10 Best Universities in California for International Students (2026 Guide)

It is no wonder that many students planning to study in the USA are looking for the best colleges in California. California is a dreamy land that offers a mix of scenic views and vibrant cities.

Best universities in California

The State of California is home to many top-ranked universities that are among the world’s best. Here's the list of the best universities in California as per the U.S. News Rankings 2023. 

Rank	University	Times Higher Education Ranking
1	Stanford University	3
2	California Institute of Technology	6
3	The University of California, Berkeley	8
4	The University of California, Los Angeles	21
5	The University of Southern California	65
6	The University of California, Santa Barbara	64
7	The University of California, Irvine	95
8	The University of California, San Diego	32
9	The University of California, Davis	63
10	Pepperdine University	-

As you can see, the majority of the top universities in California are also listed in the top 100 universities in the world!

When looking for the best colleges in CA, you cannot ignore Stanford University. The University of California system, which is a network of partner universities throughout the state, is one of the best university systems in the USA. The University of California, Berkeley, Los Angeles and San Diego are among the best in this system. California Institute of Technology, popularly known as Caltech is another leading institution that focuses on computing, engineering and science and technology and attracts a lot of international applicants.

If you are interested in studying at the best colleges in CA, get in touch with our experts and they'll guide you for free.

Why Study in California?

• In many ways, California represents the microcosm of the USA; it is one of the largest states in the country.
• With a strong expatriate community of people from around the world, the state offers a vibrant and diverse populace of people.
• California is home to some of the world’s biggest business ventures like Apple and Chevron and the celluloid dream world of Hollywood is also a part of California. Be it agriculture, technology, entertainment or manufacturing, the state is an important economic hub.
• Silicon Valley - the valley of dreams where fortunes are made in board rooms and design labs; the technological hub of the world is also based out of California.

Cost of Studying in California

Just like any other destination, the cost of studying in California, USA, varies based on the institution and course you choose. Here are some approximate numbers for different subject areas:

• Business: Starts from 6.5 lakhs per year
• Arts: Most courses cost around 12 lakhs/year. But you will also find some starting from 5.5 lakhs/year
• Engineering: Starts from 5.5 lakhs/year MS (12 lakhs/year)
• Computer Science and IT: Tuition fees can range from 7 lakh to 30 lakhs, with a majority of them around 12 lakhs.

Scholarships offered by universities in California

International students are not eligible for a variety of scholarships offered by the federal and state governments. Most need-based scholarships are available to U.S. students only. Here are some scholarships offered to international students by institutions in California.

Scholarship name	Scholarship Details
Raoul Bertrand Scholarship in Classics	Offered by: San Francisco State University Offered for: Undergraduate Humanities courses Criteria: Academic excellence Amount: Not specified
Google-Anita Borg Scholarship	Offered by: San Francisco State University (Graduate Studies Division) Offered to: Female juniors and graduates enrolled in computer science, computer engineering, and closely related fields Amount: Around 80,000 rupees
American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) - Student Summer Fellowship	Offered by: San Francisco State University (Graduate Studies Division) Offered to: Graduating senior or first or second-year graduate student in economics or related field, as well as entering law school. Amount: Not specified

Entry requirements to study in California

For Business-related:

• Undergraduate: Should be a high school graduate or equivalent
• IELTS score of 5.5 or above is expected
• Some institutions ask for a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above
• Be above 18 years of age
• Postgraduate: A bachelor’s degree (Some courses require your degree is in a relevant subject)
• An IELTS score of 6.5 or more

For Arts-related:

• Undergraduate: High school graduate or equivalent qualification
• Minimum of 18 years old
• IELTS score of a minimum of 5.5 – 6.0
• GPA of 3.0
• Postgraduate: A Bachelor’s degree
• B average in an undergraduate course
• IELTS of 6.5 or above

For Engineering courses:

• Undergraduate: Should be 18 years or older
• IELTS score of a minimum of 5.5
• Should be a high-school graduate or have any equivalent qualification.
• Average of 80% marks.
• Postgraduate: B average in undergraduate coursework
• IELTS score of 7.0 (For some MS courses)

For Computer Science and IT courses:

• Undergraduate: Should be at least 18 years of age
• An IELTS score of 6.0 is expected
• Postgraduate: A Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• An IELTS score of a minimum of 6.5

Please note that the entry requirements will vary across universities and courses. You should thoroughly go through the admission criteria before planning your application.

Popular colleges in California for international students

To get into a premier university like Stanford or Caltech the applicant needs to have a good academic score and the tuition fee charge is also a premium. Though these universities offer scholarships and fellowships, the number of applicants competing for them is quite high. Let us look at the key universities in California that attract a steady number of Indian students to their campuses every year.

1. Stanford University

Stanford University is based right in the heart of Silicon Valley in California. The year 2021 sees Stanford celebrating 135 years of academic excellence. Currently there are more than 16,000 students enrolled in a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.  Applied Physics, Business, Computing, Energy Resources Engineering, Genetics and IT are some of the most popular subject areas at Stanford. The University comprises seven schools and is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities. Stanford University ranks 3rd in the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Courses popular among Indian students:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Computer Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Physics
• Master of Science in Computer Science

Tuition fee:

The cost of undergraduate courses at Stanford is around 39 lakhs per year and postgraduate courses might cost you around 40 lakhs per year. Head to our site to read some student reviews on Stanford University.

2. California Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology is based out of a massive 124-acre campus in Pasadena. The institution started as Throop University in 1891 and the current name was adopted in 1920. Popularly known as Caltech, the university prides itself on having 1 staff per 6.3 students. The biggest strength of Caltech is its restricted student strength. A small university with lofty goals, Caltech continues to draw the best minds to its campus. California Institute of Technology ranks second according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. NASA has a strong connection with Caltech and more than 100 research and mission collaborations have been conducted so far.

Popular courses among Indian students:

One of the courses that Indian students go for, at this university is: The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

Tuition fee:

Their undergraduate and postgraduate courses will cost you around 38.6 lakh rupees per year.

3. University of California System

The University of California started in 1869 and today it is one of the largest public research university systems in the USA. Known popularly as the UC system, there are over 238,000 students enrolled across the ten UC campuses. Among these campuses, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and UC Los Angeles are extremely popular among Indian students. The Internet Research Initiative is an exciting research project at UCLA. Opportunities are available for undergraduate students to work on projects that would help define the usability and security standards of the Internet for the next generation. If you would like to apply to any of the institutions in the University of California System, reach out to our counsellors for expert advice. 

Check out which are some of the popular courses at these institutions:

The University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley ranks 8^th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023. Find out what students say about this institution which is one of the best in CA.

Popular courses:

• Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
• Master of Laws
• Master of Science in Computer Sciences
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Master of Arts in Statistics

The University of California, San Diego

The University of California San Diego ranks 32^nd in the World University Rankings 2023 by Times Higher Education.

Popular courses:

• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Business Analytics
• Master of Science in Bioengineering
• Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences
• Bachelor of Science in Management Science

You might be interested in reading reviews about this institution, submitted by current and past students of UCSD.

University of California Los Angeles

UCLA ranks 21 on the list of the best universities in the world. No wonder it is one of the best colleges in CA.

Popular courses picked by Indian students:

• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Computer Systems
• Master of Science in Information Systems
• Master of Science in Business Administration
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

4. University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is in Los Angeles. It is one of the oldest private universities in California. It ranks 63^rd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. They have an Association of Indian students, through which you can get oriented to USC. Their undergraduate and postgraduate courses cost around 40 lakh rupees per year. The University is one of the best colleges in CA and the reviews on our site are a testimony of the same. According to a survey by Princeton Review, USC was ranked as one of the ‘Top 10 Dream Colleges’.

Courses popular among Indian students:

• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Electrical Engg
• Master of Science in Engg management
• Master of Construction Management
• Master of Science in Applied Data Science
• Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering
• Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering
• Master of Accounting (Data and Analytics)

5. California State University

California State University popularly known as CSU and Cal State is the largest university system in the USA with 23 campuses spread across the state and over 460,000 students and over 47,000 faculty members. CSU is consistently ranked among the most affordable university systems in the USA, and this is one major reason that attracts several international students to CSU. Undoubtfully, they are some of the best colleges in CA. With top-quality teaching, excellent student support and numerous student clubs to choose from, CSU offers a world-class learning experience. CSU Fresno, CSU Fullerton and CSU Long Beach are some of the most popular CSU campuses.

California State University, Long Beach

California State University Long Beach is a research-oriented, public university. Its undergraduate and postgraduate courses cost around 11 – 13 lakhs per year.

Popular courses that Indian students apply to:

• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Information Systems
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering

California State University, Fresno

California State University, Fresno offers courses in Accountancy, Animal Service, Biotechnology, Engineering and Education.

Popular courses picked by Indian students:

• Master of Science in Computer Science
• Master of Biotechnology
• Master of Science in Engineering
• Master of Science in Industrial Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University was originally started as an institution for training school teachers. It became a state university in 1972.

Courses popular at San Francisco State University:

• Master of Science in Psychology (Clinical)
• Master of Science in Biology (Microbiology)
• Master of Science in Physics (Astronomy)
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Popular colleges in California - Subject-wise

Californian universities for Business Studies

• Irvine Valley College
• Claremont Graduate University
• Mission College
• MiraCosta College
• Golden West College

Californian Universities for Arts

• California State University Northridge
• Middlebury Institute of International Studies
• The University of La Verne
• California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
• California State University Sacramento

Californian universities for Engineering

• Irvine Valley College
• Foothill-De Anza Colleges
• Colleges of Contra Costa
• California State University Northridge
• California State University Long Beach

Best universities in California for Computer Science and IT

Our website lists more than 100 institutions in California offering Computer Science and IT courses.

• California State University, San Bernardino
• California State University, San Marcos
• California State University, Sacramento
• California State University, Long Beach
• The University of La Verne

Life as a Student in California

If it is a major city like San Francisco or LA, chances are your costs would be higher. But you would have numerous part-time work opportunities and there is a strong Indian community in these cities. Explore the state during your vacations; if you are a travel junkie, you will love the sheer variety of natural beauty that the state offers to you. The legendary Route 101, which is the longest active highway in the USA, is a must-drive route that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States. The iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco which has been featured in innumerable movies is another tourist spot that you should explore.

FAQs on studying in California

Is California good for international students?

Yes, just like any other city in the USA, California is also popular among Indian and other international students. California also has some of the top-ranking universities in the world. It is also popular as a tourist destination. 

Where can I study in California?

There are more than 100 higher education institutions in California. You can pick the right one for you based on the course you want to study, the expenses involved, accommodation options and other criteria that matter to you. Head to our site to explore different universities in the USA.

How much does it cost to study in California?

Though the cost of your study depends on the course and university you choose, it is safe to say that you will be able to find cheaper options too. Tuition fees at universities in California can range from 5 lakh/year to more than 35 lakhs/year.

California truly offers some of the best universities in the USA. Be it in terms of costs or choice of courses there is some university or the other that caters to every budget. Get in touch with us for expert advice and we will help you find the right course and university in California. If you would like to explore a large number of institutions in the USA and find the ones that suit you best, just try out our Course Matcher tool. Answer a few questions and our system will pick the best institutions based on factors that matter the most to you.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in April 2016. Our content writer Roshna Mohan has edited it to include up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.