2024 Best Colleges in California

The sunny campus of Stanford University is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. The private institution stresses a multidisciplinary combination of teaching, learning, and research, and students have many opportunities to get involved in research projects.

The California Institute of Technology focuses on science and engineering education and has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 3:1. This private institution in Pasadena, California, is actively involved in research projects with grants from NASA, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The University of California, Berkeley overlooks the San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, Calif. Students at this public school have more than 1,000 groups to get involved in, including more than 60 fraternity and sorority chapters.

The University of California, Los Angeles is just five miles away from the Pacific Ocean. The public institution offers 5,000 courses, 140 bachelor's degree programs and 97 minors.

The University of California, Davis, one of 10 schools in the University of California system, was originally established as a farm school for UC - Berkeley. Located just 15 miles from Sacramento, UC Davis' campus contains an airport, fire department and a collection of outdoor sculptures called Eggheads. There are more than 700 student organizations on campus in addition to a sizable Greek community that comprises about 65 fraternity and sorority chapters. All freshmen are guaranteed housing, and after their first year students typically move off campus or live in university apartments. The UC Davis Aggies field 25 NCAA Division I teams, and students can join the Aggie Pack, the largest student spirit organization in the country.

The University of California, San Diego lies alongside the Pacific Ocean in the La Jolla community of San Diego. The UCSD Tritons compete in more than 20 NCAA Division II sports, mainly in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The school has hundreds of student organizations, and the university hosts a thriving Greek community. All freshmen are eligible for guaranteed on-campus housing for two years, but they are not required to live on campus. The campus has an aquarium and is home to the Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table, which tests structures’ ability to withstand simulated earthquakes.

Undergraduates study in the College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Southern California, a private school based in Los Angeles. The USC Trojans compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference and are particularly competitive in football.

The University of California, Irvine, a research institution in Orange County, specializes in areas such as cancer and neuroscience studies in conjunction with the highly ranked UC Irvine Medical Center. Graduate programs are highly regarded at UC Irvine, too, with specialty offerings at the Paul Merage School of Business and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering. Students can participate in more than 500 student organizations, including nearly 50 fraternities and sororities. The Pacific Ocean is only 5 miles from campus. Known as a commuter school, the university offers on-campus residences. Freshmen are not required to live on campus but more than three-fourths do. The university has earned accolades for its eco-friendly measures, promoting green initiatives through student groups like the Anteaters for Recycling and Conservation.

Located 100 miles up the coast from Los Angeles, the University of California, Santa Barbara sits atop cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Students can get involved in any of the more than 400 clubs and organizations on campus, including a Greek community that comprises about 10% of undergraduate students. UCSB provides housing to about 30% of students in eight residence halls and several university apartment complexes. The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos compete primarily in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference and are known for their successful women’s basketball and men’s soccer teams. Non-varsity students can join a club team such as cycling, surfing, rugby or ski and snowboard.

Santa Clara University is located in the Silicon Valley town of Santa Clara, California, about an hour from San Francisco. The university offers arts and entertainment programs at the Center of Performing Arts and the de Saisset Museum of art and history. There are more than 100 student organizations on campus including the Santa Clara Community Action Program, a volunteer service organization, and the Santa Clara Review, a biannual literary magazine. Santa Clara offers housing in its residence halls, and students can also join a Residential Learning Community. The Santa Clara Broncos field nearly 20 Division I athletic teams and are known for their successful soccer and volleyball programs. The Ruff Riders – the official student booster club of SCU athletics – is the largest organization on campus.