Top Universities in California
For those interested in studying in California, we have a very useful list. We selected the best California institutions for prospective students. Please know that rankings are based on academic research, alumni reviews, graduation rates, as well as assessment from peer colleges. On the page, you will find major admissions stats such as acceptance rate, tuition fees, average SAT scores for each ranked college or university.
| Rankings | Schools |
| 1 | Stanford University (Stanford, CA) Tuition: $41,787 Total enrollment: 19,945 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 7.1% Average freshman retention rate: 98% 6-year graduation rate: 96% Classes with under 20 students: 68.9% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1360-1550 |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA) Tuition: $39,588 Total enrollment: 2,231 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 12.8% Average freshman retention rate: 98% 6-year graduation rate: 87% Classes with under 20 students: 63.4% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1460-1590 |
| 3 | University of California: Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) Tuition: N/A Total enrollment: 36,142 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 21.6% Average freshman retention rate: 97% 6-year graduation rate: 90% Classes with under 20 students: 64.2% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1250-1490 |
| 4 | University of California: Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) Tuition: in-state: $12,692, out-of-state: $35,570 Total enrollment: 40,675 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 25.5% Average freshman retention rate: 97% 6-year graduation rate: 90% Classes with under 20 students: 50.9% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1180-1440 |
| 5 | University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) Tuition: $44,463 Total enrollment: 38,010 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 23.0% Average freshman retention rate: 97% 6-year graduation rate: 90% Classes with under 20 students: 60.8% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1280-1490 |
| 6 | University of California: Davis (Davis, CA) Tuition: in-state: $13,877, out-of-state: $36,755 Total enrollment: 31,732 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 46.0% Average freshman retention rate: 92% 6-year graduation rate: 86% Classes with under 20 students: 32.6% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1090-1340 |
| 7 | University of California: San Diego (La Jolla, CA) Tuition: N/A Total enrollment: 28,593 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 35.5% Average freshman retention rate: 95% 6-year graduation rate: 85% Classes with under 20 students: 37.3% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1110-1360 |
| 8 | University of California: Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA) Tuition: in-state: $13,671, out-of-state: $36,549 Total enrollment: 21,685 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 45.7% Average freshman retention rate: 91% 6-year graduation rate: 86% Classes with under 20 students: 46.8% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1120-1360 |
| 9 | University of California: Irvine (Irvine, CA) Tuition: N/A Total enrollment: 27,189 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 47.5% Average freshman retention rate: 94% 6-year graduation rate: 85% Classes with under 20 students: 47.0% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1060-1310 |
| 10 | Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA) Tuition: $42,772 Total enrollment: 7,539 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 31.6% Average freshman retention rate: 90% 6-year graduation rate: 81% Classes with under 20 students: 67.7% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1100-1330 |
| 11 | University of California: Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA) Tuition: in-state: $13,416, out-of-state: $36,294 Total enrollment: 17,454 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 67.4% Average freshman retention rate: 90% 6-year graduation rate: 77% Classes with under 20 students: 44.1% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1020-1270 |
| 12 | University of San Diego (San Diego, CA) Tuition: $39,970 Total enrollment: 8,317 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 47.5% Average freshman retention rate: 86% 6-year graduation rate: 75% Classes with under 20 students: 39.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1130-1320 |
| 13 | University of California: Riverside (Riverside, CA) Tuition: in-state: $12,923, out-of-state: $35,801 Total enrollment: 20,901 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 69.0% Average freshman retention rate: 86% 6-year graduation rate: 70% Classes with under 20 students: 31.4% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 950-1210 |
| 14 | University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) Tuition: $38,884 Total enrollment: 9,734 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 58.0% Average freshman retention rate: 84% 6-year graduation rate: 70% Classes with under 20 students: 52.9% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1030-1250 |
| 15 | University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA) Tuition: $38,320 Total enrollment: 6,710 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 35.8% Average freshman retention rate: 84% 6-year graduation rate: 69% Classes with under 20 students: 54.0% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1050-1318 |
| 16 | San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) Tuition: in-state: $7,076, out-of-state: $18,236 Total enrollment: 31,303 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 32.9% Average freshman retention rate: 84% 6-year graduation rate: 66% Classes with under 20 students: 27.7% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 980-1190 |
| 17 | University of La Verne (La Verne, CA) Tuition: $33,350 Total enrollment: 4,692 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 39.9% Average freshman retention rate: 82% 6-year graduation rate: 58% Classes with under 20 students: 62.1% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 920-1100 |
| 18 | Biola University (La Mirada, CA) Tuition: $31,004 Total enrollment: 6,250 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 76.4% Average freshman retention rate: 85% 6-year graduation rate: 66% Classes with under 20 students: 45.7% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 1000-1250 |
| 19 | Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA) Tuition: $31,076 Total enrollment: 9,929 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: 49.2% Average freshman retention rate: 85% 6-year graduation rate: 63% Classes with under 20 students: 68.6% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: 980-1210 |
| 20 | Alliant International University (San Diego, CA) Tuition: $16,810 Total enrollment: 4,330 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: N/A Average freshman retention rate: N/A 6-year graduation rate: 29% Classes with under 20 students: 93.5% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: N/A |
| 21 | California Institute of Integral Studies (San Francisco, CA) Tuition: N/A Total enrollment: 1,428 Fall 2011 acceptance rate: N/A Average freshman retention rate: N/A 6-year graduation rate: N/A Classes with under 20 students: 100.0% SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: N/A |
| 22 | Trident University International (Cypress, CA) Tuition: N/A Total enrollment: N/A Fall 2011 acceptance rate: N/A Average freshman retention rate: N/A 6-year graduation rate: N/A Classes with under 20 students: N/A SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile: N/A |
