission. This site can help you access financial aid programs such as the Cal Grant, Middle Class Scholarship, and Chafee Grant for Foster Youth.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.