State Hub

Colleges in California

CampusPin tracks 420 colleges in California — 255 universities and 165 community colleges. Compare tuition, acceptance, size, and setting to build a shortlist that fits.

Colleges tracked

420

Universities

255

Community colleges

165

Avg. in-state tuition

$16k

About college search in California

How California's higher-education landscape shapes a search

California operates the largest and most coordinated public higher-education system in the United States, structured around three tiers under the state’s Master Plan for Higher Education: the University of California (UC, 10 campuses, research-focused), the California State University (CSU, 23 campuses, the largest four-year public system in the U.S.), and the California Community Colleges (CCC, 116 colleges, the largest CC system in the U.S.). The three tiers have different missions, admissions criteria, and tuition rates, and transfer pathways between them are formalized through ASSIST and the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).

Private institutions add substantial depth: Stanford, USC, Caltech, the Claremont Colleges (Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Scripps), Pepperdine, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, and many more. California’s geography is enormous — students searching in California typically narrow first by region (Bay Area, Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento / Central Valley, Inland Empire, Far North, Central Coast) before filtering further. Cal Grants reduce in-state cost for eligible families; verify eligibility with the California Student Aid Commission and the institution.

University of California (UC) — 10 campuses

UC is the state’s research tier: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and UCSF (graduate health sciences only).

California State University (CSU) — 23 campuses

CSU is the largest four-year public university system in the U.S. — comprehensive teaching-focused universities across the state including Cal Poly SLO, Long Beach, Fullerton, San Diego State, San Jose State, and CSU Northridge.

California Community Colleges (CCC) — 116 colleges

CCC is the largest community college system in the U.S. The UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) and ASSIST course-articulation system formalize transfer paths to UC and CSU.

Deep private research sector

Stanford, USC, Caltech, the Claremont Colleges, Pepperdine, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, USF, and Occidental anchor California’s private sector.

Public university system

UC + CSU + CCC (Master Plan for Higher Education)

California’s 1960 Master Plan organizes public higher education into three tiers with distinct missions: UC for research and doctoral education, CSU for comprehensive bachelor’s and master’s programs, and CCC for two-year transfer and workforce pathways.

Community college network

California Community Colleges (CCC) — 116 colleges

CCC is the largest community college system in the U.S. Transfer to UC and CSU is formalized through the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) at 6 UC campuses and the ASSIST course-articulation system statewide.

In-state vs. out-of-state tuition

California in-state public tuition at UC and CSU is moderate; out-of-state rates at UC are among the highest in the country. Community college fees are among the lowest in the U.S. Cal Grants and the California College Promise Grant reduce in-state cost for eligible families. Verify residency and aid eligibility with the institution.

Top metros for college search

Where California's higher-education density concentrates

  • Greater Los Angeles

    LA concentrates UCLA, USC, Caltech (Pasadena), the Claremont Colleges (Claremont), Cal State LA, Cal State Long Beach, Loyola Marymount, and the LACCD community-college system.

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    The Bay Area concentrates UC Berkeley, Stanford (Palo Alto), UC San Francisco, San Jose State, San Francisco State, USF, Santa Clara, and the Peralta and CCSF community-college networks.

  • San Diego

    San Diego hosts UC San Diego, San Diego State, USD (private), and the SDCCD community-college network.

  • Sacramento / Central Valley

    Sacramento hosts UC Davis (in nearby Davis), Sacramento State, and the Los Rios Community College District.

  • Inland Empire

    The Inland Empire hosts UC Riverside, Cal State San Bernardino, Cal Poly Pomona, and several large community college districts.

  • Central Coast

    The Central Coast hosts UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and several smaller private colleges.

West region overview

What students weigh when searching colleges in California

Across California (CA), CampusPin currently indexes 420 institutions: 154 public and 266 private, split between 255 universities and 165 community colleges. Students often deal with large geographic spread, strong public systems, and meaningful differences between urban, suburban, and remote options.

Compare travel distance and delivery format early so your list reflects how you would actually attend.
Use online and hybrid filters when geography is broad but schedule flexibility matters.
Review campus environment and support detail carefully because Western state searches can mix very different school contexts.

Browse by major

California colleges by program

Jump straight to California colleges and universities that offer a specific major. Each page compares tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment for that program across California.

Every college we track

Colleges and universities in California

Showing 60 of 420 — use search or filters to see the rest.

Filter all California schools

A

C

How to use the California hub

Start with CampusPin results filtered to California so your first pass stays geographically focused.
Use school profiles to compare tuition, admissions, program format, and campus fit before building a shortlist.
If you are looking for lower-cost or transfer-first options, compare community colleges and four-year destinations separately.
Use blog guides and help-center content when you need stronger decision frameworks, not just more schools.

Next actions for California

Explore all colleges in CaliforniaView community colleges in CaliforniaView online programs in CaliforniaRead planning guides before you compare

Frequently asked questions

Questions families ask about colleges in California

What is the difference between UC and CSU?
The University of California (UC) is the research tier — 10 campuses focused on research and doctoral education, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The California State University (CSU) is the comprehensive teaching tier — 23 campuses focused on bachelor’s and master’s programs, including Cal Poly SLO, Long Beach, and San Diego State. UC is more selective on average; CSU is larger and broader in access.
How does the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) work?
Six UC campuses (Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz) offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) to California community college students who complete specific coursework and GPA requirements. TAG is not offered at Berkeley, UCLA, or San Diego. Verify program-specific eligibility through the ASSIST course-articulation system.
Which is the public flagship university in California?
California is unusual in that the UC system operates multiple research universities rather than one dominant flagship. UC Berkeley and UCLA are typically the most selective; UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Irvine are also major research universities.
How many HBCUs are in California?
California has no federally designated HBCUs.
What are the most affordable colleges in California for in-state students?
California Community College fees are among the lowest in the U.S. — and the California College Promise Grant can waive enrollment fees entirely for eligible in-state students. CSU in-state tuition is materially lower than UC in-state tuition. Always compare net price after aid rather than sticker price.

Related blog clusters

Guides that pair well with a California search

Cost and Financial Aid

College affordability, net price, aid interpretation, borrowing decisions, and budgeting guidance for students and families using CampusPin to compare higher-ed options with more discipline.

Community College

Community-college strategy, affordability, transfer readiness, and credential pathway content for students exploring two-year options through CampusPin.

College Search Strategy

Filter-first search strategy, shortlist building, and planning content for students and parents using CampusPin to discover best-fit colleges and universities.

Help Center

Workflow guides for students searching in California

Getting Started With CampusPin

A fast orientation to the CampusPin workflow, from your first search through profile review, pins, and next-step planning.

How to Use Filters to Narrow Your College List

A practical help article on how to use CampusPin filters without over-filtering or locking yourself into the wrong criteria too early.

How to Read a CampusPin School Profile

A guide to the major sections inside a CampusPin institution profile and how to interpret them effectively. Each page is designed to connect search intent to clearer next steps, internal links, and more defensible CampusPin decisions.