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Colleges and universities in California

California has 631 colleges and universities in our directory (172 public, 161 private nonprofit, 298 for-profit). Together they enroll about 2,743,109 students. 259 offer programs that can be completed online.

Cities with the most schools: Los Angeles (45), San Diego (28), Sacramento (18), San Francisco (17), Pasadena (14), Riverside (13), Anaheim (12), Fresno (11), Berkeley (10), San Jose (10), Bakersfield (9), Oakland (9)

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Campus building with columns behind a green lawn

Showing 25–48 of 631 schools

CSU
Public
Students
24,427
Retention
82%
Programs
105
Awards 2024-25
5,771
CampusOnlineHybrid
Business Administration and ManagementPsychology, GeneralLiberal Arts and Sciences +102
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SMC
Public

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, CA

Admission
Open
Students
23,453
Programs
81
Awards 2024-25
11,774
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesHumanitiesBiological and Physical Sciences +78
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CSU
Public
Students
23,163
Retention
72%
Programs
103
Awards 2024-25
6,310
CampusOnlineHybrid
Business Administration and ManagementPsychology, GeneralSocial Work +100
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SFS
Public

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

Students
22,563
Retention
83%
Programs
129
Awards 2024-25
5,688
CampusOnlineHybrid
Business Administration and ManagementPsychology, GeneralBiology +126
View
CC
Public

Chaffey College

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Admission
Open
Students
22,460
Retention
69%
Programs
119
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementPsychology, General +116
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NU
Private nonprofit

National University

San Diego, CA

Admission
Open
Students
22,115
Retention
53%
Programs
100
CampusOnlineHybrid
Education, GeneralApplied Behavior AnalysisBusiness Administration and Management +97
View
CC
Public

Cerritos College

Norwalk, CA

Admission
Open
Students
21,859
Retention
67%
Programs
106
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementChild Care Provider/Assistant +103
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RCC
Public

Riverside City College

Riverside, CA

Admission
Open
Students
21,730
Retention
70%
Programs
114
CampusHybrid
HumanitiesBiological and Physical SciencesBusiness Administration and Management +111
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ECC
Public
Admission
Open
Students
21,664
Retention
73%
Programs
91
CampusHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementHumanities +88
View
SC
Public

Southwestern College

Chula Vista, CA

Admission
Open
Students
20,986
Retention
70%
Programs
121
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementPsychology, General +118
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SJD
Public
Admission
Open
Students
20,969
Retention
68%
Programs
139
CampusOnlineHybrid
HumanitiesBiological and Physical SciencesPsychology, General +136
View
SC
Public

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, CA

Admission
Open
Students
20,764
Retention
77%
Programs
126
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementPsychology, General +123
View
UCC
Public
Students
19,938
Retention
88%
Programs
111
Awards 2024-25
5,280
CampusHybrid
Computer ScienceBehavioral SciencesBusiness/Managerial Economics +108
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SCC
Public

Sacramento City College

Sacramento, CA

Admission
Open
Students
19,920
Retention
69%
Programs
110
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementBiological and Physical Sciences +107
View
PC
Public

Palomar College

San Marcos, CA

Admission
Open
Students
19,550
Retention
70%
Programs
132
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementGeneral Studies +129
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FC
Public

Fullerton College

Fullerton, CA

Admission
Open
Students
19,521
Retention
72%
Programs
111
CampusHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesMulti-/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherBusiness Administration and Management +108
View
CCS
Public

City College of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

Admission
Open
Students
19,267
Retention
70%
Programs
150
CampusHybrid
Child Care Provider/AssistantLiberal Arts and SciencesComputer Systems Networking and Telecommunications +147
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SDM
Public

San Diego Mesa College

San Diego, CA

Admission
Open
Students
19,212
Programs
86
Awards 2024-25
1,926
CampusOnlineHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesBusiness Administration and ManagementBiological and Physical Sciences +83
View
SC
Public

Sierra College

Rocklin, CA

Admission
Open
Students
19,125
Retention
72%
Programs
129
CampusHybrid
Health Services/Allied Health/Health SciencesSocial Sciences, GeneralBiological and Physical Sciences +126
View
SU
Private nonprofit

Stanford University

Stanford, CA

Students
18,625
Retention
98%
Programs
128
Awards 2024-25
5,803
CampusOnlineHybrid
Computer ScienceManagement ScienceElectrical and Electronics Engineering +125
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CSU
Public
Students
18,492
Retention
80%
Programs
93
Awards 2024-25
5,122
CampusOnlineHybrid
Business Administration and ManagementPsychology, GeneralLiberal Arts and Sciences +90
View
MJC
Public
Admission
Open
Students
18,258
Retention
71%
Programs
131
CampusOnlineHybrid
Biological and Physical SciencesLiberal Arts and SciencesChild Care Provider/Assistant +128
View
CC
Public

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA

Admission
Open
Students
18,075
Retention
70%
Programs
100
CampusHybrid
Liberal Arts and SciencesSocial Sciences, GeneralSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness +97
View

Colleges in other states

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