Helpful Resources

For students + families

California Colleges
at a Glance

A quick reference to California’s four-year colleges + universities.

Data shown from the most recent available year — admissions + enrollment Fall 2024, costs 2025–26. College names link to each institution’s official website.

◆Also participates in WUE, for students from other Western states (see WUE Colleges at a Glance).

University of California 9 colleges

  • UC Berkeley

    Location
    Berkeley, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    33,100
    Admit rate
    11%
    Tuition + fees
    $17,200
    Annual cost
    $47,800
  • UC Davis

    Location
    Davis, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    32,300
    Admit rate
    42%
    Tuition + fees
    $17,300
    Annual cost
    $43,200
  • UC Irvine

    Location
    Irvine, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    30,200
    Admit rate
    29%
    Tuition + fees
    $16,200
    Annual cost
    $39,200
  • UCLA

    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    33,500
    Admit rate
    9%
    Tuition + fees
    $15,700
    Annual cost
    $41,400
  • UC Merced◆

    Location
    Merced, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    8,400
    Admit rate
    91%
    Tuition + fees
    $16,300
    Annual cost
    $41,000
  • UC Riverside

    Location
    Riverside, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    22,600
    Admit rate
    76%
    Tuition + fees
    $16,100
    Annual cost
    $38,400
  • UC San Diego

    Location
    La Jolla, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    34,900
    Admit rate
    27%
    Tuition + fees
    $17,300
    Annual cost
    $41,700
  • UC Santa Barbara

    Location
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    23,100
    Admit rate
    33%
    Tuition + fees
    $17,000
    Annual cost
    $44,800
  • UC Santa Cruz

    Location
    Santa Cruz, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    17,900
    Admit rate
    66%
    Tuition + fees
    $16,600
    Annual cost
    $43,900

California State University 22 colleges

  • Cal Poly Humboldt◆

    Location
    Arcata, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    5,600
    Admit rate
    98%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,800
    Annual cost
    $27,000
  • Cal Poly Pomona◆

    Location
    Pomona, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    25,000
    Admit rate
    75%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,100
    Annual cost
    $22,600
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

    Location
    San Luis Obispo, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    22,000
    Admit rate
    31%
    Tuition + fees
    $15,000
    Annual cost
    $36,500
  • Cal State Bakersfield◆

    Location
    Bakersfield, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    8,600
    Admit rate
    94%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,500
    Annual cost
    $18,500
  • Cal State Channel Islands◆

    Location
    Camarillo, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    5,000
    Admit rate
    95%
    Tuition + fees
    $7,600
    Annual cost
    $23,400
  • Cal State Dominguez Hills◆

    Location
    Carson, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    12,500
    Admit rate
    93%
    Tuition + fees
    $7,900
    Annual cost
    $22,800
  • Cal State East Bay◆

    Location
    Hayward, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    9,800
    Admit rate
    97%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,000
    Annual cost
    $20,800
  • Cal State Fullerton◆

    Location
    Fullerton, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    38,500
    Admit rate
    91%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,000
    Annual cost
    $17,800
  • Cal State LA◆

    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    19,600
    Admit rate
    91%
    Tuition + fees
    $7,500
    Annual cost
    $17,800
  • Cal State Monterey Bay◆

    Location
    Seaside, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    6,800
    Admit rate
    97%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,100
    Annual cost
    $27,500
  • Cal State Northridge◆

    Location
    Northridge, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    32,700
    Admit rate
    93%
    Tuition + fees
    $7,800
    Annual cost
    $20,000
  • Cal State San Bernardino◆

    Location
    San Bernardino, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    15,000
    Admit rate
    94%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,500
    Annual cost
    $17,000
  • Cal State San Marcos◆

    Location
    San Marcos, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    14,900
    Admit rate
    95%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,500
    Annual cost
    $23,100
  • Chico State◆

    Location
    Chico, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    13,600
    Admit rate
    93%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,900
    Annual cost
    $26,800
  • Fresno State

    Location
    Fresno, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    21,600
    Admit rate
    95%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,200
    Annual cost
    $19,600
  • Long Beach State

    Location
    Long Beach, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    35,900
    Admit rate
    46%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,300
    Annual cost
    $22,900
  • Sacramento State◆

    Location
    Sacramento, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    28,400
    Admit rate
    94%
    Tuition + fees
    $9,000
    Annual cost
    $25,900
  • San Diego State

    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    35,400
    Admit rate
    36%
    Tuition + fees
    $9,200
    Annual cost
    $26,000
  • San Francisco State◆

    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    18,600
    Admit rate
    96%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,300
    Annual cost
    $25,200
  • San José State◆

    Location
    San Jose, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    27,600
    Admit rate
    85%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,800
    Annual cost
    $28,900
  • Sonoma State◆

    Location
    Rohnert Park, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    5,200
    Admit rate
    93%
    Tuition + fees
    $9,100
    Annual cost
    $24,900
  • Stanislaus State◆

    Location
    Turlock, CA
    Type
    Public
    Undergrads
    8,400
    Admit rate
    98%
    Tuition + fees
    $8,700
    Annual cost
    $17,600

Private Colleges & Universities 30 colleges

  • Azusa Pacific University

    Location
    Azusa, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    2,800
    Admit rate
    88%
    Tuition + fees
    $45,300
    Annual cost
    $57,200
  • Biola University

    Location
    La Mirada, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    3,500
    Admit rate
    74%
    Tuition + fees
    $50,900
    Annual cost
    $65,300
  • California Baptist University

    Location
    Riverside, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    8,200
    Admit rate
    85%
    Tuition + fees
    $42,800
    Annual cost
    $54,400
  • California Lutheran University

    Location
    Thousand Oaks, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    2,300
    Admit rate
    76%
    Tuition + fees
    $54,500
    Annual cost
    $70,800
  • Caltech

    Location
    Pasadena, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,000
    Admit rate
    3%
    Tuition + fees
    $68,200
    Annual cost
    $90,800
  • Chapman University

    Location
    Orange, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    7,500
    Admit rate
    65%
    Tuition + fees
    $67,900
    Annual cost
    $85,300
  • Claremont McKenna College

    Location
    Claremont, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,400
    Admit rate
    10%
    Tuition + fees
    $72,100
    Annual cost
    $91,500
  • Dominican University of California

    Location
    San Rafael, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,100
    Admit rate
    84%
    Tuition + fees
    $53,700
    Annual cost
    $73,600
  • Harvey Mudd College

    Location
    Claremont, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    900
    Admit rate
    13%
    Tuition + fees
    $73,100
    Annual cost
    $93,100
  • Loyola Marymount University

    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    7,100
    Admit rate
    45%
    Tuition + fees
    $65,900
    Annual cost
    $88,700
  • Mount Saint Mary's University

    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,700
    Admit rate
    73%
    Tuition + fees
    $51,100
    Annual cost
    $69,100
  • Occidental College

    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,900
    Admit rate
    44%
    Tuition + fees
    $68,700
    Annual cost
    $88,700
  • Pepperdine University

    Location
    Malibu, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    3,600
    Admit rate
    63%
    Tuition + fees
    $72,700
    Annual cost
    $95,200
  • Pitzer College

    Location
    Claremont, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,200
    Admit rate
    25%
    Tuition + fees
    $67,800
    Annual cost
    $89,700
  • Point Loma Nazarene University

    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    3,200
    Admit rate
    84%
    Tuition + fees
    $48,400
    Annual cost
    $65,000
  • Pomona College

    Location
    Claremont, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,700
    Admit rate
    7%
    Tuition + fees
    $68,700
    Annual cost
    $89,400
  • Saint Mary's College of California

    Location
    Moraga, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,900
    Admit rate
    87%
    Tuition + fees
    $59,800
    Annual cost
    $80,700
  • Santa Clara University

    Location
    Santa Clara, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    6,600
    Admit rate
    48%
    Tuition + fees
    $63,500
    Annual cost
    $84,300
  • Scripps College

    Location
    Claremont, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,100
    Admit rate
    38%
    Tuition + fees
    $68,500
    Annual cost
    $90,900
  • Soka University of America

    Location
    Aliso Viejo, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    500
    Admit rate
    43%
    Tuition + fees
    $39,500
    Annual cost
    $58,500
  • Stanford University

    Location
    Stanford, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    7,600
    Admit rate
    4%
    Tuition + fees
    $68,500
    Annual cost
    $92,900
  • Thomas Aquinas College

    Location
    Santa Paula, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    600
    Admit rate
    83%
    Tuition + fees
    $31,000
    Annual cost
    $45,900
  • University of La Verne

    Location
    La Verne, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    3,000
    Admit rate
    71%
    Tuition + fees
    $49,600
    Annual cost
    $62,600
  • University of Redlands

    Location
    Redlands, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    2,000
    Admit rate
    83%
    Tuition + fees
    $62,700
    Annual cost
    $80,200
  • University of San Diego

    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    5,700
    Admit rate
    52%
    Tuition + fees
    $62,400
    Annual cost
    $83,500
  • University of San Francisco

    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    5,300
    Admit rate
    62%
    Tuition + fees
    $62,500
    Annual cost
    $81,800
  • University of Southern California

    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    20,400
    Admit rate
    10%
    Tuition + fees
    $75,200
    Annual cost
    $95,000
  • University of the Pacific

    Location
    Stockton, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    3,200
    Admit rate
    71%
    Tuition + fees
    $58,800
    Annual cost
    $73,200
  • Westmont College

    Location
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    1,300
    Admit rate
    77%
    Tuition + fees
    $55,700
    Annual cost
    $73,500
  • Whittier College

    Location
    Whittier, CA
    Type
    Private
    Undergrads
    800
    Admit rate
    81%
    Tuition + fees
    $52,900
    Annual cost
    $64,700

Understanding the Numbers

Admit rates
Overall first-year admission for fall 2024, the most recent cycle in federal data. Rates do not predict an individual student’s chances; selectivity can vary significantly by major, program, and residency.
Undergrads
Undergraduate degree-seeking students only, fall 2024, rounded to the nearest 100.
Tuition + fees
Published annual tuition and required fees before financial aid. California-resident rates are shown for UC and CSU campuses.
Annual cost
Federally reported average cost of attendance: tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal expenses. It blends living situations, so on-campus budgets, especially at CSU campuses, may be higher.
Financial aid
Published costs are not necessarily what a family will pay. Grants and scholarships can substantially reduce the cost. Use each college’s Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate.
Data reporting
Figures come from different reporting years and are rounded for readability. Verify all data with each college before making application or financial decisions.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent release). Cal Maritime is now part of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is not listed separately. Data compiled: October 2026.

The first page of the My Statement Studio California Colleges at a Glance guide

Numbers are a starting point.

Fit is about much more than size, selectivity, and cost. Print the four-page reference to compare schools side by side.

Download the PDF

Find the California schools that fit.

Want help turning this list into a balanced college list? My Statement Studio’s College Admission Coaching includes college research and list strategy.