California is one of the world's top economies and is a global hub for entertainment, information, education, and technology industries. California is a big contributor to the agricultural, aerospace, and manufacturing sectors on a national scale, which is why many institutions have developed high-quality, low-cost engineering and technology programs, among other things. There are some best colleges in California that not only attract Indians but students from other countries too.
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.
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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:
- Stanford University
- The University of California, Berkeley
- California Institute of Technology
- University of Southern California
- University of California, San Diego
- Pomona College
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- Orange Coast College
- Claremont Mckenna College
- Harvey Mudd College
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- 100 TOEFL PBT- 570 IELTS - 7.0 PTE- 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- 1330 ACT- 29 TOEFL- 80 IELTS- 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- 1507 ACT- 36 TOEFL- 80 GRE- 293 IELTS- 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- 1530 ACT- 34 TOEFL- 90 or above IELTS- 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-7 TOEFL 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- 100 IELTS- 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-80 TOEFL 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- 1440 ACT- 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- 100 IELTS- 7.5 SAT-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.