2024 Best Colleges in California

• Stanford, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  1,284 reviews

Freshman: I honestly really like it here! It was my dream school and genuinely there are so many opportunities that you have access to. That said, its heat you make of it. No one will force you or push you to apply for things or cold email people. You just need to have the personal drive. Also, I love the area, its quiet, so if you're into big massive part vibes, it may not be the place for you. I love how they have options for weekends for people who don't party. Very accommodating!... Read 1,284 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 4%

• Net price $18,279

• SAT range 1500-1580

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  155 reviews

Other: I'm an incoming freshman! I was accepted to the Class of 2028 and I'll likely be studying either engineering or math+compsci. I attended Admitted Student Day 2 weeks ago on campus and the current students as well as the professors are extremely kind, humble, knowledgeable, and always willing to help.... Read 155 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 13%

• Net price $39,850

• SAT range 1480-1560

• Pasadena, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  134 reviews

Other: I like the campus most , students activities , diverse programs of alumni and dorms and libraries . overall experiences are very good .... Read 134 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 3%

• Net price $20,755

• SAT range —

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.23 out of 5  423 reviews

Junior: After three challenging, exciting, and transformational years at Pomona, I feel that I can confidently say that I wouldn't want to have studied anywhere else, and I'm already mourning that I'll have to leave this place after next year. Pomona maintains a truly unique culture among elite higher education. Students here are bright and academically top-notch, sure, but, more importantly, they are genuinely curious about the world, open-minded, and passionate about knowledge and justice. I have been challenged academically and personally, and grown more than I could have imagined as a result. The school has its problems, of course: for one, the administration is opaque and unresponsive to student needs. But the dedicated faculty, laidback California atmosphere, and student body more than make up for them. If you are given the opportunity to study here, seriously consider it: you will grow as a student and as a person.... Read 423 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 7%

• Net price $19,962

• SAT range 1480-1560

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  5,590 reviews

Alum: As with any college, the experience is what you make of it. UCLA just presents a lot of diversity in terms of the experiences that you can have. You can get your party fix in on Thursdays at frat row, kickbacks through cultural or professional organizations, or even a warehouse rave in the Arts District. Academically, there are plenty of opportunities for research and internships. It can be difficult to get into certain classes until you are in your 3rd or 4th year, though. Living on campus is really helpful for finding friends and the food is definitely a blow-out compared to other schools I've visited. Only downside is that housing in general is expensive due to the area, so you'll likely be sharing a room and living on a budget!... Read 5,590 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 9%

• Net price $16,999

• SAT range —

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  432 reviews

Sophomore: Transferred in from a flagship state school and have no regrets. Found more welcoming communities, interesting professional/research opportunities, and more engaging classes. Facilities and the overall area (being in between LA County and San Bernardino) are somewhat underwhelming but can be made more enjoyable with a car. Food and residential life is good, and you'll find most people are friendly across the 5Cs. More specific to CMC, students love having profound conversations and engaging in multiple productive pursuits. It's definitely a grind, but a fulfilling one -- especially if you're pre-professional interested in IB/Consulting.... Read 432 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 10%

• Net price $28,701

• SAT range 1440-1550

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  4,049 reviews

Junior: I absolutely love the University of Southern California! Besides the amazing weather, USC is a diverse and supportive environment with tons of school spirit. With so many schools and majors to choose from, academically, you are surrounded by so many talented and intelligent students with various aspirations. I appreciate that USC encourages interdisciplinary studies. As a joint major between the Marshall School of Business and School of Cinematic Arts, I've met likeminded individuals and have got plenty of opportunities to be involved in relevant organizations and get support on internships and my career. The Trojan Network is real.... Read 4,049 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 12%

• Net price $36,808

• SAT range 1450-1550

• Berkeley, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  4,490 reviews

Junior: Attending UC Berkeley has been an amazing experience. The university provides a wide range of resources for students, from state-of-the-art research facilities to extensive libraries and diverse student organizations catering to almost every interest. The professors are not only knowledgeable but also genuinely invested in their student's success, offering valuable mentorship and opportunities for academic and professional growth. However, some areas could be improved. While the campus is diverse, more initiatives are needed to foster a more inclusive environment, particularly in terms of support and representation for underrepresented groups. Additionally, the bureaucracy can sometimes be overwhelming, making it difficult for students to navigate administrative processes efficiently. More streamlined systems and increased support for student mental health and well-being would significantly enhance the overall experience.... Read 4,490 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 11%

• Net price $19,257

• SAT range —

• Irvine, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  4,279 reviews

Senior: I enjoyed by UCI experience. I liked how diverse the campus was and the proximity of good study spots such as local cafes and the beach for when I needed to take study breaks. I also liked that it is close to home, since I do live in Irvine. The academics challenged me but also gave me room for relaxing so that the classes were not too overwhelming. There was a mix of rigorous courses and fun electives, which made for a well-rounded education and time for research opportunities and joining club organizations. I would like to see more parking on-campus, since it was often hard to find parking close to my courses. I would also like to see more scholarship opportunities advertised through the university email, since I know many people (including myself) have trouble affording a college education. I would have also liked to have more one-on-one counseling guidance, since we are not assigned a specific counselor to check in with at UCI. This would have helped me prepare for grad school.... Read 4,279 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 21%

• Net price $14,033

• SAT range —

• La Jolla, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  3,995 reviews

Alum: UC San Diego provides a wonderful environment to foster growth and fun in your undergrad experience. Students and faculty are friendly, caring, and eager to help make your time there as positive as can be. While the party scene isn't exactly what the school is known for, San Diego is a very fun, hip, and young area that you can and should explore to get out those college partying urges! The academics are outstanding and offer great success post-graduation. The campus is gorgeous and offers fun events throughout the week.... Read 3,995 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 24%

• Net price $16,111

• SAT range —

• Santa Barbara, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  4,733 reviews

Alum: My overall experience at UCSB was formative. I entered as a freshman during Covid-19 in the fall of 2020. It was a difficult year, especially because I was not able to finish my senior year of high school. We began our first quarter online, which was a hard transition. I found the teachers to be a big unforgiving in regards to the pandemic, however I pushed through to keep up the good grades I had in high school. Once we returned back to in-person, I absolutely loved it. The professors were informative and they really seemed to care about their students. One of my favorite parts about UCSB was the research aspect. I worked as a research assistant under three different professors during the last two years of my undergraduate studies. I learned the most valuable information that I will now take with me to graduate school at UCSD.... Read 4,733 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 26%

• Net price $16,874

• SAT range —

• Davis, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  5,631 reviews

Junior: UC Davis, part of the prestigious University of California system, stands out as a renowned institution renowned for its excellence in education, research, and community engagement. Located in Davis, California, it boasts a sprawling campus known for its agricultural roots and commitment to sustainability. With over 100 undergraduate majors and 90 graduate programs, UC Davis offers a diverse range of academic opportunities across disciplines, including engineering, veterinary medicine, environmental science, and the arts. The university prides itself on fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment, where students are encouraged to explore their passions and make meaningful contributions to society. Its faculty comprises leading scholars and researchers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge and innovation.... Read 5,631 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 37%

• Net price $17,385

• SAT range —

• La Jolla, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  1,177 reviews

Freshman: Attending National University fully online has been a unique experience for me. While I miss the in-person interactions and campus atmosphere, I appreciate the flexibility and convenience that their classes offer me. It has challenged me to be more disciplined and independent in managing my time and workload. Overall, my online National University experience has been a positive one.... Read 1,177 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 55%

• Net price $30,527

• SAT range 750-1170

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  509 reviews

Sophomore: Like everything, there are ups and downs and days where I wish I were back home with my dogs, but I love Occidental College, and I've had such a great experience so far. I am only a sophomore and have already taken a wide diversity of courses with phenomenal professors, met incredible friends, and have had many opportunities to help professors with their research. I have an environmental science concentration with my major and have worked in my biology professor's lab since the first semester of my first year! Being at Oxy, a small school, enables me to build a great network of mentors and participate in undergraduate research throughout the school year and independent paid research over the summer. Ultimately, I have loved the experiences of being at Oxy and being able to take a comprehensive arrangement of courses and do stem research.... Read 509 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 39%

• Net price $44,853

• SAT range 1370-1510

• San Diego, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  1,962 reviews

Freshman: USD is a really great school, but applicants should keep in mind that it is a private Catholic institution. From my experience, there are not a lot of queer students, or at least they're hard to find. As a queer student, it is hard finding that community sometimes. However, I haven't had any bad professor experiences and the campus is beautiful. It is very difficult to get places though as you can't really walk anywhere and rideshare services are expensive. There is also no food on campus that is not University food, so be prepared to be sick of the ~five restaurants you can choose from. Some housing is awesome, some isn't. Do your research before applying to live in specific areas! Overall though, it has been a very welcoming environment and I've never felt unsafe on campus. I've walked around very early in the morning and the only thing I feared was the raccoons (just kidding, I love them. There's lots of them here!).... Read 1,962 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 53%

• Net price $36,008

• SAT range —

• Long Beach, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  4,896 reviews

Alum: I really enjoyed my overall experience as an undergraduate psychology student at CSULB. The pros are greatly that psychology students have their own well-designed program and building, incentivizing psychology students to make use of their uniquely cultivated environment and resources. Overall the professors are good, with the occasional one or two you just needed to bear. For the most part, I had a fantastic time. Loved the bar on campus, food was great, aside from the fact that the campus is MASSIVE and ye be dying a bit from class to class it's a great school. I applied to CSULB for graduate school and was ultimately rejected, which was beyond frustrating considering I graduated Magna Cum Laude and did very well there. But I get it, there are never any guarantees. And still, I got into an impeccable graduate program at Fordham in NYC because of the undergraduate education I did acquire. I walked the lawn of CSULB, so I could run through castle-like halls at Fordham!... Read 4,896 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 40%

• Net price $9,346

• SAT range —

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  649 reviews

Alum: Pitzer in many ways is heaven to me... though perhaps that is just the effect of moving to California as an east-coaster. But really, going to Pitzer was quite a bit like going to the school from Zoey 101. The students are creative, thoughtful, attractive, and well-connected (i.e. Rich AF) and the professors are lovable, wacky, and receptive to bold ideas (and also often independently wealthy for some reason). Cool architecture on campus and the dorms are brilliant in form and function. Proximity to LA, Joshua Tree, San Diego, etc. Apparently the administration is weak, but honestly who cares? And yes, the academic standards are insanely lenient (remember: trust fund dummies are this school's bread and butter). My solution: just take a class at Pomona, CMC, or Harvey Mudd. I did about half of my classes at Pomona to feel properly educated. The drawback to this method is that off-campus professors may not treat you as a priority. Oh well. If you're in Claremont--count yourself lucky.... Read 649 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 18%

• Net price $39,809

• SAT range —

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  1,755 reviews

Sophomore: Overall, my favorite thing about Loyola Marymount University was the friends I have made. The school culture itself I can do with out, but the location, friends, and academics are worth it!... Read 1,755 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 41%

• Net price $52,815

• SAT range 1300-1460

• San Luis Obispo, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  4,014 reviews

Senior: Cal Poly gives a lot of bang for your buck, especially as an amazing school everybody around the world wants to go to. The learn-by-doing attitude reigns true with most of the classes taken here. It may be tough for you or your child to feel welcome here at first but it gets better with time as you find people you enjoy. Classes are great and for every 5-9 professors there's 1 bad one. The school/area is more right-leaning than other schools in the state which may be your cup of tea. The Frat party culture is very toxic here, and I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to pay over 200-300 dollars a month. Plus partying is bad for your health :/. The area is wonderful for outdoors but the party life outside of frats is left much to be desired. There are minimal bars on the main street and no true club to go to in the area which is unfortunate. Christian life is superb here as there are a variety of different churches for people to try out! There isn't enough to do here but it's great!... Read 4,014 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 30%

• Net price $19,184

• SAT range —

• San Diego, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  5,428 reviews

Alum: I had the unique experience of transferring to San Diego State University during the pandemic. My junior year was fully online so I didn't get to experience campus life or get a feel for the community the school has built, as it's very hard to make connections with a lot of people through a screen. The professors were all very understanding and accommodating. In my time here I learned a lot of valuable information from professors who are well spoken and knowledgable. It never felt like the coursework I was given was just busywork, but applicable to what my career goal was. My senior year I did partially online and on campus, but at this point I just wanted to be finished. I wish I had given campus life a bigger chance that way I could've made connections with other people, but unfortunately I didn't get to experience that side of SDSU. However, I can attest that their academics were and still are very valuable to me!... Read 5,428 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 39%

• Net price $13,017

• SAT range —

• Malibu, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  1,368 reviews

Other: I am yet to get to Pepperdine cause I was just accepted recently as a transfer student, but from my communication with my admissions counsellor was the best. Madam Brooke was just a lovely lady full of patience and guided me all the way. Considering that I'll be relocating from Kenya to Malibu, I hope to get the most out of Pepperdine because it is what encouraged me to apply. I love the serene environment and that they don't experience seasons hence more time at the beach and oh my do I love the beach! The religious aspect of Pepperdine also motivates me as I come from a religious background of being affiliated with the Church of Christ. I love that come this Fall, I'll be able to be in a warm and acceptable environment to continue with my studies. Over and over again I will always choose Pepperdine!... Read 1,368 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 49%

• Net price $47,804

• SAT range 1280-1480

• Santa Clara, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  1,480 reviews

Sophomore: The school is a bit smaller, so you have a better chance to discuss with your professors, and generally more academic opportunities are available. The campus is really beautiful, and so is the weather which can be more motivating for students.... Read 1,480 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 52%

• Net price $50,551

• SAT range 1290-1480

• San Diego, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  1,053 reviews

Sophomore: I love Point Loma Nazarene University! This school is the perfect size for people like me who want to feel settled and known and loved in their community. I love that I am able to be familiar with almost everyone who attents my school, and certainly with everyone in my year. Point Loma is beautiful, I adore the faith-based aspects of it, like chapel and spiritual renewal week:) I love this school and could not speak higher of it.... Read 1,053 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $34,933

• SAT range —

• La Mirada, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.99 out of 5  2,322 reviews

Alum: The last four years that I have spent at Biola were transformational, and I am so grateful for my time at the university. As an English major, I was challenged both academically and spiritually. Each of my professors within the English department was intentional in supporting my growth, taking the time to know me as a student and as an individual. In addition to my studies in English, Biola also enabled me to graduate with my Secondary Education teaching credential and minors in Psychology and Bible. My experience with these diverse fields has prepared me well to serve adolescents as a middle school English teacher this fall! The community at Biola is welcoming, genuine, and passionate about following Jesus. For Biolans, faith is not an afterthought or something to be explored in Bible classes, but rather a vibrant walk with Christ that spills over into our learning, our conversations, and our relationships. I can't say enough good about Biola University. Come and see for yourself!... Read 2,322 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 57%

• Net price $31,522

• SAT range 1080-1320

• Orange, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  2,297 reviews

Alum: I am so glad I went to chapman! I really appreciated the small classroom sizes and felt that research and internships were very accessible. The campus culture is collaborative and cosy, I would recommend the school to anyone looking for a smaller campus!... Read 2,297 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 73%

• Net price $45,033

• SAT range 1200-1400