Do you want to know the Top Universities in California that you can get quality education? If yes, then you have to read this article carefully to the end.
California is a beautifully state in the United State of America. Many citizens and international scholars are enthusiastic about studying in the state. Four-year state colleges and the University of California system complete the public higher-education structure. The University Extension system operates throughout the state. More than one-tenth of California schoolchildren and a slightly higher percentage of college-age students attend private schools.
According to a master plan that attempts to avoid overlapping roles in the complex system of public colleges and universities, the top one-third of high school graduates are eligible to enroll at one of the campuses of the University of California: Berkeley, Los Angeles, Davis, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Irvine, Santa Cruz, and San Diego. The campuses at Santa Cruz and San Diego were established on variations of the Oxford University system of numerous small independent colleges sharing limited central facilities or services.
As you read this article, you are going to explore more on the Top Universities in California 2024 and their special features that keep them distinguished. Therefore, if you are an International student who interested in studying in the United Stated, you can make any of the universities that we are going to discuss in this article your top choices.
Top Universities in California 2024
The following are the top universities in California:
1. Stanford University
As the second-best university in the world, Stanford University is heads and shoulders above the other universities in the state. Located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley , Stanford has produced so many future business leaders that it’s been nicknamed the ‘billionaire factory’.
The school earns particularly high scores in the research and employability indicators, ranking second in the US for both.
2. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
The University of California, Berkeley is the highest ranked public university in the USA, the second best in California and the fourth best school in the country. Included amongst its faculty, alumni and researchers are 14 Nobel Prize winners, 13 faculty MacArthur Fellows, two Turing Award winners and three Pulitzer Prize winners.
The public University of California system has 10 campuses, many of which are included in our ranking above. UCB benefits from a stronger reputation with academics and employers around the world than any of the other public institutions in the state. It also produces more research and hires more international faculty members.
3. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Up one place to rank fifth in the USA and third in California is UCLA. UCLA earns a high score in the research indicator, a reflection of the high quality of research output at the school.
UCLA describes itself as a truly international university, with students coming from nearly 90 countries to attend the school. It earns a high score in the diversity and internationalisation indicator, ranking in joint third in the USA.
4. University of Southern California
In fourth place we have the University of Southern California (USC), rising one place to rank joint 14th in the USA this year. The university performs particularly well in the learning experience indicator, placing eighth in the US.
USC is one of the world’s leading private research universities and a global centre for arts, technology and international business. The school has a total of 19,500 undergraduate students and 26,500 graduate students. Its diverse curriculum provides opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaborations with leading researchers.
5. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Despite falling two places in the USA rankings this year, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) performs well, placing 21st in the USA and fifth in California. Based in Pasadena, close to Los Angeles, Caltech is an ideal study destination for anyone interested in science and engineering.
Although Stanford is the best university overall, Caltech is the best school for learning experience, ranking joint first in the US. Caltech has a 3 to 1 student faculty ratio, and the school is associated with 76 Nobel laureates.
6. University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
The University of California, San Diego is the sixth best school in California this year, placing 27th in the USA. UCSD earns its highest score in the diversity and internationalisation indicator, placing third in the USA.
Founded in 1960, UCSD is a public research university which aims to educate the next generation of global leaders to drive innovation, fuel economic growth and make the world a better place.
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7. University of California, Davis (UCD)
In seventh place, we have the University of California, Davis (UCD), ranking 34th in the USA this year after dropping six positions in the index. The school has around 37,580 students and a student to faculty ratio of 20:1. Students love cycling around UCD’s campus – every day there are over 22,000 bikes on campus.
Research is a big part of UCD, with the university receiving US$941 million (around £666 million) in research funding in 2019-20. It isn’t just faculty members and graduate students producing research, however – around 50 percent of undergraduate students conduct research and creative projects beyond the classroom.
8. University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
The University of California, Santa Barbara rises an incredible 32 positions this year to rank 43rd in the USA. It is also the eighth best university in the state of California and is the best school in the US for diversity and internationalisation.
UCSB is a leading research institution with a strong focus on liberal arts. It aims to help students develop independent thought, critical reasoning and creativity. UCSB has been consistently ranked amongst the greenest public universities and the university places an emphasis the importance of sustainability.
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9. University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Next up is the University of California, Irvine (UCI), taking ninth place in California and joint 45th in the USA. UCI scores best in the diversity and internationalisation indicator, ranking in joint 21st. The university has more than 37,000 students.
Founded in 1965, UCI is a public research university and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. In the centre of its campus is Aldrich Park: a lush green area with more than 11,000 trees that students can enjoy between lectures.
10. University of California, Riverside (UCR)
Ranking in joint 10th this year is the University of California, Riverside (UCR). UCR places in joint 80th in the USA, after rising 25 positions in the index.
UCR prides itself on being diverse, inclusive and globally focused. It has more than 26,000 students and 1,100 faculty, including two Nobel Prize winners and 13 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine.
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List of Californian Universities and the Ranking
The table below shows the list of all Californian universities according to the ranking and their locations respectively
| Ranking | Universities | Cities |
| 1 | Stanford University | Stanford … |
| 2 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley … |
| 3 | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles … |
| 4 | University of California, San Diego | San Diego … |
| 5 | University of California, Davis | Davis … |
| 6 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles |
| 7 | University of California, Irvine | Irvine … |
| 8 | University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara … |
| 9 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena |
| 10 | University of California, San Francisco | San Francisco … |
| 11 | University of California, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz … |
| 12 | University of California, Riverside | Riverside … |
| 13 | San Diego State University | San Diego … |
| 14 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco |
| 15 | San José State University | San Jose |
| 16 | California State University, Northridge | Northridge |
| 17 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara |
| 18 | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo |
| 19 | California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach |
| 20 | California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton … |
| 21 | California State University, Chico | Chico |
| 22 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco |
| 23 | Pepperdine University | Malibu … |
| 24 | University of San Diego | San Diego |
| 25 | California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento |
| 26 | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona |
| 27 | Chapman University | Orange |
| 28 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles |
| 29 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park |
| 30 | Humboldt State University | Arcata |
| 31 | California State University, Fresno | Fresno |
| 32 | California State University, San Bernardino | San Bernardino … |
| 33 | Harvey Mudd College | Claremont … |
| 34 | Pomona College | Claremont |
| 35 | University of California, Merced | Merced … |
| 36 | Biola University | La Mirada |
| 37 | University of the Pacific | Stockton … |
| 38 | California State University San Marcos | San Marcos … |
| 39 | California State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles |
| 40 | Loma Linda University | Loma Linda |
| 41 | California State University, Stanislaus | Turlock … |
| 42 | California State University, Dominguez Hills | Carson … |
| 43 | Occidental College | Los Angeles |
| 44 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa |
| 45 | Pitzer College | Claremont |
| 46 | University of California College of the Law, San Francisco | San Francisco |
| 47 | Naval Postgraduate School | Monterey |
| 48 | National University | La Jolla |
| 49 | ArtCenter College of Design | Pasadena |
| 50 | Claremont Graduate University | Claremont … |
| 51 | California Institute of the Arts | Valencia |
| 52 | Claremont McKenna College | Claremont |
| 53 | Academy of Art University | San Francisco |
| 54 | California State University, East Bay | Hayward … |
| 55 | Golden Gate University | San Francisco … |
| 56 | California State University, Monterey Bay | Seaside |
| 57 | California College of the Arts | San Francisco … |
| 58 | University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | San Marcos … |
| 59 | California Institute of Integral Studies | San Francisco |
| 60 | University of Redlands | Redlands |
| 61 | California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks |
| 62 | Saint Mary’s College of California | Moraga |
| 63 | California State University Channel Islands | Camarillo |
| 64 | California State University, Bakersfield | Bakersfield |
| 65 | Dominican University of California | San Rafael |
| 66 | Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles |
| 67 | Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona … |
| 68 | Westmont College | Santa Barbara |
| 69 | Whittier College | Whittier |
| 70 | California Baptist University | Riverside … |
| 71 | Concordia University Irvine | Irvine |
| 72 | San Francisco Art Institute | San Francisco |
| 73 | University of La Verne | La Verne … |
| 74 | University of Massachusetts Global | Irvine |
| 75 | Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego … |
| 76 | Alliant International University | San Diego … |
| 77 | Southern California Institute of Architecture | Los Angeles |
| 78 | Scripps College | Claremont |
| 79 | Keck Graduate Institute | Claremont |
| 80 | Pacific Union College | Angwin |
| 81 | California State University Maritime Academy | Vallejo |
| 82 | Southwestern Law School | Los Angeles |
| 83 | La Sierra University | Riverside |
| 84 | American Jewish University | Los Angeles … |
| 85 | West Coast University-Los Angeles | North Hollywood |
| 86 | Fresno Pacific University | Fresno … |
| 87 | San Francisco Conservatory of Music | San Francisco |
| 88 | Samuel Merritt University | Oakland |
| 89 | The Master’s University | Santa Clarita |
| 90 | Soka University of America | Aliso Viejo |
| 91 | Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula |
| 92 | Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa … |
| 93 | California Western School of Law | San Diego |
| 94 | Fielding Graduate University | Santa Barbara |
| 95 | John F. Kennedy University | Pleasant Hill … |
| 96 | Thomas Jefferson School of Law | San Diego |
| 97 | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science | Los Angeles |
| 98 | Holy Names University | Oakland |
| 99 | Woodbury University | Burbank … |
| 100 | William Jessup University | Rocklin … |
| 101 | The Chicago School of Professional Psychology | Los Angeles … |
| 102 | Hope International University | Fullerton |
| 103 | University of Silicon Valley | San Jose … |
| 104 | Palo Alto University | Palo Alto |
| 105 | NewSchool of Architecture and Design | San Diego |
| 106 | Mount Saint Mary’s University | Los Angeles |
| 107 | Notre Dame de Namur University | Belmont |
| 108 | Saybrook University | Pasadena |
| 109 | Menlo College | Atherton … |
| 110 | Pardee RAND Graduate School | Santa Monica |
| 111 | University of the West | Rosemead |
| 112 | Touro University California | Vallejo |
| 113 | Simpson University | Redding |
| 114 | Pacifica Graduate Institute | Carpinteria … |
| 115 | Marshall B. Ketchum University | Fullerton … |
| 116 | Humphreys University | Stockton |
| 117 | Pacific Oaks College | Pasadena |
| 118 | Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology | Berkeley |
| 119 | Dharma Realm Buddhist University | Ukiah |
| 120 | John Paul the Great Catholic University | Escondido |
| 121 | United States University | San Diego |
| 122 | San Diego Christian College | Santee |
| 123 | Laguna College of Art and Design | Laguna Beach |
| 124 | San Joaquin College of Law | Clovis |
| 125 | Columbia College Hollywood | Tarzana |
| 126 | American Film Institute Conservatory | Los Angeles |
| 127 | Life Pacific University | San Dimas … |
| 128 | Sofia University | Palo Alto |
| 129 | The Wright Institute | Berkeley |
| 130 | The University of West Los Angeles | Inglewood |
| 131 | Bethesda University | Anaheim |
| 132 | Providence Christian College | Pasadena |
| Un | Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences | Duarte |
| Un | Antioch University Los Angeles | Culver City |
| Un | Antioch University Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara |
Un = Unranked
How to Get Admission in California
If you’re interested in entering the University of California as a freshman, you’ll have to satisfy these requirements:
1. Complete 15 A-G courses (11 of them by end of junior year)
You need to complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses (A-G courses) with a letter grade of C or better. For courses completed during Winter 2020 through summer 2021, UC will also accept a grade of CR (credit) and P (pass). You must complete at least 11 of these courses prior to the beginning of your last year of high school.The 15 courses are:
| a. History | 2 years |
| b. English | 4 years |
| c. Mathematics | 3 years |
| d. Science | 2 years |
| e. Language other than English *or equivalent to the 2nd level of high school instruction | 2 years* |
| f. Visual and performing arts | 1 year |
| g. College-preparatory elective (chosen from the subjects listed above or another course approved by the university) | 1 year |
2. Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (3.4 if you’re a nonresident) in these courses with no grade lower than a C.
California students
If you’re a state resident graduating from a California high school who has met the minimum requirements and aren’t admitted to any UC campus to which you apply, you’ll be offered a spot at another campus if space is available, provided:
- You rank in the top 9 percent of California high school students, according to our updated Statewide Index, or
- You rank in the top 9 percent of your graduating class at a participating high school. We refer to this as “Eligible in the Local Context” (ELC).
Learn More About: University Of California Acceptance Rate
International applicants
Academic excellence. Cultural diversity. Freedom to take your studies in any direction you choose. There are plenty of reasons for international students to come to Universities in California.
How to apply
If your secondary school, college or university lessons weren’t in English, you’ll need to take an English language test.
Getting your passport and visa
To study here, you’ll need a passport from your home country and a visa from the U.S. government. Getting them can take longer than you expect, so start applying right away.
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