36 Best Public Universities in California for International Students

Search Courses:

California, is one of the states in United States you should look into if you want to study in a public university. Besides providing a path towards your academic goals, you can also enjoy various activities here to make your studies abroad all worth it. In addition, studying in California can give you valuable insights into its people and the local culture.

There are 102 universities you can find in California, and 36 of them are public universities. Having these many choices makes California a great place for international students.

In this article, you’ll find out the public universities in California, with some added information on programs, tuition, and how many international students you’ll be studying with. Let’s get started!

Rank University Location
1 University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, United States
2 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, United States
3 University of California, San Diego San Diego, United States
4 University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, United States
5 University of California, Davis Davis, United States
6 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, United States
7 University of California, Irvine Irvine, United States
8 University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, United States
9 University of California, Riverside Riverside, United States
10 San Diego State University San Diego, United States
11 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, United States
12 California State University, Fullerton Fullerton, United States
13 San José State University San Jose, United States
14 University of California, Merced Merced, United States
15 California State University, Northridge Los Angeles, United States
16 San Francisco State University San Francisco, United States
17 California State University, Chico Chico, United States
18 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, United States
19 California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, United States
20 California State University, San Bernardino San Bernardino, United States
21 Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, United States
22 California State University, Los Angeles Los Angeles, United States
23 California State University, Long Beach Long Beach, United States
24 California State University, Fresno Fresno, United States
25 California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt Arcata, United States
26 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, United States
27 California State University San Marcos San Marcos, California, United States
28 California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson, United States
29 California State University, East Bay Hayward, United States
30 University of California Law San Francisco San Francisco, United States
31 California State University, Stanislaus Turlock, United States
32 California State University, Monterey Bay Marina, United States
33 California State University, Bakersfield Bakersfield, United States
34 California State University Channel Islands Camarillo, United States
35 California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo, United States
36 Southwestern College Chula Vista, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can International Students Study in Public Universities in California?

Absolutely! International students in public universities in California can pursue different program levels, but the most popular ones are bachelor’s and master’s programs.

As for tuition fees, note that these vary across specific disciplines and program levels, with some charging significantly more than others. Specifically, public universities in California charge up to 46,400 USD for bachelor’s and 45,300 USD for master’s studies.

I hope this article can help you in your search for public universities in California. Feel free to check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more about studying abroad.