Colleges by state
Colleges and Universities in California
446 degree-granting colleges and universities in California that take part in federal student aid programs, from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Colleges446
- Public172274 private
- Four-year272174 two-year
- Online programs240Report at least one fully online program
Widely offered majors in California: Business Administration (218), Psychology (211), Nursing (189), English and Professional Writing (183), Biology (180), Fine Arts and Studio Art (178).
| College | City | Type | Level | Online programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABCO Technology | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| Abraham Lincoln University | Glendale | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Academy for Jewish Religion California | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Academy of Art University | San Francisco | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences | Oakland | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-Berkeley | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Agape College of Business and Science | Fresno | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Alder Graduate School of Education | Redwood City | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Alhambra Medical University | Alhambra | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Alliant International University-San Diego | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| America Evangelical University | Gardena | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| American Academy of Dramatic Arts-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Two-year | No |
| American Career College-Anaheim | Anaheim | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| American Career College-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| American Career College-Ontario | Ontario | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology | Riverside | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| American Film Institute Conservatory | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| American Jewish University | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| American Medical Sciences Center | Glendale | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| American River College | Sacramento | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| American University of Health Sciences | Signal Hill | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Angeles College | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | Lancaster | Public | Four-year | No |
| Antioch University-Los Angeles | Culver City | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Antioch University-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Ontario | Ontario | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Art Center College of Design | Pasadena | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Asher College | Sacramento | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| Ashford University | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| ATA College | El Cajon | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| ATI College-Whittier | Whitter | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | Public | Four-year | No |
| Barstow Community College | Barstow | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Berkeley City College | Berkeley | Public | Two-year | No |
| Berkeley School of Theology | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Bethesda University | Anaheim | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Blake Austin College | Vacaville | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Butte College | Oroville | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Cabrillo College | Aptos | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Cal Northern School of Law | Chico | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Aeronautical University | Bakersfield | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Career College | Canoga Park | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Career Institute | Anaheim | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| California College of ASU | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| California College of Music | Pasadena | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| California College of the Arts | San Francisco | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| California Health Sciences University | Clovis | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| California Institute of Advanced Management | Alhambra | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology | National City | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Institute of Integral Studies | San Francisco | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| California Jazz Conservatory | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Miramar University | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | Arcata | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Pomona | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University Maritime Academy | Vallejo | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Chancellors Office | Long Beach | Public | Four-year | No |
| California State University-Channel Islands | Camarillo | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Chico | Chico | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Fresno | Fresno | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Long Beach | Long Beach | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | Seaside | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Northridge | Northridge | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Sacramento | Sacramento | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-San Marcos | San Marcos | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| California University of Science and Medicine | Colton | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| California Western School of Law | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Canada College | Redwood City | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Career Care Institute | Lancaster | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Career Networks Institute | Santa Ana | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Carrington College-Administrative Office | Sacramento | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus | Pleasant Hill | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Carrington College-Sacramento | Sacramento | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Carrington College-San Jose | San Jose | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Carrington College-San Leandro Campus | San Leandro | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Carrington College-Stockton | Stockton | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Casa Loma College-Los Angeles | Sherman Oaks | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| CBD College | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Central Coast College | Salinas | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Cerritos College | Norwalk | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Cerro Coso Community College | Ridgecrest | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Chabot College | Hayward | Public | Two-year | No |
| Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Chamberlain University-California | Rancho Cordova | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Chapman University | Orange | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Church Divinity School of the Pacific | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Citrus College | Glendora | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | Public | Two-year | No |
| Claremont Graduate University | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Claremont Lincoln University | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Claremont School of Theology | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Clovis Community College | Fresno | Public | Two-year | No |
| Coalinga College | Coalinga | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Coast Community College District Office | Costa Mesa | Public | Two-year | No |
| Coastline Community College | Fountain Valley | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| College of Alameda | Alameda | Public | Two-year | No |
| College of Marin | Kentfield | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| College of San Mateo | San Mateo | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | Public | Two-year | No |
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| College of the Redwoods | Eureka | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| College of the Sequoias | Visalia | Public | Two-year | No |
| College of the Siskiyous | Weed | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Columbia College | Sonora | Public | Two-year | No |
| Compton College | Compton | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Concorde Career College-Garden Grove | Garden Grove | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Concorde Career College-North Hollywood | North Hollywood | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Concorde Career College-San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Concorde Career College-San Diego | San Diego | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Concordia University-Irvine | Irvine | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Contra Costa College | San Pablo | Public | Two-year | No |
| Contra Costa Community College District Office | Martinez | Public | Two-year | No |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College | Antioch | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Cuyamaca College | El Cajon | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Cypress College | Cypress | Public | Four-year | No |
| De Anza College | Cupertino | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Design Institute of San Diego | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| DeVry University-California | Ontario | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Dongguk University Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| East Los Angeles College | Monterey Park | Public | Two-year | No |
| El Camino Community College District | Torrance | Public | Two-year | No |
| Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine | Santa Monica | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Epic Bible College & Graduate School | Sacramento | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Evergreen Valley College | San Jose | Public | Two-year | No |
| Feather River Community College District | Quincy | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Fielding Graduate University | Santa Barbara | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Five Branches University | Santa Cruz | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Folsom Lake College | Folsom | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Foothill-De Anza Community College District | Los Altos Hills | Public | Four-year | No |
| Franciscan School of Theology | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Fremont University | Cerritos | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Fresno City College | Fresno | Public | Four-year | No |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton | Public | Two-year | No |
| Galaxy Medical College | North Hollywood | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Gavilan College | Gilroy | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Glendale Career College | Glendale | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSON | West Covina | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Glendale Community College | Glendale | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Gnomon | North Hollywood | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Golden Gate University | San Francisco | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Golden West College | Huntington Beach | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Grace Mission University | Fullerton | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Graduate Theological Union | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Grossmont College | El Cajon | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District | El Cajon | Public | Two-year | No |
| Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts | San Jose | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Hartnell College | Salinas | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Haven University | Garden Grove | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Healthcare Career College | Paramount | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| High Desert Medical College | Lancaster | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| High Tech High Graduate School of Education | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Homestead Schools | Torrance | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Hope International University | Fullerton | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses | Stockton | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Hypnosis Motivation Institute | Tarzana | Private nonprofit | Two-year | Yes |
| ICOHS College | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Two-year | Yes |
| Imperial Valley College | Imperial | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Institute for Business and Technology | San Jose | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Institute of Culinary Education | Pasadena | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| Institute of Technology | Clovis | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Integrity College of Health | Pasadena | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| InterCoast Colleges-West Covina | West Covina | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Interior Designers Institute | Newport Beach | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Irvine Valley College | Irvine | Public | Two-year | No |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University | Escondido | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Keck Graduate Institute | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| La Sierra University | Riverside | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Laguna College of Art and Design | Laguna Beach | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Lake Tahoe Community College | South Lake Tahoe | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Laney College | Oakland | Public | Two-year | No |
| Las Positas College | Livermore | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Lassen Community College | Susanville | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Latin American Bible Institute | La Puente | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Laurus College | San Luis Obispo | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Lemoore College | Lemoore | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Life Chiropractic College West | Hayward | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Life Pacific University | San Dimas | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Lionel University | Carpinteria | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | Public | Two-year | No |
| Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art | Van Nuys | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Los Angeles College of Music | Pasadena | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Los Angeles Community College District Office | Los Angeles | Public | Four-year | No |
| Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied Health | Los Angeles | Public | Two-year | No |
| Los Angeles Film School | Hollywood | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Los Angeles Harbor College | Wilmington | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Los Angeles Mission College | Sylmar | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Los Angeles Pacific College | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Los Angeles Pacific University | San Dimas | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | Public | Two-year | No |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | Los Angeles | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | Public | Two-year | No |
| Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | Public | Four-year | No |
| Los Medanos College | Pittsburg | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Los Rios Community College District Office | Sacramento | Public | Two-year | No |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Madera Community College | Madera | Public | Two-year | No |
| Marshall B Ketchum University | Fullerton | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Mendocino College | Ukiah | Public | Two-year | No |
| Menlo College | Atherton | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Merced College | Merced | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Meridian University | Petaluma | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Merritt College | Oakland | Public | Two-year | No |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey | Monterey | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| MiraCosta College | Oceanside | Public | Four-year | No |
| Mission College | Santa Clara | Public | Two-year | No |
| Modesto Junior College | Modesto | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Monterey Peninsula College | Monterey | Public | Two-year | No |
| Moorpark College | Moorpark | Public | Four-year | No |
| Moreno Valley College | Moreno Valley | Public | Two-year | No |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto | Public | Two-year | No |
| MTI College | Sacramento | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| Musicians Institute | Hollywood | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Napa Valley College | Napa | Public | Two-year | No |
| National Career College | Panorama City | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| National Polytechnic College | Lakewood | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| National University | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| New York Film Academy | Burbank | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Norco College | Norco | Public | Two-year | No |
| North Orange County Community College District | Anaheim | Public | Four-year | No |
| North-West College-Anaheim | Anaheim | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| North-West College-Long Beach | Long Beach | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| North-West College-Riverside | Riverside | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| North-West College-San Diego | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| North-West College-West Covina | West Covina | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Northcentral University | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Northeastern University Oakland | Oakland | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | Belmont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Oak Valley College | Rialto | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Ohlone College | Fremont | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Otis College of Art and Design | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Oxnard College | Oxnard | Public | Two-year | No |
| Pacific College | Costa Mesa | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Pacific College of Health and Science | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Pacific Oaks College | Pasadena | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Pacific School of Religion | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Pacific States University | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Pacifica Graduate Institute | Carpinteria | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Palo Alto University | Palo Alto | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Palo Verde College | Blythe | Public | Two-year | No |
| Palomar College | San Marcos | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| PCI College | Cerritos | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Peralta Community College System Office | Oakland | Public | Two-year | No |
| Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista | Chula Vista | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos | San Marcos | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Pitzer College | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Platt College-Anaheim | Anaheim | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Platt College-Los Angeles | Alhambra | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Platt College-Ontario | Ontario | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Platt College-Riverside | Riverside | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Pomona College | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Porterville College | Porterville | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Premiere Career College | Irwindale | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America | Santa Fe Springs | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Presidio Graduate School | San Anselmo | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Professional Golfers Career College | Temecula | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Providence Christian College | Pasadena | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Rancho Santiago Community College District Office | Santa Ana | Public | Four-year | No |
| RAND School of Public Policy | Santa Monica | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Reach University | Oakland | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Reedley College | Reedley | Public | Two-year | No |
| Reiss-Davis Graduate School | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Rio Hondo College | Whittier | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Riverside City College | Riverside | Public | Two-year | No |
| Sacramento City College | Sacramento | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Sacramento Ultrasound Institute | Sacramento | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Samuel Merritt University | Oakland | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| San Bernardino Community College District | San Bernardino | Public | Two-year | No |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| San Diego Christian College | Santee | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| San Diego City College | San Diego | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| San Diego Community College District-District Office | San Diego | Public | Four-year | No |
| San Diego Global Knowledge University | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| San Diego Miramar College | San Diego | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music | San Francisco | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| San Francisco Film School | San Francisco | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| San Joaquin College of Law | Clovis | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Central Administrative Office | Visalia | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Fresno | Fresno | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Hesperia | Hesperia | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster | Lancaster | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Modesto | Salida | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario | Ontario | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova | Rancho Cordova | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | Rancho Mirage | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Santa Maria | Santa Maria | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Temecula | Temecula | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center | Fresno | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | Visalia | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| San Jose City College | San Jose | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| San Jose-Evergreen Community College District | San Jose | Public | Two-year | No |
| San Mateo County Community College District Office | San Mateo | Public | Four-year | No |
| Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Santa Barbara City College | Santa Barbara | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Santiago Canyon College | Orange | Public | Two-year | No |
| Saybrook University | Pasadena | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Scripps College | Claremont | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Shasta Bible College and Graduate School | Redding | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Shasta College | Redding | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Sierra College | Rocklin | Public | Two-year | No |
| Simpson University | Redding | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Skyline College | San Bruno | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Smith Chason College | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| Sofia University | Palo Alto | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Soka University of America | Aliso Viejo | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Solano Community College | Fairfield | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| South Baylo University | Anaheim | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| South Coast College | Orange | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| South Orange County Community College District | Mission Viejo | Public | Two-year | No |
| Southern California Health Institute | North Hollywood | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Southern California Institute of Technology | Anaheim | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Southern California Seminary | El Cajon | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Southern California University of Health Sciences | Whittier | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Southwestern College | Chula Vista | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| Southwestern Law School | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Spartan College of Aeronautics & Technology | Inglewood | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Sri Sai Krish Institute | ORANGE | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Stanbridge University | Irvine | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Stanford University | Stanford | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Starr King School for the Ministry | Oakland | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| State Center Community College District | Fresno | Public | Four-year | No |
| SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary | El Dorado Hills | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Taft College | Taft | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| The Chicago School at Anaheim | Anaheim | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| The Chicago School at San Diego | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| The Colleges of Law at Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| The Colleges of Law at Ventura | Ventura | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| The Master's University and Seminary | Santa Clarita | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| The Wright Institute | Berkeley | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Theatre of Arts | Hollywood | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Law | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Touro University California | Vallejo | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Touro University Worldwide | Los Alamitos | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Trinity Law School | Santa Ana | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| UEI College-Gardena | Gardena | Private for-profit | Two-year | Yes |
| United States University | San Diego | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Unitek College | Fremont | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Universal Technical Institute of California Inc | Rancho Cucamonga | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc | Sacramento | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Universal Technical Institute-Southern California | Long Beach | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| University of California College of the Law-San Francisco | San Francisco | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-Davis | Davis | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-Irvine | Irvine | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-Merced | Merced | Public | Four-year | No |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-San Diego | La Jolla | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-San Francisco | San Francisco | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Public | Four-year | No |
| University of California-Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Public | Four-year | No |
| University of California-System Administration Central Office | Oakland | Public | Four-year | No |
| University of East-West Medicine | Sunnyvale | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| University of La Verne | La Verne | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of Massachusetts Global | Aliso Viejo | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| University of Phoenix-California | Ontario | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| University of Redlands | Redlands | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of Silicon Valley | San Jose | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences | San Marcos | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of the West | Rosemead | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| University of West Los Angeles | Inglewood | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Ventura College | Ventura | Public | Two-year | No |
| Ventura County Community College System Office | Camarillo | Public | Two-year | No |
| Victor Valley College | Victorville | Public | Two-year | No |
| West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies | Los Angeles | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| West Coast University-Los Angeles | North Hollywood | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| West Coast University-Ontario | Ontario | Private for-profit | Four-year | No |
| West Coast University-Orange County | Anaheim | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| West Hills Community College District | Coalinga | Public | Two-year | No |
| West Los Angeles College | Culver City | Public | Four-year | Yes |
| West Valley College | Saratoga | Public | Two-year | Yes |
| West Valley Mission Community College District Office | Saratoga | Public | Two-year | No |
| Westcliff University | Irvine | Private for-profit | Four-year | Yes |
| Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Westminster Theological Seminary in California | Escondido | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Whittier College | Whittier | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| William Jessup University | Rocklin | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Woodbury University | Burbank | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Woodland Community College | Woodland | Public | Two-year | No |
| World Mission University | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | Yes |
| Xavier College School of Nursing | Stockton | Private for-profit | Two-year | No |
| Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine | Los Angeles | Private nonprofit | Four-year | No |
| Yosemite Community College District Office | Modesto | Public | Four-year | No |
| Young Americans College of the Performing Arts | Corona | Private nonprofit | Two-year | No |
| Yuba College | Marysville | Public | Two-year | No |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), IPEDS 2024-25 institutional characteristics (HD2024, IC2024). Links go to each school’s official website as reported to IPEDS. “Online programs” means the school reported at least one program offered entirely by distance education.
Colleges in California: frequently asked questions
How many colleges are in California?
California has 446 degree-granting colleges and universities that take part in federal student aid programs, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS) data.
How many public colleges are in California?
172 public, 141 private nonprofit and 133 private for-profit.
How many community colleges and two-year colleges are in California?
174 two-year colleges, including public two-year colleges such as Allan Hancock College, American River College, Barstow Community College, Berkeley City College, Butte College, and Cabrillo College.
How many four-year colleges and universities are in California?
272 four-year colleges and universities, and 200 schools in California offer graduate programs.
Which colleges in California offer online programs?
240 colleges in California reported offering at least one program entirely online. Use the college search with “Offers fully online programs” to see them, and check each school for specific online programs.
Which cities in California have the most colleges?
Los Angeles (36), San Diego (25), Sacramento (12), San Francisco (11), and Pasadena (11).
What majors are most widely offered at colleges in California?
Among the 109 majors in this guide, the most widely offered in California are Business Administration (218 schools), Psychology (211 schools), Nursing (189 schools), English and Professional Writing (183 schools), Biology (180 schools), and Fine Arts and Studio Art (178 schools).
How do I find a college in California that offers my major?
Use the college search with the state set to California and choose your major, or filter by city or ZIP code.
Where does this list of California colleges come from?
From the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS data (IPEDS 2024-25 institutional characteristics (HD2024, IC2024)). Confirm programs, costs and admission requirements on each school’s official website.
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