Top 10 Best Universities & Colleges

Top 10 Best Universities in California. This vast state comprises cliff-lined beaches, redwood forests, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Central Valley farmland, and the Mojave Desert.

Its capital city is Los Angeles, home to the Hollywood entertainment industry. Other popular cities such as San Francisco are popular for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and cable cars.

When it comes to education, this state has some of the best colleges and ivy league universities in America.

These universities are located in various parts of the state. There are hundreds of private colleges, liberal arts institutions, and large research universities.

1. University of California (UCLA)  Los Angeles

The University of California-Los Angeles is a public research university. It was established in 1919 and is located in the flourishing city of Los Angeles, California.

It is ranked the 2nd best public university in the United States and the 11th best in the world. UCLA sits on 419 acres in the vicinity of a city that 4 million people call home.

2. University of California, Berkeley

This university was established in 1868. Furthermore, it is a non-profit public state higher-education institution.

Other than the main campus in Berkley, there are other campuses in Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.

The university has a student population of 45,000, both undergraduates and postgraduates.

UC-Berkley is popularly known for its esteemed engineering, natural science, and social science programs, as well as for its top-10 graduate programs in law and education.

3. University of California, San Diego

UC-San Diego was established in 1960. Like its Berkley counterpart, the University of California-San Diego is a non-profit public state higher-education institution.

The University was recognized as the 6th best public university, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 Best Global Universities.

It has some of the leading programs in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

About 5,586 active international students at the University of California-San Diego are undergraduates.

It also has a selective admission policy with potential students expected to sit an entrance exam.

UC San Diego comprises four academic divisions; Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences.

4. San José State University (SJSU), San Jose

This is one of the oldest public universities on the West Coast as well as one of the founding campuses of the California State University system. The university is located in downtown San Jose.

Its enrolment rate is 33,025 with about 5,400 graduate students. This student population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States.

The international student population at SJSU is one of the highest. The majority of graduates from this institution get absorbed in Silicon Valley technology firms.

5. Chapman University – Orange County

Chapman University is located in a suburban city in Orange county. It was founded in 1861 as a private higher education institution.

The university has undergraduate and postgraduate programs in several majors including Business Administration and Management, General; Cinematography and Film/Video Production; Business/Corporate Communications, General; Psychology, General; Speech Communication and Rhetoric.

6. Claremont Mckenna College (CMC) – Claremont

Claremont McKenna College is a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1946 as a men’s college. Later in 1976, it admitted its first female students becoming coeducational.

7. Occidental College (Oxy)– Los Angeles

Occidental College was established in 1887 as a non-profit private liberal arts higher-education institution.

Programs and courses offered at this college lead to recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study.

The most popular majors at Occidental College include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics; International Relations and Affairs; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Political Science and Government.

8. Top 10 Best Universities: Mills College (MC) – Oakland

It was founded in 1852 as a non-profit private higher education institution. Furthermore, Mills is a private women’s liberal arts college.

It offers undergraduate programs for women and gender non-binary students. Additionally, there are graduate programs for students of all genders.

There are more than 45 undergraduate majors and 30 graduate degrees, certificates, and credentials. It is home to the Mills College School of Education and the Lorry I. Lokey School of Business & Public Policy.

9. Top 10 Best Universities: Southwestern Law School – Los Angeles

Southwestern Law School is a private law school in Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles. As an accredited institution by the American Bar Association, SWLS has an enrolment of about 1000 students.

This college was ranked 147 out of 193 in Best Law Schools as well as No. 43 in Part-time Law.

Programs and courses offered at this college lead to officially recognized higher education degrees such as master’s degrees and doctorate degrees.

10. Top 10 Best Universities: Pacific Union College (PUC) – Angwin

Pacific Union College is a non-profit private multidisciplinary higher-education institution. It was established in 1882 and is affiliated with the Christian-Adventist religion.

As a Seventh-day Adventist learning institution, it offers an excellent Christ-centred education. It has programs in biology, aviation, business administration, education, and communication among others.