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 108 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!
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.
Rank |
University |
Location |
1 |
University of California, Berkeley |
Berkeley, United States |
2 |
University of California, San Francisco |
San Francisco, United States |
3 |
University of California, Los Angeles |
Los Angeles, United States |
4 |
University of California, San Diego |
San Diego, 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 |
University of California, Merced |
Merced, United States |
11 |
San Diego State University |
San Diego, United States |
12 |
California State University, Fresno |
Fresno, United States |
13 |
California State University, Fullerton |
Fullerton, United States |
14 |
California State University, Sacramento |
Sacramento, United States |
15 |
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona |
Pomona, United States |
16 |
California State University, Chico |
Chico, United States |
17 |
California State University, Los Angeles |
Los Angeles, United States |
18 |
Naval Postgraduate School |
Monterey, United States |
19 |
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo |
San Luis Obispo, United States |
20 |
California State University, San Bernardino |
San Bernardino, United States |
21 |
Sonoma State University |
Rohnert Park, United States |
22 |
San José State University |
San Jose, United States |
23 |
San Francisco State University |
San Francisco, United States |
24 |
California State University, Northridge |
Los Angeles, United States |
25 |
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt |
Arcata, United States |
26 |
California State University San Marcos |
San Marcos, California, United States |
27 |
California State University, Dominguez Hills |
Carson, United States |
28 |
California State University, Long Beach |
Long Beach, United States |
29 |
California State University, East Bay |
Hayward, United States |
30 |
California State University, Stanislaus |
Turlock, United States |
31 |
University of California, Hastings College of the Law |
San Francisco, 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 |
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.