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Best large colleges in California

Colleges with 10,000 or more undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.

Best large colleges in California29 schools

29 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

  • Schools in California.
  • Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
  • 10,000 or more undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
  • Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
  • Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

  1. 1

    University of California-Berkeley

    Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+

    • 33,078 undergraduates
    • 93% graduate
  2. 1

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+

    • 21,023 undergraduates
    • 92% graduate
  3. 3

    University of California-Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Exceptional: Compass grade A

    • 33,040 undergraduates
    • 93% graduate
  4. 4

    University of California-San Diego

    La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Exceptional: Compass grade A

    • 33,792 undergraduates
    • 86% graduate
  5. 5

    University of California-Irvine

    Irvine, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Exceptional: Compass grade A

    • 29,503 undergraduates
    • 87% graduate
  6. 6

    California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

    San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Top 4% for earnings

    • 21,559 undergraduates
    • 86% graduate
  7. 7

    University of California-Santa Barbara

    Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Exceptional: Compass grade A

    • 23,232 undergraduates
    • 83% graduate
  8. 8

    University of California-Davis

    Davis, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Top 7% for graduation

    • 31,797 undergraduates
    • 86% graduate
  9. 9

    San Diego State University

    San Diego, CA · PublicHonor Roll

    Exceptional: Compass grade A

    • 34,050 undergraduates
    • 76% graduate
  10. 10

    California State University-Long Beach

    Long Beach, CA · Public

    Excellent: Compass grade A-

    • 34,243 undergraduates
    • 69% graduate
  11. 11

    University of California-Santa Cruz

    Santa Cruz, CA · Public

    Top 14% for graduation

    • 17,812 undergraduates
    • 75% graduate
  12. 12

    University of California-Riverside

    Riverside, CA · Public

    Top 13% for graduation

    • 22,646 undergraduates
    • 76% graduate
  13. 13

    California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

    Pomona, CA · Public

    Top 13% for earnings

    • 24,455 undergraduates
    • 68% graduate
  14. 14

    San Jose State University

    San Jose, CA · Public

    Top 8% for earnings

    • 27,111 undergraduates
    • 69% graduate
  15. 15

    California State University-Fullerton

    Fullerton, CA · Public

    Top 7% for low net price

    • 37,125 undergraduates
    • 70% graduate
  16. 16

    MiraCosta College

    Oceanside, CA · Public

    Top 5% for low debt

    • 11,707 undergraduates
    • 41% graduate
  17. 17

    Rio Hondo College

    Whittier, CA · Public

    Top 1% for low debt

    • 17,193 undergraduates
    • 25% graduate
  18. 18

    California State University-Chico

    Chico, CA · Public

    Top 20% for earnings

    • 13,160 undergraduates
    • 63% graduate
  19. 19

    California State University-Fresno

    Fresno, CA · Public

    Top 8% for low net price

    • 21,430 undergraduates
    • 57% graduate
  20. 20

    California State University-Sacramento

    Sacramento, CA · Public

    Top 14% for low net price

    • 28,268 undergraduates
    • 56% graduate
  21. 21

    California State University-San Bernardino

    San Bernardino, CA · Public

    Top 3% for low net price

    • 16,067 undergraduates
    • 55% graduate
  22. 22

    San Francisco State University

    San Francisco, CA · Public

    Top 16% for earnings

    • 20,756 undergraduates
    • 50% graduate
  23. 23

    California State University-Northridge

    Northridge, CA · Public

    Top 8% for low net price

    • 32,429 undergraduates
    • 57% graduate
  24. 24

    California State University-San Marcos

    San Marcos, CA · Public

    Top 16% for low net price

    • 14,246 undergraduates
    • 55% graduate
  25. 25

    California State University-Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, CA · Public

    Top 3% for low net price

    • 21,527 undergraduates
    • 53% graduate

Compare cost and outcomes

SchoolNet price a yearMedian debtEarnings 10 years outGraduation rate
University of California-Berkeley$13,481$13,000$92,44693%
University of Southern California$32,740$18,000$92,49892%
University of California-Los Angeles$12,548$14,000$82,51193%
University of California-San Diego$12,470$15,500$84,94386%
University of California-Irvine$14,251$15,000$80,73587%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$16,665$18,500$90,76886%
University of California-Santa Barbara$16,109$13,993$74,91583%
University of California-Davis$14,741$13,000$80,83886%
San Diego State University$15,364$15,000$64,90976%
California State University-Long Beach$10,440$14,289$64,40369%
University of California-Santa Cruz$17,890$16,666$68,39675%
University of California-Riverside$14,304$17,500$67,69976%
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$11,531$16,000$71,90268%
San Jose State University$13,760$15,000$78,98869%
California State University-Fullerton$6,555$13,750$62,95170%
MiraCosta College$7,339$9,000$43,84541%
Rio Hondo College$14,379$5,500$44,95025%
California State University-Chico$14,480$16,552$64,17263%
California State University-Fresno$7,000$14,505$61,24457%
California State University-Sacramento$9,338$15,000$64,87656%
California State University-San Bernardino$4,564$14,715$59,97755%
San Francisco State University$12,278$15,371$68,07750%
California State University-Northridge$7,021$13,872$59,11557%
California State University-San Marcos$10,229$17,350$62,90855%
California State University-Los Angeles$3,967$13,000$59,21153%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

This list in other states

The national list → · All top school lists →

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