2022 Colleges with the Best Professors in California

• Stanford, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.09 out of 5  1,229 reviews

Alum: Now, 60+ years after a Stanford BSME, I am astoundingly grateful for a rounded undergraduate engineering education that led to 1) a succession of rewarding employments, and through those, 2) development of cultural appreciation and of language capability in Malaysian/Indonesian - employment experiences in human relations and communication that made me a more effective and versatile engineer. So to Stanford, thanks for getting me off to a great start! T. Savage, Seattle... Read 1,229 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 5%

• Net price $20,023

• SAT range 1420-1570

• Pasadena, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  126 reviews

Junior: Great academic and research environment. Amazing people all around, from students to faculty. Only problem is the administration.... Read 126 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 7%

• Net price $26,591

• SAT range 1530-1580

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  3,853 reviews

Sophomore: For context- current sophomore who started at USC online, majoring in Communications but has taken classes from across disciplines -Academics: overall good but definitely some terrible professors who either have favoritism, are unclear with expectations, or bad w grading. But the majority of professors are really good -Environment: if you're intimidated by rich, judgmental people, this is not the place for you. A lot of the culture is exclusionary towards ppl who work or who don't partake in certain activities (ex: Greek life) But when you get through the superficial aspect you can meet some really awesome, interesting friends! -facilities: very very nice- great gyms, dining halls, dorms Overall: a great school with a lot of resources, so be sure to look into your major specific resources bc they offer so much! Just be warned that it's not the easiest place to go to if you don't fit a certain mold.... Read 3,853 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 11%

• Net price $39,759

• SAT range 1340-1530

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  5,304 reviews

Graduate Student: As soon as you walk on to campus you feel accepted; a feeling of home and success takes over the atmosphere and you’re right there in middle of it all. Breathe it in. Yes! That’s the smell of success at a high rate. I absolutely love the aesthetics of the University of California at Los Angeles, and UCLA also is the home of many successful and professional individuals across the globe. I plan to attend UCLA to obtain my doctorate degree in Public Health this upcoming Spring. God has always provided for me in so many ways than just one. When I first visited the University of California at Los Angeles I was intrigued by the beauty of how the campus and its landscape. Now, I get to join the talented and eager minds that embody this institution of higher learning. The most important thing I want to learn while studying there is how to improve the lives and mental health of our communities, cities, state and eventually on a larger scale and globally. Thanks for the opportunity to share!... Read 5,304 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 14%

• Net price $16,474

• SAT range 1300-1530

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  412 reviews

Alum: Aside from all of the aspects Pomona promotes as the reasons in favor of attending, I have to say that the relationships I forged with faculty, staff, and my fellow majors (Public Policy Analysis) contributed in large part to my success in undergrad and beyond. The Career Development Office in particular helped me perfect my job-hunting skills, and tailor my resume to ensure I was always putting my best, most relevant self out there. The alumni network is robust, and folks are always willing to lend a helping hand when it comes to connecting current students and other alums to jobs or people who can lift them up. Thanks to the CDO, I was able to land a great internship that legitimized my thesis research to a point where I was able to create valid policy solutions to address the problems I was trying to solve, which is why I chose Pomona in the first place. So glad to have had the opportunities and experiences that I did! My life shifted for the better because of Pomona.... Read 412 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 9%

• Net price $30,392

• SAT range 1390-1540

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  421 reviews

Sophomore: Claremont Mckenna College is an amazing academic institution. Every student here is so passionate and loves to learn. Claremont has an incredible, close knit-community that is incredibly supportive. My professors all are so kind and involved. I love CMC! Sko nas!... Read 421 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 13%

• Net price $22,004

• SAT range 1330-1500

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  139 reviews

Alum: My relationship with Harvey Mudd is quite messy and convoluted. No single experience will suffice to describe in its entirety; however, hopefully there is something helpful to you in my description! Let's begin. One thing I will say, Harvey Mudd is very difficult. I assume you already know this if you are looking into it, but I want to stress that you will most definitely be challenged. There are many classes to get through, and they are very rigorous. There were a lot sleepless nights, several of which spent in the engineering basement. The constant flow of problem sets, quizzes, midterms and projects will keep you busy to say the least! That being said, there is a wonderful support system at Mudd. Being in graduate school now, I really miss the accessibility to professors and student tutors. Mudd does a really amazing job of fostering collaboration with fellow peers and you guys will grow very close from all the shared struggle. I miss spending every night with them studying!... Read 139 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 14%

• Net price $37,192

• SAT range 1490-1570

• Santa Barbara, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  4,549 reviews

Freshman: This school has amazing scenery, which is vital for motivation to study. The environment here is friendly, and the professors truly care about students. The student resource building is especially helpful and welcoming, with free tutoring, a LGBTQIA+ space, printers, a women’s center, and other clubs! I would like to see more accessible resources to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), as many students are not able to receive the mental health treatment they need. The waitlist for appointments is nearly 3 months, which is not ideal for struggling college students. Overall, this school is great for those who admire a sunny/ cool environment, and a welcoming space.... Read 4,549 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 37%

• Net price $17,223

• SAT range 1230-1460

• Berkeley, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  4,217 reviews

Freshman: UC Berkeley has a variety of student experiences academic opportunities. In terms of common/popular majors, seeing from my first year, many students study Computer Science/EECS, Data Science, Psychology, or Pre-Haas (Business). However, one of the biggest disadvantages of the Berkeley/Bay Area area is the high cost of living. In addition, UC Berkeley only guarantees dorm housing for first-years, so figuring out arrangements for off-campus housing in the future is a burden many students have to face early into their college experience. But as long as you stay on top of your research, and keep in mind your budget, that can be overcome. Overall, the key to success at UC Berkeley is awareness. Be grounded in your goals and taking the initiative to reach them!... Read 4,217 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 17%

• Net price $19,329

• SAT range 1310-1530

• Davis, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  4,790 reviews

Alum: Davis is an amazing school, one of the most prestigious in the world! These are some little-known aspects, but it's hip, liberal, fun, artsy, and stunning! It's #1 in sustainability in the world. Sierra Club rated it a top 10 coolest school. It's one of the top 10 happiest colleges in the US! It's the quaintest college town, probably the only true college town in CA or even the Western US. The downtown is so dreamy, with art galleries, coffee shops, vintage clothing shops, and everything you'd expect in a college town. It's such a magical place! Picnic Day is the largest student-run event in the US. The sunsets are beautiful. And of course, the education is top-notch. I had a STEM major, and it was extremely rigorous, maybe approaching the level of UChicago. The worse thing about UCD is it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Stereotypes abound, and people don't realize how fabulous it is. It's extremely hard to get into, so anyone there is very smart and hard-working. Go Aggies!... Read 4,790 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 46%

• Net price $17,026

• SAT range 1160-1400

• La Jolla, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  3,719 reviews

Alum: Overall, my experience at UCSD was very positive. The academics can be intense at times, however I never felt helpless in my courses. There are many opportunities to seek guidance, but it is up to the students to find them. Even though my experience at UCSD was a great one, I have a lot of friends who had completely different experiences simply because they were in a different major or a different college within UCSD. The difference between the GE requirements per college is insane! Getting admitted into Revelle or ERC means you must be prepared for a rigorous writing series regardless of your major. I believe the UCSD experience is what you make of it. You can find your niche, but you have to be willing to put yourself out there to find it. Location wise you have easy access to the beach, a great selection of food and shopping, with reasonable housing prices, so in that regard UCSD has a lot going for it.... Read 3,719 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 37%

• Net price $15,222

• SAT range 1270-1480

• Riverside, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  3,467 reviews

Freshman: UCR is a surprisingly good school with relatively high and rigorous academic standards, a great student population that takes interest in campus and university activities. It's a reasonable drive away from Los Angeles, but still maintains a somewhat quaint feel. Although it's one of the lesser known Universities in the UC system, it doesn't get the credit that it's due, many of the students here worked incredibly hard in High School, and continue to do so, on the same level of students at most other UC's (except maybe Berkeley). Not a first choice due to the lack of recognition and prestige (if you care about such things), but academically and socially a great place to be!... Read 3,467 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 57%

• Net price $11,948

• SAT range 1080-1280

• Irvine, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  4,043 reviews

Alum: I'm a student graduated in 2019. After graduating 2 years, I realized how great our university is. To be honest, I miss UC Irvine badly. Our campus is extremely beautiful, safe and clean, and there are unlimited opportunities there for you to discover, whether academic research projects or entertainment activities. Our professors are great, intelligent and amiable! They do care students and trying to help us as much as possible. Moreover, UCI also has abundant resources around interdisciplinary subject such as Human-Computer Interaction, and I've done two different research projects there with best professors in this area! Overall speaking, I absolutely love UCI and the 4 years I've spent in here is amazing and unforgettable. I spent my best youth in this best school!... Read 4,043 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 30%

• Net price $13,106

• SAT range 1230-1430

• Merced, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  2,129 reviews

Sophomore: Although the area is definitely more rural and it is difficult to adjust to how early businesses close (compared to LA), the people are great, the professors work to ensure you succeed, and the campus is increasingly growing. If you put yourself out there, you're sure to find community and a safe environment. There is also an endless supply of resources and opportunities. I'm sure those who get to experience campus life in person (I missed out on the first year bc of the pandemic) will find there is much more to love!... Read 2,129 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $13,578

• SAT range 960-1140

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  479 reviews

Sophomore: In my first year at Occidental College I had a very enjoyable experience. I am a varsity swimmer and loved my experience as a D3 athlete. In addition to the community I built around athletics, the communal dorm allowed me to create other friendships as well! As an athlete, food is an extremely important aspect of my life. The dining halls food is great, and much better than many other colleges'. Outside of athletics, I had countless amazing experiences with professors. All of my professors cared about me as a person and student. I went to most of my classes very excited to learn from incredible professors. On days when I was not swimming or in school, I enjoyed the surrounding area. My friends and I can take a very short walk to York, where the restaurants are delicious and the stores are delightful. My overall experience at Oxy has been very positive. One of my only negative experiences has been with the finical aspect of the school, although this significantly varies per person.... Read 479 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 41%

• Net price $41,102

• SAT range 1270-1460

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  635 reviews

Niche User: I loved this place! I did a domestic exchange program for a semester. Nice dorms, friendly student body, good food in the dining hall, and cool classes. A lot of fun classes on pop culture and media studies. It was a nice break from my sad, east coast liberal arts college. It was a bit easier than I anticipated it to be, more consistent assignments throughout the year rather than huge final projects like I was used to, but classes at Pomona or Scripps will amp up your workload. Still, like any college, it's just about the classes you take. Con: HUGE wealth gap here between students. First gen solidarity is strong here though. Such a pretty campus, and amazing Latinx Student Union which I joined while I was there.... Read 635 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 17%

• Net price $30,095

• SAT range 1300-1450

• Azusa, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.77 out of 5  2,729 reviews

Graduate Student: Azusa Pacific University (APU) Christ-centered institute that helps students of all ethnic, national, cultural, gender, and religious backgrounds to succeed in their academic goals. In fact, my experience has been extremely life-changing to where I found my vocational calling in ministry and my spouse! Although APU welcomes all people, even those international, I would like to see a change in student demographics. In other words, white-caucasian students represent the majority. I would like to see more students of Latin descent, African-American descent, Pacific Islander descent, Asian descent, and others not mentioned. I believe that Azusa Pacific University's reputation would strengthen and increase by advertising ethnic diversity.... Read 2,729 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 67%

• Net price $31,367

• SAT range 1030-1260

• Los Angeles, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  1,688 reviews

Niche User: This school has an absolutely amazing atmosphere and campus life! I honestly would not wish to attend college anywhere else. The environment is so uplifting and having classroom sizes that average to about 20 people is unbelievably great. The location of the school is spectacular and the city life, as well as beaches, are so great!... Read 1,688 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 50%

• Net price $48,758

• SAT range 1210-1390

• Santa Cruz, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.53 out of 5  3,874 reviews

Freshman: My experience so far the UCSC has been fantastic! The campus is gorgeous, set right in the middle of a gigantic forest and only a short bus ride from the beach, which is perfect if you have a penchant for the outdoors. While dorms/housing/food vary in quality depending on where you stay on campus (such as Kresge being only apartments versus Porter being primarily dorms) the dorms as a whole tend to be on the rather small size, and past Sophomore year housing isn't guaranteed. The teachers for the most part are excellent and really care about what they teach, though some can be more eccentric than others. A lot of people say this college has no party scene, but the amount of "kickbacks" I've stumbled past might beg to differ. Note, this school (as with all Universities) has a no drug policy but amongst students is notorious for having a large amount of students who do weed recreationally. If this is a negative or positive is up to your own interpretation.... Read 3,874 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 51%

• Net price $17,842

• SAT range 1160-1360

• Orange, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  2,207 reviews

Freshman: So far it's good! The departments you reach out to reply quickly and answer your questions; they really do try to provide the best help they can. Professors are friendly and help you with questions and the path you are on. Students are friendly (though I have yet to make a friend who I feel really connected with because being a first year is hard, I have many acquaintances). Many higher up students that I've talked with are so friendly and answer any/all questions I have on their major, courses, etc and genuinely aren't bothered to answer questions. Many events at Chapman include music/theatre events (students are SO talented) sports events, connection events, and friendly clubs. Though it is hard to navigate your first year in college, I've gotten great support from professors, students who answer any questions I have, on campus job bosses, and more. Chapman does a pretty good job of listening to student concerns (getting new courses, free masks, free parking, new areas of study).... Read 2,207 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 58%

• Net price $44,327

• SAT range 1170-1350

• Claremont, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  456 reviews

Sophomore: This is my first on-campus semester, and so far I love it! The student body has a defined sense of creativity and style which is something I never thought to look for in a college. I love the amount of student-run activities happening each day around campus. Honestly, the party scene is perfect for me. There isn't something every single night, but Thursdays and Saturdays are traditionally going out days, and sometimes Fridays as well. For being told that Scripps doesn't have a great party scene, I was pleasantly surprised. I appreciate the substantial gay community, although it doesn't show in particular affinity groups. My friends that are interested in men seem pretty content, as we naturally interact a lot thru classes and events. Not a lot of peer pressure or academic competition among the students, at least for me. Resources like math help & the counseling center aren't bad (!!), but you definetly have to hunt for them. We joke that there's no administration left on campus.... Read 456 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 35%

• Net price $40,259

• SAT range 1320-1480

• Stockton, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  1,265 reviews

Alum: University of the Pacific is a welcoming community and I always feel home when I am on campus! It's the faculty, staff, and students that are always engaging and helpful. Pacific offers a great college experience with small class sizes, individual attention from professors, and strong academic programs.... Read 1,265 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 71%

• Net price $32,780

• SAT range 1080-1340

• Arcata, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  1,888 reviews

Junior: Friendly students, staff, and faculty. Fantastic ceramics program- they deserve more funding! Can be hard to register quickly for classes that you have planned for due to the amount of students coming into the school. Stunning campus, great resources widely available to students.... Read 1,888 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $15,015

• SAT range 970-1190

• Malibu, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  1,293 reviews

Alum: Pepperdine University is incredible. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there - I loved my professors, loved the location, and loved the stunning campus. Everyone there was remarkably friendly, and when I switched my major to Art History, I felt very welcomed by the department and encouraged in the pursuit of my goals. My professors were eager to offer help and advice, and it was clear that they enjoyed their careers and loved teaching and mentoring students. The other classes that I took outside of my major (as part of Pepperdine's liberal arts curriculum) were also excellent. I found my religion classes (three required) especially fascinating; given that I was not a Christian student, all the material was new for me and quite enlightening. The classes I took for my minor - Creative Writing - were also fantastic, particularly my Spiritual Writing class (taught by an outstanding professor). I had an amazing time at Pepperdine, and in all honesty, wish I could go back!... Read 1,293 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 42%

• Net price $46,550

• SAT range 1200-1410

• La Mirada, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  2,239 reviews

Freshman: The biblical studies department is the best of its kind for undergrad in the country. It has amazing professors and the education is phenomenal! I grew so much in my faith there, especially intellectually. However, unless you're naive (homeschooled, private school, sheltered, etc..) or right out of high school, you will most likely have trouble fitting in and most likely get misunderstood. It can be dangerous for transfers and older students living on campus. I've had conversations with Campus Safety and even campus safety notices it, it's called "the biola bubble." I would strongly recommend transfers and older students with more life experience to not live on campus. Other then that, fantastic education!... Read 2,239 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 64%

• Net price $34,713

• SAT range 1070-1290