Welcome to Colleges In California, your online guide to the best colleges and universities in the Golden State! California is a beautiful state with gorgeous mountains, sunny beaches, and stunning deserts. This diversity, however, is not limited to the landscape. Throughout California there is almost an endless amount of options available for those wanting to go to college. Colleges In California is your place for information regarding California colleges and some of the many options available to prospective students.
Best Colleges in California
Stanford University is not only regularly rated among the best colleges in California, but throughout the United States. Stanford is well known for both its law and medical schools. Pomona College in Claremont, California is also one of the top ranked colleges in the nation. This is a liberal arts college with a student population of approximately 1,600. The University of California at Berkeley is another school that is consistently rated among the top California universities. California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech, is a top rated school in California and throughout the country. This university, which has a low student to faculty ratio, focuses on science and engineering. University of Southern California is considered one of the best colleges in California by several publications. San Diego State University is regarded among the top institutions in California as well.
California Public Colleges
California colleges that are public are grouped in a three tier system that includes the California State University System, the University of California System, and the California Community Colleges System. Some of the many California universities that are public include the California State Universities at Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Chico, Dominguez Hills, East Bay, Fresno, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monterey Bay, Northridge, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Marcos, and Stanislaus. The University of California system includes public universities in Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. The cost to attend UCLA was approximately $15,000 a year for an undergraduate in August 2013. For an out of state student the cost was around $38,000. These were undergraduate costs.
California Private Colleges
There are dozens of private universities in California to choose from. The largest is the University of Southern California with over 30,000 full time students. There are a few that have less than 100 students. Some of the more prominent colleges in California that are private include Stanford University, with a tuition of approximately $42,000 a year, Pepperdine University in Malibu, and Harvey Mudd College in Claremont which are also excellent universities. Occidental College and Claremont McKenna College are both private liberal arts schools that have been ranked among the best institutions in California. There are several private religious institutions as well as those that provide training in fashion and the arts.
California Christian Colleges
There are several colleges in California that are Christian. A few of these include Westmont College in Santa Barbara that is nondenominational, Vanguard University in Costa Mesa that is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, and California Baptist University in La Mirada. There is also Concordia University in Irvine that is affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Hope International University in Fullteron that is associated with the Churches of Christ, and the Master’s College and Seminary in Santa Clarita that is Evangelical.
California Community Colleges
There are dozens of community colleges throughout California. Many of them have a particular focus or area of study they specialize in. The following are a few of the California community colleges and what areas they specialize in. Advanced Technology and Education Park in Tustin offers degrees in electronics and digital technologies. Berkeley City College offers students associates degrees in a variety of fields including art, business, biotechnology, and liberal arts. Glendale Community College provides students with degree options in health sciences, technology and aviation, visual and performing arts, culinary, nutrition, nursing, and television production.
Online Colleges in California
California offers more than 600 post-secondary institutions. Approximately 130 of these currently provide online programs. There are also colleges and universities that are solely located online, bringing the number to about 160. Some online college choices include Kaplan University, American Intercontinental University, and Argosy University. A few of the online colleges that also have brick and mortar schools based in California are California State University at Monterey Bay, San Diego State University, and several California State Universities. The cost to obtain an online degree is usually considerably less than a traditional college degree.
Paying For College in California
There are a lot of options when it comes to obtaining financial aid. In general, private universities in California cost the most, followed by public colleges. California community colleges would normally have a slightly lower price tag. There are dozens of grants, loans, and other types of financial aid programs available for students. Cal Grant A, B, and C are different types of financial assistance that is available only to California residents. Cal Grant A awards include competitive and entitlement based aid. These can be used at public and independent universities. Cal Grant B is for low income students. Cal Grant C is for students attending technical, vocational, and occupational programs. Other forms of assistance that are available include Federal Direct Loans, and a variety of aid for those choosing specific careers such as education or law. The California Student Aid Commission website would be a good place to look for information regarding student aid.
The colleges in California offer a wide variety of options for students to choose from. With all these options available, anyone desiring to attend school in California should find something to fit their needs.
