It's no secret that California is home to some of the best universities in the country. With so many options, it can be hard to decide which California State University (CSU) is the best for you. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a list of the top CSU schools in the state, including the renowned University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) located in Beverly Hills, CA. When it comes to choosing a college, there are many factors to consider. CollegeVine's ratings take into account a number of criteria, such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-teacher ratio, median income, and cost of attendance.
You can find the entire CollegeVine ratings here.
San Diego State University
San Diego State University (SDSU) is a great choice for students who love the outdoors. With its near-perfect climate and beautiful campus, it's no wonder Cosmopolitan ranked SDSU as the eighth most beautiful campus in the country and one of the best surf schools in the country. SDSU also excels in academics.It was only the second university in the U. S. and the first in California to offer a specialization in LGBTQ+ Studies.
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the California State University System.The school has a unique history: W. K. Kellogg donated the core of the Cal Poly campus to the California State University System, provided that the land was used for educational purposes and traditional horse shows. Today, horses and students call Cal Poly Pomona home, and the university is committed to caring for Kellogg's herd of horses in perpetuity.
San Jose State University
Founded in 1857, San Jose State University (SJSU) is the oldest public institution of higher education in California and the oldest campus in the California State University System.SJSU is Silicon Valley's largest provider of business graduates and entry-level engineers, and it has a strong reputation for improving economic mobility for its students.
California State University Fullerton
California State University Fullerton (CSU Fullerton) is home to more than 1,200 international students from 72 different countries. In addition to its 388-acre main campus, CSU Fullerton also has a 1,011-acre farm located in one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. In 1997, Fresno State Winery became the first commercial winery located on a college campus. Students produce up to 10,000 boxes of 20 or more varieties per year, with grapes sourced from its 120-acre campus vineyard.Don't think it's just farmland that surrounds CSU Fullerton – it's California's sixth largest city! Yosemite National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are just an hour away.
California State University Chico
Founded in 1887, California State University Chico (CSU Chico) is the second oldest school in the California State University System and sixth oldest public university in the country. Not only is CSU Chico one of the best schools in Cal State, but it's also one of the greenest – it ranks 49th on Sierra Club's list of greenest universities. It's easy to be car-free at CSU Chico – most students live, learn and work within walking or biking distance from school.California Maritime Academy
The California Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) ranks 11th (for in-state students) and 17th (for out-of-state students) on Payscale's list of best value universities (for context, Stanford is 18th on this list and Harvard 19th).San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University (SF State) attracts students from all walks of life – The Wall Street Journal ranks SF State 5th in the nation for diversity. The school's Ethnic Studies College was established in 1968 and was one of the first to recognize systematic inequalities in society. Diversity at SF State extends beyond campus – many graduates find employment at companies such as Apple, Google, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo and Oracle.Stanislaus State
Stanislaus State is located between coastal cities Seaside and Marina – making it an ideal starting point for students looking to explore all that Golden State has to offer. It's within walking distance from Bay Area, Monterey, Big Sur, Yosemite National Park, Sierra Nevada and even California's state capital. Students who want to stay close to home will find plenty to keep them busy on Stanislaus' campus – there are more than 80 student-led organizations, 14 college sports teams, 10 sororities and six fraternities.Cal Poly Humboldt
Cal Poly Humboldt offers students an opportunity to bridge STEM fields with humanities – an approach that has earned them high point-of-sale observation posts.
According to Money Magazine, Cal Poly Humboldt ranks 51st... < p >Applications for Cal State schools are made online through Cal State. Only students who have met the 15-unit A-G requirement are eligible for admission into a California State University System school. California residents will need to score a 2.5 GPA in these classes to be considered for admission while out-of-state students will require a 3.0 GPA in these core classes..
