# List of colleges and universities in California

This is a list of colleges and universities in California.

## Federal institutions
### Graduate institutions

* Naval Postgraduate School (Monterey)

### Other academic institutions

* Defense Language Institute (Monterey)

## State institutions
### Two-year institutions

* See: List of California Community Colleges

### Four-year institutions
#### University of California

| Name | City | County | Enrollment Fall 2022 | Founded | Athletics |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley | Alameda | 45,307 | 1869 | NCAA Div. I (ACC, MPSF, America East) |
| University of California, Davis | Davis | Yolo | 39,679 | 1905 | NCAA Div. I (Big Sky, MPSF, Big West, America East) |
| University of California, Irvine | Irvine | Orange | 35,937 | 1965 | NCAA Div. I (Big West, MPSF, GCC) |
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 46,430 | 1882* | NCAA Div. I (Big Ten, MPSF) |
| University of California, Merced | Merced | Merced | 9,103 | 2005 | NAIA (Cal Pac) |
| University of California, Riverside | Riverside | Riverside | 26,809 | 1954 | NCAA Div. I (Big West) |
| University of California, San Diego | San Diego | San Diego | 42,006 | 1960 | NCAA Div. I (Big West, MPSF) |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | 26,420 | 1891** | NCAA Div. I (Big West, MPSF, GCC) |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | 19,478 | 1965 | NCAA Div. III (C2C, ASC) |
*University of California, Los Angeles was founded in 1882 as the southern branch of the California State Normal School. It joined the University of California system in 1919 as the southern branch of the University of California.
**University of California, Santa Barbara was founded in 1891 as an independent teachers' college. It joined the University of California system in 1944.

#### California State University

| Name | City | County | Enrollment (Fall 2022) | Founded | Athletics |
| California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | 22,000 | 1901* | NCAA Div. I (Big West, Big Sky, Pac-12, MPSF) |
| California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt | Arcata | Humboldt | 6,025 | 1913 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA, GNAC) |
| California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona | Los Angeles | 27,503 | 1938** | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
| California State University, Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Kern | 9,613 | 1965 | NCAA Div. I (Big West, MPSF, Pac-12) |
| California State University Channel Islands | Camarillo | Ventura | 6,128 | 2002 | None |
| California State University, Chico | Chico | Butte | 14,183 | 1887 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
| California State University, Dominguez Hills | Carson | Los Angeles | 16,426 | 1960 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
| California State University, East Bay | Hayward | Alameda | 13,673 | 1957 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA, WWPA) |
| California State University, Fresno | Fresno | Fresno | 23,999 | 1911 | NCAA Div. I (Mountain West, Big 12, MPSF, GCC, NCEA) |
| California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton | Orange | 40,386 | 1957 | NCAA Div. I (Big West, MPSF) |
| California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach | Los Angeles | 38,973 | 1949 | NCAA Div. I (Big West, MPSF, GCC) |
| California State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 26,460 | 1947 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA, PacWest) |
| California State University Maritime Academy | Vallejo | Solano | 1,017 | 1929 | NAIA (Cal Pac) |
| California State University, Monterey Bay | Seaside-Marina | Monterey | 7,045 | 1994 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
| California State University, Northridge | Northridge | Los Angeles | 37,579 | 1958 | NCAA Div. I (Big West, MPSF) |
| California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento | Sacramento | 31,818 | 1947 | NCAA Div. I (Big Sky, WAC, AAC, Big West) |
| California State University, San Bernardino | San Bernardino | San Bernardino | 19,803 | 1965 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
| California State University San Marcos | San Marcos | San Diego | 15,109 | 1988 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
| California State University, Stanislaus | Turlock | Stanislaus | 10,154 | 1957 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA, PacWest) |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | San Diego | 37,402 | 1897 | NCAA Div. I (Mountain West) |
| San Francisco State University | San Francisco | San Francisco | 25,282 | 1899 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
| San Jose State University | San Jose | Santa Clara | 35,751 | 1857 | NCAA Div. I (Mountain West, WAC, MPSF, WCC, Southland) |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park | Sonoma | 6,637 | 1960 | NCAA Div. II (CCAA) |
*California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was founded as a vocational high school. It became a vocational school in 1924, and then started awarding bachelor's degrees in 1940.
**California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, was founded as a southern branch of California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo in 1938, but became independent in 1966.

### State graduate institutions

| Name | City | County | Founded |
| California State University, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories | Moss Landing | Monterey | 1966 |
| University of California College of the Law, San Francisco | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1878 |
| University of California, San Francisco | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1899 |

## Private colleges and universities

| Name | City | County | Founded | Carnegie Classification | Profit | Athletics | Affiliation | Notes |
| Academy of Art University | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1929 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | for-profit | NCAA Div. II | --- | Arts & design |
| Alliant International University | San Diego | San Diego | 1952 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| American Heritage University of Southern California | Ontario | San Bernardino | 2003 | Not classified | for-profit | --- | --- | Business |
| American Jewish University | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1947 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | --- | Judaism | --- |
| American Management University | California | Los Angeles | 2018 | Not classified | Exempt verified private university | non-profit sponsored | International Alliance of Business Professionals (IABP) | Graduate-level business, Leadership |
| Anaheim University | Anaheim | Orange | 1996 | Not classified | for-profit | --- | --- | Graduate school |
| Antioch University | Multiple locations | --- | 1972 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| ArtCenter College of Design | Pasadena | Los Angeles | 1930 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Arts & design |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Los Angeles | 1899 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. II | Christian (interdenominational) | --- |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Los Angeles | 1908 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. II | Evangelical Christian | --- |
| California Coast University | Santa Ana | Orange | 1973 | | for-profit | | | Business, Psychology, Education. Undergraduate and Graduate |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Riverside | 1950 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I | Christian (Southern Baptist) | --- |
| California Coast University | Anaheim | Orange | 1996 | Not classified | for-profit |
| California College of the Arts | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1907 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Arts & design |
| California Health Sciences University | Clovis | Fresno | 2012 | Doctoral Universities: Health Professions Schools | for-profit | --- | --- | Healthcare, business & technology |
| California Institute of Integral Studies | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1968 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena | Los Angeles | 1891 | Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | --- | --- |
| California Institute of the Arts | Valencia | Los Angeles | 1961 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Arts, music & design |
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks | Ventura | 1959 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | --- |
| California Miramar University | San Diego | San Diego | 2005 | Special Focus Four-Year: Business & Management Schools | for-profit | --- | --- | Business |
| California Metropolitan University | Montclair | San Bernardino | 2020 | Exempt verified private university | non-profit sponsored | | International Alliance of Business Professionals (IABP) | Business, Management |
| California South Bay University | Sunnyvale | Santa Clara | 2007 | Not classified | --- | --- | --- | unaccredited |
| California Southern University | Costa Mesa | Orange | 1978 | Not classified | for-profit | --- | --- | Online |
| California University of Management and Sciences | Anaheim | Orange | 1998 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| California University of Management and Technology | San Jose | Santa Clara | --- | Not classified | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cambridge College | Rancho Cucamonga | San Bernardino | 1971 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Smaller Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Satellite campus |
| Chapman University | Orange | Orange | 1861 | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | --- | NCAA Div. III | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | --- |
| Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science | Willowbrook | Los Angeles | 1966 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools | not-for-profit | --- | HBCU | Health sciences |
| Claremont Graduate University | Claremont | Los Angeles | 1925 | Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity | not-for-profit | --- | Claremont Colleges | --- |
| Claremont Lincoln University | Claremont | Los Angeles | 2011 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Online |
| Claremont McKenna College | Claremont | Los Angeles | 1946 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | Claremont Colleges | --- |
| Concordia University Irvine | Irvine | Orange | 1976 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. II | Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | --- |
| The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone | St. Helena | Napa | 1995 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Culinary |
| Deep Springs College | Deep Springs | Inyo | 1917 | Not classified | --- | --- | --- | 2-year degree |
| Design Institute of San Diego | San Diego | San Diego | 1977 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | for-profit | --- | --- | Interior design |
| DeVry University | various | various | 1931 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | for-profit | --- | --- | 10 locations in California |
| Dharma Realm Buddhist University | Ukiah | Mendocino | 1976 | NC | Private, not-for-profit | | Buddhism (Dharma Realm Buddhist Association) | --- |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael | Marin | 1890 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. II | Roman Catholic (Dominican Order) | --- |
| Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | 1983 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Oriental medicine |
| Epic Bible College | Sacramento | Sacramento | 1974 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | Christian (non-denominational) | --- |
| Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1969 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | for-profit | --- | --- | Design |
| Fielding Graduate University | | Santa Barbara | 1974 | Doctoral Universities | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | 1970 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Public policy |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno | Fresno | 1944 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. II | Mennonite Brethren Church | --- |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena | Los Angeles | 1947 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | Christian (multidenominational) | Religion |
| Gateway Seminary | Ontario | San Bernardino | 1944 | --- | not-for-profit | --- | Christian (Southern Baptist) | --- |
| Golden Gate University | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1901 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Graduate Theological Union | Berkeley | Alameda | 1962 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Multifaith |
| Gurnick Academy | San Mateo, California | San Mateo County | 2004 | Four or more years (Baccalaureate or higher degree) | for-profit | --- | --- | Medical school |
| Harvey Mudd College | Claremont | Los Angeles | 1955 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | Claremont Colleges | Science & engineering |
| Hope International University | Fullerton | Orange | 1928 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | not-for-profit | NAIA | Christian churches and churches of Christ | --- |
| Hult International Business School | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1964 | Special Focus Four-Year: Business & Management Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Business |
| Humphreys University | Stockton | San Joaquin | 1896 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Imago Dei College | Oak Glen | San Bernardino | 2010 | Not classified | --- | --- | Evangelical | --- |
| International Technological University | San Jose | Santa Clara | 1994 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Institute of Buddhist Studies | Berkeley | Alameda | 1966 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | Buddhism (Jodo Shinshu) | Graduate School |
| Jessup University | Rocklin | Placer | 1939 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | not-for-profit | NAIA | Evangelical Christian | --- |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University | Escondido | San Diego | 2003 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | not-for-profit | --- | Roman Catholic | --- |
| Keck Graduate Institute | Claremont | Los Angeles | 1997 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | not-for-profit | --- | Claremont Colleges | --- |
| La Sierra University | Riverside | Riverside | 1992 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | not-for-profit | NAIA | Seventh-day Adventist Church | --- |
| Laguna College of Art and Design | Laguna Beach | Orange | 1961 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Arts & design |
| Life Pacific University | San Dimas | Los Angeles | 1923 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | NAIA | International Church of the Foursquare Gospel | --- |
| Lincoln University | Oakland | Alameda | 1926 | Special Focus Four-Year: Business & Management Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | San Bernardino | 1905 | Special Focus Four-Year: Medical Schools & Centers | not-for-profit | --- | Seventh-day Adventist Church | --- |
| Los Angeles College of Music | Pasadena | Los Angeles | 1996 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | for-profit | --- | --- | Music |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1911 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I | Roman Catholic (Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (Marymount Sisters), Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange) | --- |
| Make School | San Francisco | San Francisco | 2012 | Special Focus Four-Year: Applied Computer Science | for profit (B Corp) | --- | --- | --- |
| The Master's University | Santa Clarita | Los Angeles | 1927 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | not-for-profit | NAIA | Christian (non-denominational) | --- |
| Menlo College | Atherton | San Mateo | 1927 | Special Focus Four-Year: Business & Management Schools | not-for-profit | NAIA | --- | --- |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey | Monterey | Monterey | 1955 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | --- | Middlebury College | --- |
| Minerva University | San Francisco | San Francisco, California | 2011 | Special Focus Four-Year: Science, Management and Arts courses | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Global rotation(7 cities in 8 sems) |
| Mount St. Mary's University | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1925 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | not-for-profit | --- | Roman Catholic (Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet) | --- |
| National University | La Jolla | San Diego | 1971 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| New York Film Academy | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1992 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | for-profit | --- | --- | Film |
| NewSchool of Architecture and Design | San Diego | San Diego | 1980 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | for-profit | --- | Laureate International Universities | Arts & design |
| Northwestern Polytechnic University | Fremont | Alameda | 1984 | Not classified | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Business & engineering |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | Belmont | San Mateo | 1851 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | --- | Roman Catholic (Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur) | --- |
| Oak Valley College | San Dimas | San Bernardino | 2016 | Not classified | not-for-profit | --- | Christian | Business |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1887 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | --- | --- |
| Oikos University | Oakland | Alameda | 2004 | Not classified | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Open Christian University | Laguna Beach | Orange County | 2023 | Exempt Religious Provider | not-for-profit | --- | Non-denominational institution | --- |
| Otis College of Art and Design | Westchester | Los Angeles | 1918 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Arts & design |
| Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary | Berkeley | Alameda | 1950 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, California Lutheran University | --- |
| Pacific Oaks College | Pasadena | Los Angeles | 1958 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Education, psychology, social justice |
| Pacific School of Religion | Berkeley | Alameda | 1866 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ | --- |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin | Napa | 1882 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NAIA | Seventh-day Adventist Church | --- |
| Pacifica Graduate Institute | Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | 1976 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools | for-profit | --- | --- | Psychology |
| Palmer College of Chiropractic | San Jose | Santa Clara | 1980 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Doctor of Chiropractic |
| Palo Alto University | Palo Alto | Santa Clara | 1975 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Psychology |
| Patten University | Oakland | Alameda | 1944 | Baccalaureate Colleges (Diverse Fields) | for-profit | --- | --- | No longer enrolling students |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu | Los Angeles | 1937 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I | Churches of Christ | --- |
| Pitzer College | Claremont | Los Angeles | 1963 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | Claremont Colleges | --- |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | San Diego | 1902 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. II | Church of the Nazarene | --- |
| Pomona College | Claremont | Los Angeles | 1887 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | Claremont Colleges | --- |
| Providence Christian College | Pasadena | Los Angeles | 2002 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NAIA | Christian (non-denominational) | --- |
| St. John's University (California) | Temecula | Riverside County | 1969 | Baccalaureate/associate's colleges, Distance learning | not-for-profit | --- | Christian | Association of Independent Christian Colleges & Seminaries |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga | Contra Costa | 1863 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I | Roman Catholic (De La Salle Brothers) | --- |
| St. Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary | Etna | Siskiyou | 2015 | Not classified | not-for-profit | --- | Orthodox Christian | Religion |
| Samuel Merritt University | Oakland | Alameda | 1909 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Nursing, health sciences |
| San Diego Christian College | Santee | San Diego | 1970 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | not-for-profit | NAIA | Christian | --- |
| San Diego University for Integrative Studies | San Diego | San Diego | 1999 | Not classified | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1917 | Music conservatory; bachelors and masters degree in performance, composition, recording, and technology | | | | |
| San Francisco Institute of Architecture | Berkeley | Alameda | 1990 | Not classified | --- | --- | --- | Online |
| San Joaquin College of Law | Clovis | Fresno | 1969 | Special Focus Four-Year: Law Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 1851 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I | Roman Catholic (Society of Jesus (Jesuits)) | --- |
| Saybrook University | Oakland | Alameda | 1971 | Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Psychology & health sciences; online |
| Scripps College | Claremont | Los Angeles | 1926 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | Claremont Colleges | --- |
| Simpson University | Redding | Shasta | 1921 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | not-for-profit | NAIA | Christian and Missionary Alliance | --- |
| Soka University of America | Aliso Viejo | Orange | 2001 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NAIA | --- | --- |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1972 | Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Architecture |
| Southern States University | San Diego | San Diego | 1983 | Not classified | for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Southwestern Law School | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1972 | Special Focus Four-Year: Law Schools | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Law School |
| Stanford University | Stanford | Santa Clara | 1891 | Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I FBS | --- | --- |
| Starr King School for Ministry | Berkeley | Alameda | 1904 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | Unitarian Universalist | --- |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula | Ventura | 1971 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | --- | Roman Catholic | --- |
| Touro University California | Vallejo | Solano | 1997 | Special Focus Four-Year: Medical Schools & Centers | not-for-profit | --- | Judaism | --- |
| Trident University International | Cypress | Orange | 1998 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | for profit | --- | --- | Online |
| University of Massachusetts Global | Multiple locations | --- | 2009 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Union Institute & University | Multiple Locations | --- | 1964 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| University of Antelope Valley | Lancaster | Los Angeles | 1997 | Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Mixed Baccalaureate/Associate's | for-profit | NAIA | --- | --- |
| University of La Verne | La Verne | Los Angeles | 1891 | Doctoral/Professional Universities | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | Church of the Brethren | --- |
| University of Redlands | Redlands | San Bernardino | 1907 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | --- | --- |
| University of San Diego | San Diego | San Diego | 1949 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I FCS | Roman Catholic | --- |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | San Francisco | 1855 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I | Roman Catholic (Society of Jesus (Jesuits)) |
| University of Silicon Valley | Sunnyvale | Santa Clara | 1887 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 1880 | Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I FBS | --- | --- |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton | San Joaquin | 1851 | Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. I | --- | --- |
| University of the People | Pasadena | Los Angeles | 2009 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | Online |
| University of the West | Rosemead | Los Angeles | 1990 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | not-for-profit | --- | Buddhism (Fo Guang Shan) | --- |
| University of West Los Angeles | Inglewood | Los Angeles | 1966 | Special Focus Institutions (Law) | for-profit | --- | --- | Law & business |
| Vanguard University | Costa Mesa | Orange | 1920 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | not-for-profit | NAIA | Assemblies of God | --- |
| Western Seminary, Sacramento Campus | Sacramento | Sacramento | 1927 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | Christian | --- |
| Western Seminary, San Jose Campus | Santa Clara | Santa Clara | 1927 | Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions | not-for-profit | --- | Christian | --- |
| Western State College of Law | Fullerton | Orange | 1966 | Special Focus Four-Year: Law Schools | for-profit | --- | Westcliff University | Law |
| Western University of Health Sciences | Pomona | Los Angeles | 1977 | Special Focus Four-Year: Medical Schools & Centers | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Westcliff University | Irvine | Orange | 1993 | Special Focus Four-Year: Business & Management Schools | for-profit | NAIA | --- | Business and education |
| Westmont College | Montecito | Santa Barbara | 1937 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NAIA | Evangelical Christian | --- |
| Whittier College | Whittier | Los Angeles | 1887 | Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus | not-for-profit | NCAA Div. III | --- | --- |
| Woodbury University | Burbank | Los Angeles | 1884 | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | not-for-profit | --- | --- | --- |
| Zaytuna College | Berkeley | Alameda | 2008 | Not classified | not-for-profit | --- | Islam | --- |

## List of defunct institutions

| School | Location | Founded | Closed |
| Berean Bible College | Poway | 1971 | 2018 |
| Bethany University | Scotts Valley | 1911 | 2011 |
| Bristol University | Anaheim | 1991 | 2017 |
| Brooks Institute | Ventura | 1945 | 2016 |
| California College San Diego | San Diego | 1978 | 2021 |
| California Concordia College | Oakland | 1906 | 1973 |
| California Pacific University | Pinole | 1976 | 2016 |
| California Southern Law School | Riverside | 1971 | 2020 |
| Coleman University | San Diego | 1963 | 2018 |
| Drexel University Sacramento | Sacramento | 2009 | 2016 |
| Eldorado College | Escondido | 1961 | 1997 |
| Herguan University | Sunnyvale | 2008 | 2019 |
| Holy Names University | Oakland | 1868 | 2023 |
| ICDC College | Huntington Park | 1995 | 2016 |
| Immaculate Heart College | Los Angeles | 1906 | 1981 |
| John F. Kennedy University | Pleasant Hill | 1964 | 2021 |
| Marymount California University | Rancho Palos Verdes | 1932 | 2022 |
| Mills College | Oakland | 1852 | 2022 |
| Mt Sierra College | Monrovia | 1990 | 2019 |
| National Hispanic University | San Jose | 1981 | 2015 |
| San Luis Rey College | Oceanside | 1950 | 1968 |
| Shepherd University | Los Angeles | 1999 | 2017 |
| Silicon Valley University | San Jose | 1997 | 2018 |
| University of Beverly Hills | Beverly Hills | | 2007 |
| University of Northern California, Lorenzo Patiño School of Law | Sacramento | 1983 | 2013 |
| University of Northern California | Petaluma | 1993 | |
| Upland College | Upland | 1920 | 1965 |
| Washington College of Science and Industry | Irvington | 1871 | 1894 |
| Windsor University | Los Angeles | | 1982 |