Best Education Colleges in California (2026)

26%

26% Acceptance

Selective

Enrollment

29,494

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$45,014

Net Price

$12,840

Graduation Rate

86%

Median Earnings

$80,735

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

26,757 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.6

80%

80% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

26,757

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$19,872

Net Price

$13,741

Graduation Rate

66%

Median Earnings

$78,988

University of the Pacific

Stockton, CA

3,247 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

3.6

95%

95% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

3,247

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$55,340

Net Price

$25,926

Graduation Rate

70%

Median Earnings

$78,445

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Pomona, CA

24,271 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.7

74%

74% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

24,271

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$19,319

Net Price

$11,580

Graduation Rate

67%

Median Earnings

$71,902

Chapman University

Orange, CA

7,629 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

3.5

56%

56% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

7,629

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$62,784

Net Price

$47,527

Graduation Rate

82%

Median Earnings

$70,070

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

20,033 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.3

96%

96% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

20,033

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$19,304

Net Price

$12,882

Graduation Rate

52%

Median Earnings

$68,077

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA

22,644 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.7

63%

63% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

22,644

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$44,947

Net Price

$13,707

Graduation Rate

76%

Median Earnings

$67,699

National University

San Diego, CA

9,725 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

2.6

Enrollment

9,725

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$13,320

Net Price

$31,058

Graduation Rate

44%

Median Earnings

$67,548

Alliant International University-San Diego

San Diego, CA

355 students · Small (< 2,000)

0% Acceptance

Highly Selective

Enrollment

355

Campus Size

Small (< 2,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$13,918

Net Price

N/A

Graduation Rate

17%

Median Earnings

$66,666

Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA

5,374 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

95%

95% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

5,374

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$20,070

Net Price

$13,801

Graduation Rate

60%

Median Earnings

$65,986

University of La Verne

La Verne, CA

3,341 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

48%

48% Acceptance

Moderately Selective

Enrollment

3,341

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$47,000

Net Price

$26,925

Graduation Rate

64%

Median Earnings

$65,464

California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA

27,867 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.3

94%

94% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

27,867

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$19,482

Net Price

$10,512

Graduation Rate

55%

Median Earnings

$64,876

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA

3,132 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

82%

82% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

3,132

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$43,550

Net Price

$50,168

Graduation Rate

75%

Median Earnings

$63,998

California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA

8,564 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

97%

97% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

8,564

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$19,706

Net Price

$5,671

Graduation Rate

57%

Median Earnings

$63,188

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA

36,956 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.5

87%

87% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

36,956

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$18,953

Net Price

$5,646

Graduation Rate

69%

Median Earnings

$62,951

American Jewish University

Los Angeles, CA

69 students · Small (< 2,000)

Enrollment

Campus Size

Small (< 2,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

N/A

Net Price

N/A

Graduation Rate

38%

Median Earnings

$61,954

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA

7,914 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

3.0

74%

74% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

7,914

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$39,720

Net Price

$27,384

Graduation Rate

61%

Median Earnings

$61,504

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA

1,975 students · Small (< 2,000)

65%

65% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

1,975

Campus Size

Small (< 2,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$39,950

Net Price

$19,761

Graduation Rate

58%

Median Earnings

$59,541

California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

21,478 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.1

92%

92% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

21,478

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$18,698

Net Price

$4,113

Graduation Rate

52%

Median Earnings

$59,211

California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA

32,357 students · Large (> 15,000)

3.1

93%

93% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

32,357

Campus Size

Large (> 15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$18,975

Net Price

$7,599

Graduation Rate

56%

Median Earnings

$59,115

California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA

8,183 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

3.1

88%

88% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

8,183

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$19,576

Net Price

$5,825

Graduation Rate

49%

Median Earnings

$59,009

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA

1,614 students · Small (< 2,000)

3.3

58%

58% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

1,614

Campus Size

Small (< 2,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$35,558

Net Price

$14,317

Graduation Rate

53%

Median Earnings

$58,896

California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA

12,642 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

3.0

91%

91% Acceptance

Open Admissions

Enrollment

12,642

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$18,944

Net Price

$3,659

Graduation Rate

47%

Median Earnings

$57,162

Foothill College

Los Altos Hills, CA

10,922 students · Medium (2,000–15,000)

Enrollment

10,922

Campus Size

Medium (2,000–15,000)

Out-of-State Tuition

$12,320

Net Price

$7,549

Graduation Rate

58%

Median Earnings

$57,072