2023 best colleges in California

Take one part Massachussets' superior private universities and another part New York's excellent public college and university network, mix it in a beaker, and you got yourself California. Two networks of public universities - California State and University of California - offer the most affordable and convenient access to public education in the west (and arguably the country). While California State universities tend to be more vocationally driven, University of California unis - with crown jewels Berkeley, UCLA, and USC - are more research driven with more robust graduate offerings. And of course, Stanford is one of the country's top private universities.

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#1 in California | #4 in For Profit Schools

United States University

San Diego, California

Economic score 1.22

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,260

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $70,933

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 35%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#2 in California | #8 in For Profit Schools

West Coast University, Los Angeles

North Hollywood, California

Economic score 2.59

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $44,867

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $97,371

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 72%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#3 in California | #11 in For Profit Schools

Pacific College

Costa Mesa, California

Economic score 2.96

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $29,494

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $53,860

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#4 in California | #12 in For Profit Schools

University of Silicon Valley

San Jose, California

Economic score 3.00

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,714

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,619

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 52%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#5 in California | #22 in For Profit Schools

Platt College, San Diego

San Diego, California

Economic score 5.54

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $26,014

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $41,242

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#6 in California | #28 in For Profit Schools
Economic score 7.16

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $37,654

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $53,574

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 59%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#7 in California | #29 in For Profit Schools
Economic score 7.28

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $40,793

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,551

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#8 in California | #33 in For Profit Schools

Fremont College

Cerritos, California

Economic score 9.09

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $28,767

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $37,533

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 65%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#9 in California | #37 in For Profit Schools

Design Institute of San Diego

San Diego, California

Economic score 10.97

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $40,842

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,321

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 56%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#10 in California | #38 in For Profit Schools

Platt College, Los Angeles

Alhambra, California

Economic score 11.03

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $24,944

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $34,601

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 72%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#11 in California | #40 in For Profit Schools

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

Economic score 11.79

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $36,143

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $40,185

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 51%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#12 in California | #44 in For Profit Schools
Economic score 14.31

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $27,063

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $35,953

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#13 in California | #47 in For Profit Schools
Economic score 17.96

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $14,824

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $28,567

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 58%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

#14 in California | #51 in For Profit Schools

University of Antelope Valley

Lancaster, California

Economic score 89.07

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,468

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $26,057

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

Economic score 2.40

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $22,951

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,137

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 16%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

Ashford University

San Diego, California

Economic score 8.58

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,987

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $37,270

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 21%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

California Aeronautical University

Bakersfield, California

Economic score 11.61

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $34,143

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $34,872

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 40%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not ranked and are displayed at the end of the ranking list.

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The top national universities

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