Colleges in California: Three Public Systems Plus a Large Private Sector

California organizes higher education differently from most states, and knowing the structure saves time when you search. The state's public colleges fall into three systems, each with its own governing board, admission rules and campuses. Beside them sits a large group of private universities, career schools and religious seminaries, licensed and overseen separately. The listings on this page cover all of these types, from Bakersfield College in Kern County to Claremont Graduate University in Los Angeles County.

The three public systems come from the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, which gave each a distinct job. The University of California operates ten campuses, including Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. It focuses on research and doctoral education. The California State University has 23 campuses and emphasizes bachelor's and master's programs with a professional focus. Its Chancellor's Office is listed in our database at 401 Golden Shore in Long Beach, phone 562-951-4000.

The California Community Colleges are the largest system, with 116 colleges grouped into local districts. They offer associate degrees, certificates, job training and the first two years of a bachelor's degree. Clovis Community College, at 10309 North Willow Avenue in the Fresno area, and Bakersfield College, at 1801 Panorama Drive, are two examples in our records.

Not every listing is a traditional campus. You will also find specialty institutions such as Church Divinity School of the Pacific on Ridge Road in Berkeley, Academy for Jewish Religion-California on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Each has its own admission process, so match the type of school to your goal before you start calling.

Who Oversees Colleges in California

Each segment answers to a different body. The Regents of the University of California govern UC, and the system's central office is in Oakland. The CSU Board of Trustees governs the state university system from the Long Beach office. Community colleges work differently. Each district has a locally elected board of trustees, while the Board of Governors and the Chancellor's Office in Sacramento set statewide policy.

Private schools fall under the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, usually shortened to BPPE, which is part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. The California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 requires most private institutions to hold approval to operate. The bureau takes student complaints and publishes information on approved schools. Some established, accredited nonprofit universities are exempt from that approval process, so a missing entry is not always a warning sign. Ask the school directly if you are unsure.

Accreditation is a separate check. Four-year colleges in California are usually accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, while community colleges answer to the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Federal student aid generally requires accreditation, and so does transferring credits to another college. Programs that lead to a license, such as nursing, vocational nursing or cosmetology, must also meet standards set by the relevant state board. California cut the cosmetology training requirement to 1,000 hours in 2022, which matters if you are comparing schools such as Cinta Aveda Institute in San Francisco or California Beauty School in Modesto.

Closed Schools and Older Records

Some records in any large college database describe schools that have since closed. ITT Technical Institute ended operations in 2016, Argosy University closed in 2019, and the Brightwood College campuses closed in 2018. If a listing shows one of these names, call before you travel. If you need transcripts from a closed school, contact the BPPE, which can tell you where student records were sent.

How Colleges Differ Across California Regions

Geography shapes your options more than almost anything else. Los Angeles County has the densest concentration, with 126 listings in the city of Los Angeles alone. They range from graduate schools in Claremont to the Carrington College campus at 901 Corporate Center Drive in Pomona. Commutes are long, so check class schedules and parking before you commit to a campus across the basin.

The Sacramento area has a different character because it is the state capital. Sacramento County includes career-focused schools such as Anthem College on Lincoln Village Drive and Chamberlain University-California at 10971 Sun Center Drive in Rancho Cordova. The state's community college system office is also based here, which makes the region a hub for policy as well as instruction.

In the Bay Area, institutions are smaller and more specialized. Alameda County lists the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences at 1600 Broadway in Oakland alongside the seminary in Berkeley. In Santa Clara County, Cogswell College sits at 191 Baypointe Parkway in San Jose, close to the technology employers that its programs target.

The Central Valley has fewer campuses spread over more distance. Fresno County has Clovis Community College, and Carrington College-Stockton and California Beauty School in Modesto serve the northern valley. Many students here commute 30 minutes or more, so online and hybrid courses are common. In the Inland Empire, Intercoast Colleges-Riverside and American Career College-Ontario serve a fast-growing population with short vocational programs.

Rural northern and eastern counties often have only one community college for a very large area. If that describes where you live, ask about online courses and satellite centers. Calbright College, a statewide online community college created by the Legislature, is another option for adults seeking short job-training programs.

Costs, Aid and Eligibility Rules in California

Community colleges are the lowest-cost route. The enrollment fee is set by state law, and it has been $46 per unit for several years. The California College Promise Grant waives that fee for qualifying low-income students, and many colleges also waive fees for first-time, full-time students under the California College Promise. Confirm current amounts with the college, since the state budget can change them.

The California Student Aid Commission runs the Cal Grant program. You apply with the FAFSA, or with the California Dream Act Application if you qualify under AB 540. The main deadline is March 2, and community college students have a second deadline of September 2. Residency for in-state tuition generally requires a year of physical presence in California along with intent to remain. AB 540 offers an exemption for students who attended and graduated from a California high school, generally after three years.

If you plan to transfer, ask a counselor about the Associate Degree for Transfer. It guarantees admission to the CSU system, though not to a specific campus or major, once you finish the required units with the minimum GPA.

Checklist Before You Enroll at a Private Career School

Public colleges and universities in California offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The California state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 254 cities across California. They are spread across 45 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in California should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

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Students in California applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many California institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across California to find the nearest location.

Finding a College Near You Across California's Counties

California has 58 counties, and our database covers colleges in 45 of them. Your next step depends on your goal. Degree seekers should begin with the public campuses closest to home, while people pursuing a license in cosmetology, dental assisting, massage or nursing often compare private career schools as well.

Large counties contain many separate college communities. In San Diego County, listings run from the city of San Diego to El Cajon, where Advanced Training Associates operates on Gillespie Way. In Orange County, Concordia University-Irvine, American Career College-Anaheim and the former Argosy University site in the city of Orange are within a short drive of one another, which makes side-by-side comparison practical.

Before you visit, call the admissions or registrar's office and ask about application dates, orientation and tours. Most community colleges place new students into transfer-level English and math using high school records rather than placement tests, under AB 705. Bring a photo ID, high school or college transcripts, and your financial aid information.

Colleges in California: Frequently Asked Questions

State law sets the enrollment fee per unit, and it has been $46 per unit for several years. A full-time load of 12 units comes to about $552 per semester before books, supplies and any campus fees. Students who qualify for the California College Promise Grant have the enrollment fee waived, and some colleges also waive fees for first-time, full-time students. Rates can change with the state budget, so confirm the current figure with the college's financial aid office before you register.

Start with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, which publishes the approval status of the schools it oversees. Then confirm accreditation with the accrediting agency and the U.S. Department of Education. Ask for the School Performance Fact Sheet, which reports completion, job placement and licensing exam results, and read the enrollment agreement before you sign. California law gives you the right to cancel, generally through the first class session or the seventh day after enrollment, whichever comes later. A school that pressures you to sign immediately deserves extra scrutiny.

The main Cal Grant deadline is March 2 for students starting college the following fall. A second deadline of September 2 applies to students attending a California community college. File the FAFSA, or the California Dream Act Application if you qualify under AB 540, and make sure your GPA is submitted and verified. The California Student Aid Commission administers the program and posts current deadlines and award amounts. Missing March 2 can cost you a year of aid, so file as early as you can.

The Associate Degree for Transfer, created by SB 1440 in 2010, guarantees admission to a CSU campus, though not to a specific campus or major, once you complete 60 transferable units with the required minimum GPA. UC offers Transfer Admission Guarantee agreements with several of its campuses. Your general education courses follow a statewide pattern called Cal-GETC. Meet with a community college counselor every term so your courses match the major you want, and check each target campus's deadlines.

Contact the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, which can tell you where student records were transferred and which remedies apply. The Student Tuition Recovery Fund may reimburse eligible California students for certain losses when a school closes. Students with federal loans may also qualify for a closed school discharge from the U.S. Department of Education. Gather your enrollment agreement, payment receipts and loan paperwork, and act quickly because each remedy has deadlines. Closures such as ITT Technical Institute in 2016 and Argosy University in 2019 left many California students with these same questions.

Yes. Under AB 540, students who attended a California high school for the required period, generally three years, and graduated can pay in-state tuition at public colleges regardless of immigration status. They can apply for state aid, including Cal Grants and the California College Promise Grant, by filing the California Dream Act Application instead of the FAFSA. Federal aid requires eligible immigration status. Public campuses have a designated liaison for undocumented students, so ask the financial aid or admissions office to connect you.