by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in California, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **161** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 161 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Not every student is looking for the same thing. Narrow your list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Stanford University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in California. Set in Stanford, CA, Stanford University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the top colleges in California. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,847. The median student debt is $14,238.
The strong outcomes at Santa Clara University earned it the #3 place in California. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Santa Clara University is a private not-for-profit institution. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,293. Median early-career earnings reach $79,380. Typical student debt is $20,144.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top colleges in California. This private not-for-profit school is set in Los Angeles, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Early-career graduates earn a median of $75,677. University Of Southern California students take on a median of $15,625 in debt.
Out of the 161 colleges in California in this year's ranking, San Jose State University landed the #5 spot. Set in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $19,273.
University Of California Los Angeles landed the #7 spot in California this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school based in Los Angeles, CA. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. The median student debt is $16,097.
Samuel Merritt University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Oakland, CA, Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,138. Early-career graduates earn a median of $110,791. Samuel Merritt University students take on a median of $25,000 in debt.
University Of California Davis did well this year, earning the #9 position. University Of California Davis is a public school based in Davis, CA. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,749. Typical student debt is $14,404.
University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #10 in this year's ranking. University Of California Santa Barbara is a public school based in Santa Barbara, CA. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,488. University Of California Santa Barbara students take on a median of $15,501 in debt.
University Of California San Diego ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in La Jolla, CA. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,797. The median student debt is $17,101.
Loma Linda University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Loma Linda, CA. Students from in state pay about $29,960 in tuition and fees. Loma Linda University graduates report median early-career earnings of $93,833. Typical student debt is $25,094.
University Of California Irvine landed the #13 spot in California this year. University Of California Irvine is a public school based in Irvine, CA. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,752, compared with $46,640 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,958 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $16,539.
California Institute Of Technology placed #14 among the best colleges in California. This private not-for-profit school is set in Pasadena, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,898. Graduates go on to earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers.
Chapman University landed the #15 spot in California this year. Chapman University is a private not-for-profit school based in Orange, CA. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,984. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,947 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Los Angeles, CA, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Loyola Marymount University posts a six-year graduation rate of 79%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,867. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,935. Typical student debt is $22,248.
Pepperdine University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Malibu, CA, Pepperdine University is a private not-for-profit institution. Pepperdine University posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. Students from in state pay about $69,918 in tuition and fees. Pepperdine University graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,582. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete a degree here.
Claremont Mckenna College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Based in Claremont, CA, Claremont Mckenna College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,980. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,028. Typical student debt is $12,000.
Harvey Mudd College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Harvey Mudd College is a private not-for-profit school based in Claremont, CA. About 92% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,613. Median early-career earnings reach $130,443. Students borrow a median of $22,730 to complete a degree here.
University Of San Diego placed #20 among the best colleges in California. Based in San Diego, CA, University Of San Diego is a private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $59,486 in tuition and fees. University Of San Diego graduates report median early-career earnings of $68,281. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete a degree here.
University Of San Francisco landed the #21 spot in California this year. University Of San Francisco is a private not-for-profit school based in San Francisco, CA. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $60,522. University Of San Francisco graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,223. Graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans.
San Diego State University landed the #22 spot in California this year. Based in San Diego, CA, San Diego State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,162. Graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans.
Pomona College placed #23 among the best colleges in California. Based in Claremont, CA, Pomona College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $65,420. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,954 early in their careers.
University Of The Pacific landed the #24 spot in California this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Stockton, CA. University Of The Pacific posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. Students from in state pay about $57,080 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $77,022. The median student debt is $23,514.
Saint Marys College Of California did well this year, earning the #25 position. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school based in Moraga, CA. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,803. Saint Marys College Of California graduates report median early-career earnings of $59,760. Students borrow a median of $25,041 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
