A degree in education is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #4 out of 38 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. This means you won’t have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.
The education program you select can have a big impact on your future. That’s why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Education rankings. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for education schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level
Best Colleges In California For Education Majors
Below is the list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Education Majors. A graph of 461K citations received by 9.36K academic papers made by 45 universities in California was used to calculate publications’ ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.
We don’t distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.
Stanford University
For Education Majors
#1 in California
#13 in the United States
#14 in North America
Acceptance Rate 5%
Average SAT1495
Average ACT 33
University of California – Los Angeles
For Education Majors
#2 in California
#22 in the United States
#25 in North America
Acceptance Rate 14%
Receiving Aid 73%
Average Aid $15,461
Enrollment 44,589
University of California – Berkeley
For Education Majors
#3 in California
#23 in the United States
#26 in North America
Acceptance Rate 17%
Average SAT 1420
Average ACT 33
San Diego State University
For Education Majors
#4 in California
#44 in the United States
#50 in North America
Acceptance Rate 37%
Average SAT 1195
Average ACT 26
University of Southern California
For Education Majors
#5 in California
#56 in the United States
#63 in North America
Acceptance Rate 16%
Average SAT 1435
Average ACT 32
Net Price$39,759
University of California – Santa Barbara
For Education Majors
#6 in California
#68 in the United States
#80 in North America
Acceptance Rate 37%
Average SAT 1345
Average ACT 31
Receiving Aid 60%
San Francisco State University
For Education Majors
#7 in California
#92 in the United States
#105 in North America
Acceptance Rate 84%
Average SAT 1030
Average ACT 20
Receiving Aid 78%
University of California – Davis
For Education Majors
#8 in California
#104 in the United States
#117 in North America
Acceptance Rate 46%
Average SAT 1280
Average ACT 29
Receiving Aid 74%
University of California – Irvine
For Education Majors
#9 in California
#105 in the United States
#118 in North America
Acceptance Rate 30%
Average SAT 1330
Average ACT 30
Receiving Aid 74%
California State University – Long Beach
For Education Majors
#10 in California
#115 in the United States
#129 in North America
Acceptance Rate 42%
Average SAT 1130
Average ACT 23
Receiving Aid80%
San Jose State University
For Education Majors
#11 in California
#132 in the United States
#147 in North America
Acceptance Rate 67%
Average SAT 1125
Average ACT 23
Receiving Aid 72%
University of California-San Diego
For Education Majors
#12 in California
#140 in the United States
#156 in North America
Acceptance Rate 37%
Average SAT 1375
Average ACT 31
Receiving Aid 60%
California State University – Fullerton
For Education Majors
#13 in California
#149 in the United States
#165 in North America
Acceptance Rate 68%
Average SAT 1090
Average ACT 21
Receiving Aid 80%
University of California – Santa Cruz
For Education Majors
#14 in California
#152 in the United States
#168 in North America
Acceptance Rate 65%
Average SAT 1260
Average ACT 29
Receiving Aid 67%
University of California – San Francisco
For Education Majors
#15 in California
#165 in the United States
#182 in North America
Acceptance Rate 18%
Enrollment 3,201
Male:Female 36:64
Founded 1864
University of San Francisco
For Education Majors
#16 in California
#172 in the United States
#190 in North America
Acceptance Rate 70%
Average SAT 1235
Average ACT 27
Net Price $42,801
Best Colleges In California
Many international students have made California their top choice; the University of Southern California enrols more international students than any other university in the United States. These top California state universities offer the best learning experience.
While tuition and living expenses may be higher in California compared to other US states, there are numerous options for obtaining substantial financial assistance packages. In addition, with the range of lifestyles and multi-person living circumstances that California students embrace, they can bring down the cost of living in California.
Why Choose Universities In California For International Students?
According to the Institute of International Education’s annual Open Doors study, California is the top-ranked destination for international students year after year. In addition, three of the top five colleges in foreign student enrollment (USC, UCLA, and UCI) are in southern California. People come from all over the world to study at California top schools, colleges, and institutions, but that’s not the whole picture. Here are some more reasons to choose universities in California:
- Top QS Ranked: California is home to several QS-ranked universities in the top ten. Stanford University (ranked third) and the California Institute of Technology are two examples (Ranked 6th). Like, there are other universities in California ranked top.
- Top Academic Faculty and Infrastructure: Each university in California carries a top infrastructure that allows better learning opportunities. Moreover, there are top faculties helping students to learn in a practical and theoretical way.
- Scholarships: Students learning in any of the top colleges in California receive scholarships from the university, state, or non-profit. This financial aid can assist students in covering their study costs.
List Of Top 10 Universities In California
We are now going to list down the best universities in California. You will get to know insight about each, along with other information to choose for your higher studies:
1. Stanford University
Stanford University was established in 1885 by Leland and Jin Stanford in honour of their son, Stanford Junior. Stanford Institution, located in Stanford, California, is a private research university. Stanford University provides graduate courses in 90 different subjects. Engineering is Stanford’s most popular graduate program, accounting for about 40% of students. In addition, Stanford’s online courses allow students to learn from anywhere, study part-time and connect with teachers worldwide. Former US President John F. Kennedy is among Stanford University’s noteworthy alumni. Its current and former academic members include 48 Nobel Laureates.
University Type | Private Research University |
Established | 1885 |
QS Ranking 2023 | 3 |
Program Offered | Bachelor, and Masters |
Intake | Spring and Fall |
Program Fees (Annually) | Undergraduate- USD: 52394.49 (INR 41,00,000)Masters- USD- 28114.12 (INR- 22,0000) |
Admission Requirements | TOEFL iBT- 100TOEFL PBT- 570IELTS – 7.0PTE- 68 |
2. The University of California, Berkeley
The University of California—Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is a public research university that was founded in 1868 and is recognized as one of the greatest state universities in the United States. Students can pick from 160 undergraduate programmes and over 350-degree programmes. Furthermore, the university provides Doctoral Undergraduate programmes. The current faculty of UC Berkeley includes four Pulitzer Prize winners and eight Nobel Prize winners. It is one of the best universities in California.
University | Public Research University |
Established | 1868 |
Program Offered | Bachelors, Masters, and PhD |
Intake | Fall and Summer |
Program Fees (Annually) | Bachelors- USD 40893.26 (INR 32,0000)Masters- USD 65173.64 (INR 51,0000)PhD- USD 57521 (INR 45,01,162.05) |
Admission Requirements | SAT- 1330ACT- 29TOEFL- 80IELTS- 6.5 |
3. California Institute Of Technology
The prestigious California Institute of Technology is a private research institute founded in 1891. Caltech, located in Pasadena, has earned a reputation as the leading technological institute in the US and globally. As one might expect, it receives many applications from all over the world, including thousands from India. However, admission is not easy. Caltech is often regarded as one of the most difficult universities to gain admission to. This institute’s noteworthy alumni include Frank Borman, who led the 1968 Apollo 8 mission, and C. Gordon Fullerton, who piloted the third space shuttle mission and orbited the Earth in Skylab.
University | Private Research Institute |
Establishment | 1891 |
QS Ranking 2023 | 6 |
Program Offered | Degree, Masters, and PhD |
Intake | Fall |
Program Fees (Annually) | Undergraduate- USD 56364 (INR 44,10,623.91)Masters- USD 58479 (INR 45,76,127.95)PhD-USD 58467 (INR 45,75,188.92) |
Admission Requirement | SAT- 1507ACT- 36TOEFL- 80GRE- 293IELTS- 6.5 |
4. University of Southern California
The USC Marshall School of Business is the business school of the University of Southern California, founded in 1920. Southern California University is the state’s oldest research university. Students apply to the USC Marshall School of Business for admission to 95 bachelor’s, certificate, Ph.D., and master’s degree programs. It has a 16.1 percent acceptance rate. Every year, approximately 46,000 students attend the University, with USC Marshall School of Business International students accounting for 28% of the total.
University Type | State |
Establishment | 1920 |
QS Ranking 2023 | 134 |
Program Offered | Undergraduate, and Masters |
Intake | Fall |
Program Fees (Annually) | Undergraduate- USD 27660 (INR 21,64464.15)Masters- USD- 25000 (INR 19,56,312.50)MBA- USD 64575 (INR 50,53,155.19) |
Admission Requirement | SAT- 1530ACT- 34TOEFL- 90 or aboveIELTS- 7 |
5. University of California, San Diego
The Institution of California, San Diego, founded in 1903, is an open research university affiliated with AAU. In 1956, the UC Regents approved the university’s degree programs in the discipline of Science and Technology. The University of California, San Diego is one of the US Public Ivy universities whose goal is to give students the same quality education as is available at Ivy League private colleges. Some of the university’s popular majors include economics, computer science, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
University Type | Open Research |
Established | 1956 |
QS Ranking 2023 | 53 |
Programs Offered | Undergraduate, MBA, and Masters |
Intake | Summer |
Program Fees (Annually) | Undergraduate- USD – 44402, (INR 34,74,567.51)Maters- USD- 55242, (INR 40,88,067.11)MBA- USD -56777.74 (INR 44,43000) |
Admission Requirement | IELTS-7TOEFL iBT- 83 |
6. Pomona College
Pomona College is a private higher learning school founded in 1887. The college follows a semester-based academic calendar and has around 1,703 undergraduate students. It has 600 courses and 48 majors to choose from. It has a 9 percent acceptance rate. Pomona is a member of the Claremont Colleges consortium, which allows its students to take classes at the consortium’s other six colleges: Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, Scripps College, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont Graduate University, and Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences.
University Type | Private |
Established | 1887 |
QS Ranking 2023 | NA |
Program Offered | Undergraduate, and Masters |
Intake | Summer |
Program Fees (Annually) | Undergraduate- USD 75094, (INR 58,76,293.24)Masters- USD 56248, (INR 44,01,546.62) |
Admission Requirements | TOEFL- 100IELTS- 7 |
7. University of California, Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz is a California public university unlike any other, blending the intimacy of a small liberal arts college with the depth and rigour of a big research university. It was founded in 1965 and is one of ten campuses in the University of California system. Being affiliated with one of the most well-known university branches, this university has shown to be unique in many aspects. This university has never failed to create good alumni due to its large campus and attractive setting.
University Type | Public |
Established | 1965 |
QS Ranking 2023 | 375 |
Program Offered | Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD |
Intake | Fall, Winter, and Spring |
Program Fees (Annually) | Undergraduate- USD – 43779 (INR 34,25,816.20)Masters- USD 43820 (INR 34,29,024.55)PhD- US 3814 (INR 29,84,55.04) |
Admission Requirements | IELTS-80TOEFL iBT- 6.5 |
8. Orange Coast College
Orange Coast College (OCC) is a public community college that was founded in 1947 and began operations in 1948. It is among the best colleges in California and is a member of the Coast Community College District, having been fully accredited under Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The university also offers financial assistance to qualified candidates. Deserving students receive scholarships based on their academic achievement and financial need. The college also provides four High School Scholarship chances to graduating high school students each year.
University | Public |
Establishment | 1948 |
QS Ranking 2023 | NA |
Programs Offered | Degree, and MBA |
Intake | Fall |
Program Fees (Annually) | Degree- USD- 26140 (INR 20,45,520.35)MBA- USD 35781 (INR 28,28140) |
Admission Requirements | TOEFL- 61 (Internet)/ 500 (Paper Based)IELTS- 5.5 |
9. Claremont Mckenna College
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is an American private liberal arts college located in California. It was founded in 1946 and provides high-quality education with a focus on finance, international relations, and public affairs. CMC is a non-profit corporation that is part of the Claremont Colleges consortium of seven institutions. Students can attend classes at any of the member colleges as a result of this. Students get the best infrastructure in the form of sharing libraries, sporting facilities, student health services, and other student amenities.
University | Private |
Establishment | 1946 |
QS Ranking 2023 | na |
Programs Offered | Undergraduate, Masters, and Dual Degree |
Intake | NA |
Program Fees (Annually) | Undergraduate- USD- 60175 (INR 47,08,844.19)Masters – USD 35000 (INR 27,38,837.50)Dual Degree- NA |
Admission Requirements | SAT- 1440ACT- 33 |
10. Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College (HMC) is a private college in Claremont, California established in 1955. It is part of The Claremont Colleges, a prestigious network of universities. Harvey Mudd College has seven academic departments. The University’s departments include engineering, biology, computer science, social sciences, and physics. Admission at Harvey Mudd is exceedingly tough, and the college is known for its strong academic ethos.
University | Private |
Establishment | 1955 |
QS Ranking 2023 | NA |
Programs Offered | Bachelor (Major) |
Intake | Fall |
Program Fees (Annually) | USD- 62617.81 (INR 49,00,000) |
Admission Requirement | TOEFL- 100IELTS- 7.5SAT-1530 |
With this list of universities in California for international students, you will have enough options to select and seek admission for the respective course. If you are keen to know more about the best universities in California, connect with Yocket professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Universities in California
Ques. Is California a good place to study higher education?
Ans: Yes, there are some famous universities in California that offer the best education. Moreover, the students will have a good practical working knowledge too.
Ques: Is there any college offering free education in California?
Ans: No, every student has to pay tuition fees to seek a program in the University of California. However, there are financial grants offered to students that will help in aiding the education.
Ques. Why is California the best for International students?
Ans: High academic standards, a diversified culture, and other factors are among the reasons why international students want to study at the best California colleges.
Ques: What are four systems of higher education in California?
Ans: California Community Colleges, Universities of California (UC), California State Universities (CSU), and Private Colleges are the four main options for in-state higher education systems.
Ques: What are the top courses to study in California?
Ans: Popular courses to consider when studying in California include business studies, law, management, arts, and music.