Four-Year Colleges and Universities in California

List produced by the Facts

* Green "Yes, connect me!" buttons indicate a featured school

Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA): Private specialized art institution
American Jewish University (Bel Air, CA): Private Jewish liberal arts university
ArtCenter College of Design (Pasadena, CA): Private specialized arts institution

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Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA): Private Christian comprehensive university

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Bethesda University of California (Anaheim, CA): Private Christian comprehensive university
Biola University (La Mirada, CA): Private Christian comprehensive and biblical education university
Cal Poly Humboldt (Arcata, CA): Public specialized comprehensive university
California Baptist University (Riverside, CA): Private Christian liberal arts university

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California College of the Arts (San Francisco, CA): Private specialized visual arts institution
California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, CA): Private specialized research and technology institution
California Institute of the Arts (Valencia, CA): Private specialized visual and performing arts institution
California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA): Private Christian comprehensive university
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA): Public land-grant comprehensive university within the CSU system
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Pomona, CA): Public specialized comprehensive university
California State University Maritime Academy (Vallejo, CA): Public comprehensive university, specialized campus for maritime training
California State University, Bakersfield (Bakersfield, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Channel Islands (Camarillo, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Chico (Chico, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Dominguez Hills (Carson, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, East Bay (Hayward, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Fresno (Fresno, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Monterey Bay (Seaside, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Northridge (Northridge, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, San Bernardino (San Bernardino, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, San Marcos (San Marcos, CA): Public comprehensive university
California State University, Stanislaus (Turlock, CA): Public comprehensive university
Chapman University (Orange, CA): Private Christian comprehensive university
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, CA): Private specialized health sciences institution
Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, CA): Private undergraduate liberal arts college
Cogswell Polytechnical College (San Jose, CA): Private specialized technology institution
Columbia College—Hollywood (Tarzana, CA): Private specialized film school
Concordia University Irvine (Irvine, CA): Private Lutheran comprehensive university

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Design Institute of San Diego (San Diego, CA): Private proprietary specialized visual arts institution
Dominican University of California (San Rafael, CA): Private Catholic liberal arts and sciences university

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Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (Los Angeles, CA): Private specialized business and design college
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Orange County (Irvine, CA): Private specialized business and design college
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, San Diego (San Diego, CA): Private specialized business and design college
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA): Private specialized business and design college
Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, CA): Private Mennonite liberal arts university

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Golden Gate University (San Francisco, CA): Private communication and social sciences university
Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, CA): Private undergraduate science and engineering college
Hope International University (Fullerton, CA): Private Christian multipurpose university
Humphreys University (Stockton, CA): Private business and education university
Jessup University (Rocklin, CA): Private Christian liberal arts university
John Paul the Great Catholic University (Escondido, CA): Private Catholic liberal arts university

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La Sierra University (Riverside, CA): Private Adventist liberal arts and sciences university
Laguna College of Art and Design (Laguna Beach, CA): Private specialized visual arts institution
Life Pacific College (San Dimas, CA): Private Christian specialized biblical college
Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, CA): Private Adventist specialized health sciences
Los Angeles College of Music (Pasadena, CA): Private specialized performing arts institution
Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA): Private Jesuit Catholic research university
Menlo College (Atherton, CA): Private specialized business school
Mills College (Oakland, CA): Private liberal arts college for women and non-binary students
Mills College at Northeastern (Oakland, CA): Private liberal arts college for women and non-binary students
Mount Saint Mary's University (Los Angeles, CA): Private Catholic liberal arts college for women

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National University (La Jolla, CA): Private comprehensive university
NewSchool of Architecture and Design (San Diego, CA): Private proprietary specialized design and construction school
Northcentral University (San Diego, CA): Private comprehensive fully online university
Northwestern Polytechnic University (Fremont, CA): Private comprehensive upper-division university
Notre Dame de Namur University (Belmont, CA): Private Catholic liberal arts and professional university
Occidental College (Los Angeles, CA): Private selective liberal arts college
Otis College of Art and Design (Los Angeles, CA): Private specialized visual arts college
Pacific Oaks College (Pasadena, CA): Private specialized teaching and social sciences college
Pacific Union College (Angwin, CA): Private Adventist undergraduate liberal arts college
Patten University (Oakland, CA): Private Christian liberal arts university
Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA): Private Christian arts and sciences university

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Pitzer College (Claremont, CA): Private comprehensive liberal arts university
Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA): Private Christian liberal arts university
Pomona College (Claremont, CA): Private liberal arts college
Saint Mary's College of California (Moraga, CA): Private Catholic multipurpose college
Samuel Merritt University (Oakland, CA): Private specialized health sciences university
San Diego Christian College (Santee, CA): Private Christian liberal arts university
San Diego State University (San Diego, CA): Public research university
San Francisco Art Institute (San Francisco, CA): Private college of contemporary art
San Francisco Conservatory of Music (San Francisco, CA): Private specialized music college
San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA): Public comprehensive university
San Jose State University (San Jose, CA): Public comprehensive university
Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA): Private Jesuit comprehensive university

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Scripps College (Claremont, CA): Private liberal arts college for women
Simpson University (Redding, CA): Private Christian liberal arts and professional studies university
Soka University of America (Aliso Viejo, CA): Private comprehensive university

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Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, CA): Public comprehensive university
Southern California Institute of Architecture (Los Angeles, CA): Private specialized architecture school
Stanford University (Stanford, CA): Private research university

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The Master's University and Seminary (Santa Clarita, CA): Private Christian liberal arts and biblical university
Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, CA): Private Catholic liberal arts college
University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, Davis (Davis, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, Merced (Merced, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, Riverside (Riverside, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA): Public comprehensive research university
University of La Verne (La Verne, CA): Private comprehensive university
University of Redlands (Redlands, CA): Private liberal arts university

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University of San Diego (San Diego, CA): Private Catholic liberal arts university
University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA): Private Jesuit comprehensive university

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University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): Private research university
University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA): Private comprehensive university
University of the People (Pasadena, CA): Private fully online comprehensive university
Vanguard University of Southern California (Costa Mesa, CA): Private Christian liberal arts university

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West Coast University (North Hollywood, CA): Specialized health sciences university
Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA): Private Christian liberal arts college
Whittier College (Whittier, CA): Private liberal arts college
Woodbury University (Burbank, CA): Private university of business administration and professional design

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About This List

Are you thinking about attending college in the Golden State? You can check out all the four-year colleges and universities in California right here.

California offers a dynamic and diverse college experience with many world-renowned universities and colleges leading the way. California’s higher education system is known for its innovation, research opportunities, and strong connections to industries like Silicon Valley for tech and Hollywood for entertainment. Students enjoy a mix of vibrant city life in places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego and stunning natural landscapes, including beaches, mountains, and national parks. The state’s cultural diversity enriches the student experience with many cultural events, festivals, and food scenes to explore. While the cost of living can be high, the opportunities for academic growth, career advancement, and outdoor exploration make California an exciting place to go to college.

To explore even further, just click on any school name to access its CollegeXpress profile and learn more about admission policies, campus life, and more. You can also click the green “Yes, connect me!” buttons next to our featured colleges and universities to demonstrate your interest and send your info directly to schools, making your college search process even easier.

All schools are currently active and regionally accredited as of 2024.