Best Colleges in California
California is 163,696 square miles and contains the largest higher education system in the nation. Colleges in California include notable institutions such as Stanford University, CalTech, and UCLA. The Golden State is known for birthing the American film industry as well as the Internet, and its economy centers around professional and business services, educational and health services, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality. California has a largely mediterranean climate, but can range from polar to subtropical depending on region. The Golden Gate Bridge, Palm Springs, Yosemite National Park, and Universal Studios Hollywood are primary tourist spots. Lesser known hot spots in Cali include Victorville’s California Route 66 Museum, the Redwoods in Arcata, and the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Preserve.
How Were the Top Schools in California Chosen?
Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.
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Nestled between several mountain ranges and national forests, Mt. San Jacinto College is a community college with campuses in the southern California towns of Banning, Menifee, San Jacinto, and Temecula. Upon completing 60 units of coursework at MSJC...
This college provides me with all of the basic classes I need to transfer to a 4-year college and still provides classes that spark my interests, such as Environmental Science Lab and World Religions. Classes are educational and small enough to get...
” – Noelle from Murrieta, CANapa Valley College is a public, 2-year institution established in Napa, California, with a satellite facility located in St. Helena. The college offers associate’s degree, certificate, and noncredit programs in over 50 fields of study, including...
It's a junior college, don't expect state of the art, on the cutting edge of technology, but do expect to learn the basics. You've got to start somewhere and fore getting your GE's out of the way there's not better option. Much more culture and age...
” – Jonathan from Fairfield, CAOhlone College is a 2-year community college in Silicon Valley that offers degrees and certificates in 197 areas of study. The college draws from a diverse population and its student body hails from 40 countries. One of Ohlone’s most unique academic...
Ohlone College offers a great deal of support for their students. They truly want each student to be successful. I would strongly recommend them to anyone else wanting to go to college.
” – Angela from Newark, CAOrange Coast College is a two-year community college serving Orange County, California. OCC is one of the largest community colleges in the nation and offers an honors program, as well as a transfer center that hosts visits from 4-year colleges to...
Depending what you want to Major in or what your course is there are some teachers that are great and some that arent as great. I suggest you use ratemyprofessor.com before actually signing up for a class. Other than that most of the teachers hear at...
” – Bill from Kenai, AK
Palomar College is a public community college operating one main campus and three academic centers around San Diego County, California. Many students choose to study the social sciences, fire prevention and safety technology, or paramedic training...
Classes are good, just be sure to pay attention and not fall asleep during lectures!
” – CateRio Hondo College is a public, 2-year institution located in Whittier, California. Along with the main campus, RHC also maintains satellite centers in El Monte, South Whittier, Santa Fe Springs, and Pico Rivera. The college offers a wide variety of...
The college is very student oriented and offers tons of classes not only on campus but online and at several other sites to expand to all students.
” – Martin from El Monte, CA
Sacramento City College is a public, 2-year institution located in the state of California. Along with the main campus, SCC also maintains two academic centers in Davis and West Sacramento. Students attending SCC’s main campus can take advantage of a...
sacramento city college is a great place to meet new people. the professors are kind and gives attention to every student. the campus is beautiful and the classes are also very easy to find.
” – Karen from Elk Grove, CASaddleback College is a 2-year community college based in Mission Viejo, California, with an open admissions policy. It is part of the California Community College system and confers professional certifications and associate degrees. Eligible...
This school has given me the tools and confidence to compete with any other student at any major university. For the most part the professors are great and easily accessible however there are a few exceptions. As a student who is transferring into a...
” – Chad from Dana Point, CA
San Diego City College is a public, 2-year institution established in the state of California. Among the school’s many degree and certificate program options are many unique areas of study, such as Chicano Studies, Futures Studies, and Dance...
A school containing friendly people with a variety of cultures religions and styles. Nice but strict teachers of which explain their lectures more than well. Recycling and clean environment located close to a beautiful ocean view!
” – Christina from El Centro, CASan Diego Miramar College is a public, 2-year institution established in the state of California. The campus features a number of resource facilities for students to utilize, such as the Academic Success Center, which offers independent study spaces...
miramar college has fantastic teachers and staff. the new campus, which is still in progress, is convenient with most classes in the same building. also the classes are not packed.
” – Catherine from Poway, CASan Jose City college is the oldest 2-year community college in Santa Clara County, California. Featuring one of the highest transfer rates to 4-year institutions in the Bay Area, SJCC has entered into transfer admission agreements and guarantees...
Santa Ana College is a public, two-year institution established in the state of California. Along with the main campus, the college also maintains a number of education centers for students to attend, which offer courses in ESL, law enforcement, fire...
Santa Ana is one of the best colleges Academic wise.It has been ranked one of the State leaders to transfer studens:therefore, it helps students to find their career and leads them to a successful life.
” – Mirna from Anaheim, CA
Santa Barbara City College is a community college that can grant associate degrees and professional certificates. SBCC is a two-year institution with a high transfer rate to 4-year institutions around California. It has an open admissions policy and...
From On-Campus Tutoring in every subject you will be taught to Volunteer Tutors through the Phi Theta Honor Society, you will have no reason to ever get less than a B. The school's Gateway Program will ensure you a gateway to success with tutors also...
” – Courtney from Goleta, CA
With campus a short distance from the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica College is a 2-year community college in the greater Los Angeles area. SMC grants associate degrees and certificates in more than 80 academic fields of study. In addition, Santa Monica...
Every school has its pros and cons, especially when it comes to the faculty. Fortunately most of the professors at SMC are top notch, many have taught and still teach at great schools such as UCLA. I recently took a business course and it put me at...
” – Amanda from Los Angeles, CA
Santa Rosa Junior College is a 2-year institution located in the state of California. The college maintains two campuses, with one in the city of Santa Rosa, and one in the city of Petaluma. Students of SRJC can take advantage of the college’s wide...
As a college freshman I anticipated the work load to be different than that of high school. It was. But it also was doable. I liked the fact that the class I was in wasnt too big. I felt that whenever i raised my hand i would be heard. I learned a...
” – Cynthia from Sausalito, CASierra College is an open-admission, 2-year community college based in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Rocklin, California. Sierra is the only community college in the nation with an academic press, and it also boasts the Sierra Art and Natural...
Sierra offers a wide variety to start off the undecided student. They will get you started and on the right path for you.
” – Robert from Roseville, CASkyline College is a 2-year community college that groups a number of related fields of study into four concentrations called Meta Majors—the equivalent of academic departments. Skyline employs counselors specializing in each Meta Major and several...
i am leanring alot about myself at skyline beacuse it gives me the chance to get to know myself and what type of course i can handle and i also teaches me how to be indepent.i learned how to transition from a high schol student to a productive...
” – jalisa from daly city , CASolano Community College is a public, 2-year institution located in Fairfield, California. SCC offers day, evening, and weekend classes in order to accommodate students with scheduling limitations. The college’s Degree and Certificate catalogue is...
I am currently a nursing major at Solano, though I am not applying to their nursing program, and their science department is fantastic! I have learned so much through the materials provided by the school, studious classmates with the same...
” – Sophia from Vallejo, CASouth Baylo University is an acupuncture training academy with campuses in Los Angeles and Anaheim. SBU prepares students for healthcare careers by offering master’s degrees and doctorates in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. For international...
With a campus located between San Diego and the US/Mexican border, Southwestern College is the only 2-year community college in the southern part of San Diego County. In order to serve this well-populated region, Southwestern offers over 320 degree...
On my first year at Southwestern College I was in the Transfer Institute Program, which is a one year program designed to increase the number of students transferring to a university. Being in the TI has been a awesome experience and also very...
” – Michelle from Chula Vista, CA