California is home to the largest higher-education system in the United States, with numerous options for college students including the University of California and California State University systems, as well as community colleges and private universities. The state’s most highly attended schools include the University of California, Los Angeles, with 46,430 students, University of California, Berkeley, with 45,699 students, and University of California, San Diego, with 43,381 students. California State University, Fullerton has 41,962 students, and University of California, Davis has 40,848 students. California State University, Long Beach is the most applied-to school within the CSU system, with 39,530 students enrolled in fall 2023.
The University of California, Los Angeles, is ranked as the No. 1 public university in America, tied with UC Berkeley, according to U.S. News & World Report 2024 rankings. UCLA is also the seventh-best college for veterans among national universities and ninth in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings. UC Berkeley has nine current faculty members with Nobel Prizes and a total of 35 held by alumni, as well as 121 Olympic gold medals won by students and alumni. UC San Diego boasts accolades including five out of five stars on Money’s Best Colleges in America 2023 list, third place among public schools on Forbes’ 2023 list of America’s Top Colleges, and fourth among American public universities in the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities.
Cal State Fullerton, which had a student body of 41,962 in fall 2023, holds the No. 1 spot on the Wall Street Journal’s “National Champions of Affordability” bracket for 2021-2022, third place on U.S. News & World Report’s 2021-2022 “most innovative regional university in the West” list, and the Seal of Excelencia for serving Latinx students. UC Davis, with 40,848 students, is No. 1 in agriculture and forestry and veterinary science according to the 2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject, and sixth in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 rankings. Cal State Long Beach, with 39,530 students, was the most-applied-to school in the CSU system and ranked highly in promoting social mobility.
Overall, California’s higher-education system provides numerous opportunities for students to pursue their academic goals and achieve success. The state’s universities and colleges offer a wide range of academic programs and extracurricular activities, as well as resources and support services to help students excel in their studies. With top-ranked schools like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego, California continues to attract students from all over the world who are looking to further their education and make a difference in their communities. Whether students choose a public university like Cal State Fullerton or a private institution, they can expect to receive a high-quality education that prepares them for their future careers. With its diverse student population and commitment to excellence, California remains a leader in higher education in the United States.
