Top 20 Universities in California, United States (2026)

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Planning to study in California, United States? This list features 20 universities. Compare rankings, tuition fees, and acceptance rates to make a confident decision. Institutions are evaluated based on research output, global rankings, and academic performance.

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Select degree → Department → subject → continent → State → country → city. Each step unlocks the next option. Your selections are remembered for easier browsing.

Degree Level

Bachelor, Master, PhD

Subject Area

Science, Business, Arts

Location

Worldwide destinations

1

Rankings

2 World 2 North America 2 United States 1 Stanford

University Information

Stanford, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 4%
Publications 464042
Citations 27749034
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details
Last Updated:
2

Rankings

6 World 5 North America 5 United States 2 Berkeley

University Information

Berkeley, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 12%
Publications 392253
Citations 21489706
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details
Last Updated:
3

Rankings

13 World 11 North America 11 United States 3 Los Angeles

University Information

Los Angeles, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 9%
Publications 364058
Citations 18223106
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details
Last Updated:
4

Rankings

25 World 21 North America 20 United States 4 San Diego

University Information

San Diego, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 25%
Publications 304245
Citations 16110179
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
5

Rankings

27 World 23 North America 22 United States 5 Los Angeles

University Information

Los Angeles, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 10%
Publications 250052
Citations 10201550
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
6

Rankings

34 World 30 North America 28 United States 6 Davis

University Information

Davis, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 42%
Publications 265216
Citations 10743933
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
7

Rankings

48 World 40 North America 37 United States 7 San Francisco

University Information

San Francisco, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 13%
Publications 266349
Citations 15389929
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
8

Rankings

59 World 45 North America 42 United States 8 Irvine

University Information

Irvine, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 26%
Publications 167813
Citations 7111638
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
9

Rankings

65 World 49 North America 45 United States 9 Pasadena

University Information

Pasadena, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 3%
Publications 163333
Citations 9387159
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
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Last Updated:
10

Rankings

82 World 56 North America 52 United States 10 Santa Barbara

University Information

Santa Barbara, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 28%
Publications 122845
Citations 6288850
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
11

Rankings

190 World 94 North America 83 United States 11 Santa Cruz

University Information

Santa Cruz, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 63%
Publications 63901
Citations 3611363
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
12

Rankings

198 World 99 North America 87 United States 12 Riverside

University Information

Riverside, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 63%
Publications 88741
Citations 3442553
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
13

Rankings

334 World 141 North America 122 United States 13 San Diego

University Information

San Diego, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 34%
Publications 45597
Citations 1632521
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
14

Rankings

564 World 199 North America 174 United States 14 San Francisco

University Information

San Francisco, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 96%
Publications 18914
Citations 565758
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
15

Rankings

576 World 204 North America 179 United States 15 San Jose

University Information

San Jose, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 80%
Publications 29540
Citations 457469
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
16

Rankings

680 World 224 North America 198 United States 16 Santa Clara

University Information

Santa Clara, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 44%
Publications 14593
Citations 353399
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
17

Rankings

684 World 225 North America 199 United States 17 Los Angeles

University Information

Los Angeles, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 93%
Publications 14511
Citations 335824
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details
Last Updated:
18

Rankings

717 World 235 North America 208 United States 19 San Marcos

University Information

San Marcos, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 89%
Publications 21940
Citations 400755
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
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Last Updated:
19

Rankings

726 World 238 North America 211 United States 18 Fullerton

University Information

Fullerton, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 87%
Publications 19435
Citations 473583
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details
Last Updated:
20

Rankings

731 World 239 North America 212 United States 19 San Luis Obispo

University Information

San Luis Obispo, United States
North America
Founded:
Acceptance 30%
Publications 17047
Citations 333856
Highest Degree: Master
Tuition: High
View Details
Last Updated:
Universities in United States
Alhambra Aliso Viejo Anaheim Angwin Arcata Atherton Azusa Bakersfield Berkeley Beverly Hills Blue Lake Burbank Camarillo Carpinteria Cerritos Chico Claremont Clovis Costa Mesa Culver Cypress Davis Duarte El Cajon El Dorado Hills El Monte Escondido Fresno Fullerton Hayward Inglewood Irvine La Mirada La Verne Laguna Beach Lancaster Loma Linda Long Beach Los Alamitos Los Altos Hills Los Angeles Malibu Merced Modesto Monterey Moraga Murrieta Newport Beach Oakland Oceanside Orange Palo Alto Pasadena Pleasant Hill Pomona Quincy Rancho Palos Verdes Redding Redlands Riverside Rocklin Rohnert Park Rosemead Sacramento San Anselmo San Bernardino San Bruno San Diego San Dimas San Francisco San Jose San Luis Obispo San Marcos San Mateo San Rafael Santa Ana Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Clarita Santa Cruz Santa Fe Springs Santa Monica Santa Paula Santa Rosa Santee Seaside Signal Hill Stanford Stockton Sunnyvale Thousand Oaks Torrance Turlock Ukiah Vallejo Ventura Visalia Whittier