2020 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area

Best Colleges

53 results

Stanford University
4 Year
Stanford, CA
1,176 reviews
#1 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Freshman: For lack of better words, Stanford University is a one of a kind university. The cleanliness, architecture, art, and general energy of the campus are all of positivity, engagement, and other things of that sort. Whenever I am there, interacting with the students, faculty, and employees of the various stores and cafes there, it is a very, very welcoming environment. The bookstore has an amazing selection of books, and I always love looking at the selections of readings at its various libaries. Furthermore, every single interaction with professors that I have had, I have enjoyed them and am very much of the belief that they have been for the better. I am truly glad that I will be a part of the incoming Stanford class of 2024.
Read 1,176 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
4% Acceptance Rate
$17,271 Net Price
1420-1570 SAT Range
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University of California - Berkeley
4 Year
Berkeley, CA
4,033 reviews
#2 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Freshman: I am currently an out of state freshman at Berkeley over halfway through my second semester. I was wary of having high expectations of Berkeley and buying into the cultivated image of perfect inclusion, challenging and inspiring intellectualism, and care for social justice/activism. Even though I tried to manage my expectations, they were disappointed. THAT BEING SAID, I'm glad I am a student at Berkeley. It is the best and the worst, wonderful and terrible, and for me, that feels like a fairly accurate representation of how the world is today. If you would describe yourself as an idealistic person, yes, come to Berkeley! But be prepared to hold onto your values tightly.
Read 4,033 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
15% Acceptance Rate
$17,862 Net Price
1320-1530 SAT Range
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Santa Clara University
4 Year
Santa Clara, CA
1,371 reviews
#3 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Sophomore: I am a rising sophomore at Santa Clara University, and my experience thus far has been amazing to say the least. Coming into a four year university as a Latinx first-generation student was nerve-wracking at first; I wasn't sure how well I would adapt to a new environment. However, I was immediately received with open arms in a community that prides itself in acceptance, diversity, inclusion, and bronco spirit! Throughout my first year, I became involved in activities such as Associated Student Government, Mecha-El Frente, Campus Ministry, and the Office of Multicultural Learning. I have been able to find an incredible support system, long-life friends, outstanding professors, a social residential learning experience, and an active student life. In addition, the academics are extremely strong as professors prioritize their students, meaning that they put the well-being and success of those they teach in order to prepare them appropriately for future careers.
Read 1,371 Reviews
A+
Overall Niche Grade
50% Acceptance Rate
$41,545 Net Price
1270-1440 SAT Range
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University of San Francisco
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
2,137 reviews
#4 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Freshman: USF is an amazing university! One of the things I love most about the campus is the positive environment between students. Everyone you meet genuinely wants to help you succeed and see you succeed. One thing that's great is that USF doesn't do "rank-based" grading and we have direct-entry programs, so it really fosters an environment where you don't feel like you're competing with others.

Professors really care about seeing you do well in their classes too. Many of them encourage attending office hours and the small classes means that it's not packed all the time.

The city has tons of amazing opportunities too! There's lots of options to build your career.
Read 2,137 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
65% Acceptance Rate
$34,475 Net Price
1130-1330 SAT Range
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Saint Mary's College of California
4 Year
Moraga, CA
1,039 reviews
#5 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Alum: I had an amazing experience at Saint Mary's! The campus is beautiful and extremely quiet, I loved that I was able to experience the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area and then return to our gorgeous campus tucked away in the hills. I always felt safe on campus and included and part of the community. The classes were also very engaging, the round table discussions we had helped to sharpen my speaking and critical thinking skills. The seminar classes allowed me to discuss the Great Books from writers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle among many others with my peers. My favorite program at SMC was our 4-1-4 schedule, that let me explore out of my major. Saint Mary's also has an amazing Career Center that helped me be able to graduate with a job at a Fortune 500 company. Overall I enjoyed SMC and encourage everyone to visit and consider attending if you are looking for small classroom sizes, great discussion, and a well rounded education.
Read 1,039 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
77% Acceptance Rate
$35,332 Net Price
1060-1250 SAT Range
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Mills College
4 Year
Oakland, CA
695 reviews
#6 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Junior: As a transfer student, it can be difficult to adjust and settle in. Besides the acclimation period, I've enjoyed the professors' passionate lectures and the many academic resources. The school's culture can feel isolating at times, so you really have to put yourself out there to make connections. The food is good! The advisors are willing to work with you to create your own major.
Read 695 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
86% Acceptance Rate
$24,900 Net Price
1010-1240 SAT Range
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California State University Maritime Academy
4 Year
Vallejo, CA
139 reviews
#7 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Junior: Cal Maritime is one of a kind. It is not your typical college, hence Academy. It is mostly male dominated, but the friendships and experience are truly amazing. The ‘boat’ instructors are the best!
Read 139 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
67% Acceptance Rate
$19,965 Net Price
960-1190 SAT Range
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Dominican University of California
4 Year
San Rafael, CA
809 reviews
#8 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Freshman: Dominican University has a beautiful campus and lovely people. There is so much you can do, they offer many majors and clubs. Dominican's diversity can really be seen through their clubs, people love to host events to educate and showcase their culture. The residential halls will remind you of Harry Potter and are very comfortable spaces, there's a room with a pool table and another with a ping pong table! Dominican offers so much support, there are many tutors and mentors available and of course, counseling services. There's even a first-generation student program called Torch who helps the transition from high school and are a great support system, you can come to them for any reason. The smaller student population allows for people to really connect with their professors and advisors, which enriches the student experience.
Read 809 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
87% Acceptance Rate
$35,801 Net Price
1040-1210 SAT Range
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Menlo College
4 Year
Atherton, CA
260 reviews
#9 Best Colleges in San Francisco Bay Area
Alum: Menlo is such a special place, my experience at Menlo was amazing! I had the the best four years attending Menlo.

The Menlo community embraced me from the moment I stepped foot on campus. The faculty and staff truly care about you and are there to help you succeed not only in your academic career but also in your professional developments. Menlo offers a number of resources catered to help you succeed.

Our internship program is great, it was one of the reasons I chose Menlo. Students at Menlo are exposed to all the tools and resources the internship office offers from the moment they step foot on campus. Many of the students are offered full-time positions even before they graduate! Not only did the resources help me land the internship of my dreams, but my classes at Menlo truly prepared me for the real world. I was able to use all the knowledge and apply it to my job.

My experience at Menlo was like no other, I wish I could do it all over again!
Read 260 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
45% Acceptance Rate
$26,699 Net Price
920-1150 SAT Range
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San Jose State University
4 Year
San Jose, CA
3,928 reviews
Freshman: I said I would never apply to San Jose State because I wanted to get out of my hometown of San Jose. After being there for a year now, I cannot imagine being anywhere else. I have made so many new friends through summer orientation, living in the dorms, and all my classes. You can tell that administration truly cares about the well being of all of the students on campus, for I have had great professors thus far. I understand that because the school is located in downtown, which has a reputation of not being the safest, people may shy away from this school. However, the campus ensures that all students and faculty are safe. There is a police department right on campus as well as blue lights located at many spots around campus if you feel like you are in danger. You can even call for an escort if you feel unsafe, and to get into dorms you must have your key card and there are people are the front desk who check your ID to make sure you live there. High recommend this university!
Read 3,928 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
55% Acceptance Rate
$14,519 Net Price
1030-1260 SAT Range
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San Francisco State University
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
3,387 reviews
Junior: I am a rising junior and have had a pretty decent experience with my school so far! I really appreciate and enjoy the ethnic studies department as it allows for students to learn about various cultures and complete their general education in light of said cultures and perspectives. The gym has been remodeled in the past few years and is easily accessible to students. There are therapy dogs, panels, campus events, and more to either bring awareness to certain topics or just bring more life and "togetherness" on campus. Personally, registering for classes has been fairly easy even without the help of a counselor; although scheduling meetings with counselors has not been difficult for me either. Dining hall food is mediocre, but depending on your meal plan, is always accessible! There are (pricey) options on campus as well. I think the dorms were my least favorite part as they are way too overpriced and dirty.
Read 3,387 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
72% Acceptance Rate
$14,964 Net Price
950-1160 SAT Range
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Foothill College
4 Year
Los Altos Hills, CA
454 reviews
Sophomore: I loved my experience at Foothill College, and highly encourage returning or high school students to consider attending this college. I was a low-income, first-gen student with no idea on how to navigate higher education. I came here because of Foothill Promise, which is two years of FREE tuition AND book costs. they have a food pantry which is a lot more accessible and higher quality than other community colleges as well as four-year universities due to their concentration on solving food insecurity in their students. Campus had a good atmosphere because it is all trees and nature, so it was nice to look at it and be on campus. Immersive campus culture and had a very active student government/club life which is VERY rare in community colleges. Overall, I loved attending here because of the college administrations' personal investment in their students and equity work. Attending UCLA for the next two years as a transfer student, due to their TAP program and great counseling!
Read 454 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
100% Acceptance Rate
$6,639 Net Price
— SAT Range
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Holy Names University
4 Year
Oakland, CA
341 reviews
Alum: Holy Names provided great care for their students. The small classes helped me be able to get one on one tutoring with my Professors. Every Professor at Holy Names challenges you. The career service is amazing! They truly want to see you succeed. The counselors help students prepare for applying to jobs, give us tips, and they even offer mock interviews. The scheduling advisors are very helpful and knowledgable. They make sure every student is on track. They make sure students are taking the coordinate classes for their major.
Read 341 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
70% Acceptance Rate
$23,416 Net Price
710-870 SAT Range
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Academy of Art University
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
2,322 reviews
Senior: The Academy of Art is a highly prestigious art school that unlike others, accepts everyone if you have the money for it. The classes are often extreme and really push you to your limits in order to achieve professional level work. Sometimes instructors are harsh and often cruel, but others are extremely friendly and supportive. I often have rocky periods due to the workload and stress involved but I do not regret my time at AAU, I can see massive improvements from when I first started and know AAU is preparing me for my future career in the best way.
Read 2,322 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
100% Acceptance Rate
$29,887 Net Price
— SAT Range
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California College of the Arts
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
370 reviews
Sophomore: While no art school is perfect, CCA has an awesome community that I am glad to be part of. I'm an animation major and the community of artists are very tight-knit. Alumni are very supportive and many return to give events and advice on the industry. Professors at CCA are also very tightly associated with Pixar Animation Studios and it's very accessible to form connections with animators in the industry!

I also believe that your experience here is really what you make of it. I decided to attend CCA initially because of the scholarship and financial aid that they offered me, but I stayed for the community and because the professors and animation students are very passionate and supportive of our craft. This year, I've also become involved in Student Council and am starting a CCA UNICEF club to improve outreach and promote awareness among the art community about social issues. These activities, and the people I've met through them, have really enriched my life.
Read 370 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
88% Acceptance Rate
$40,665 Net Price
— SAT Range
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California State University - East Bay
4 Year
Hayward, CA
1,795 reviews
Alum: The diversity at CSUEB is huge! I believe we were either 2nd or 3rd most diverse college within California. I love attending CSUEB because of the area I was living in, being close to the City of San Fransisco and being able to play College Water Polo at the university level. I was very grateful to have attended CSUEB because of my teachers and coaches who were all amazing. My advisors were great when it came down to scheduling my classes around my practices and games. Overall, I would recommend CSUEB to anyone who is looking for a school near a big city and getting a great education!
Read 1,795 Reviews
C+
Overall Niche Grade
72% Acceptance Rate
$11,422 Net Price
800-1020 SAT Range
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Skyline College - San Bruno
4 Year
San Bruno, CA
439 reviews
Sophomore: I had attended Skyline College, a community college, ever since I was a junior in high school through their program Middle College, and then attended there afterwards for my Associates Degree within Business. I enjoy this college because of the faculty and staff, if you are well involved with your counselors you will be on track to success. The staff is not only knowledgable but accepting of and understanding to hear about your personal life. Skyline is always finding ways to interact with their students, providing them with the tools and resources they need to survive not only in college but also in life.
Read 439 Reviews
C+
Overall Niche Grade
100% Acceptance Rate
$4,403 Net Price
— SAT Range
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Notre Dame de Namur University
4 Year
Belmont, CA
489 reviews
Senior: Great university if you love small and intimate class sizes. The university is a catholic university but as well a commuter school which means many of the students are commuters. The university does a lot of community work which is really amazing helping and giving back to the community. NDNU is located in Belmont CA, which is a very low-key area but it has easy access to San Francisco and San Jose. The school has a good sports program, men and women's soccer are wonderful to watch as well as men and women's basketball and men's lacrosse. Men's and women's cross country always does well, the university has added men and women track and field so the sports scene has grown which makes student life better.
Read 489 Reviews
C+
Overall Niche Grade
82% Acceptance Rate
$26,913 Net Price
870-1060 SAT Range
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Gurnick Academy - San Mateo Campus
4 Year
San Mateo, CA
99 reviews
Graduate Student: What I enjoyed about Gurnick was the strict rules I had to adhere to to ensure that I was getting the most out of my education and my money. After researching different Psychiatric Technician programs, Gurnick had offered me the opportunity as other schools had either a waiting list or a lottery process. Although the program is very expensive compared to going to a junior college, Gurnick’s fastrack program pushes you to the limit of recognizing your strengths, weaknesses, and overcoming your anxiety and fears. The disadvantages would be the cost of the program, and at times, the disorganization, but everything is resolved in due time. As a recent graduate from the Psychiatric Technician program, I have learned that I was able to withstand the complex challenges & I feel even more confident in myself!
Read 99 Reviews
C+
Overall Niche Grade
100% Acceptance Rate
$25,974 Net Price
— SAT Range
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Unitek College - Fremont
4 Year
Fremont, CA
136 reviews
Freshman: When I was first interested in the lvn Program I had a hard time debating if I wanted to go through with the process and after talking to Linda and the financial aid department I decided to why not do this for my family I knew if I didn’t do it now I never would and they encouraged me and helped me through the whole process. Unitek is amazing!
Read 136 Reviews
C-
Overall Niche Grade
100% Acceptance Rate
$50,281 Net Price
— SAT Range
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San Francisco Conservatory of Music
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
78 reviews
Graduate Student: SFCM has undergone some amazing transformations in faculty, facilities, and access to local arts institutions which is quickly establishing this conservatory as one of the top student destinations in the country. SFCM is located in one of the greatest cities in the world, gives students access to the world-renowned San Francisco Symphony, as well as the SF Opera, SF Ballet, and SF Jazz. I love the community found within the walls of the Conservatory. The students are very friendly and supportive and the administration really cares about its students. In addition to performing, there are tons of opportunities to teach or gain arts administration experience. With the expansion of the Bowes Center adding practice rooms and performance spaces beginning fall 2020, SFCM is giving its students and unparalleled experience.
Read 78 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
45% Acceptance Rate
$39,799 Net Price
— SAT Range
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SUM Bible College & Theological Seminary
4 Year
El Dorado Hills, CA
39 reviews
Senior: SUM is an online accredited private christian college. Some people say they can’t learn online, or it’s just not the same as being at a physical campus, well let me tell you- I feel like I have not missed a single thing. The program and technology will leave you lacking nothing. I am so grateful that I found SUM and was able to earn my bachelors from this amazing school!
Read 39 Reviews
B-
Overall Niche Grade
66% Acceptance Rate
$21,506 Net Price
— SAT Range
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Cogswell Polytechnical College
4 Year
San Jose, CA
102 reviews
Junior: This is an amazing school if you're not looking for parties but rather for practical skills and industry knowledge. I'm in the audio program and would not study anywhere else. Most instructors care about your learning and I'm lucky to have Julius as my studio and sound design teacher, who is not only the best of the school but one of the best in the industry. I'm a junior and have been part of three Cogswell projects and I'm taking MediaWorks right now. In MediaWorks we are working with a well known large company and produce a full blown animated audio project for them. It's fast and sometimes stressful but awesome to work like you are part of an actual company. The professors give us their best advice to make it in the business that they also came from. I keep growing my professional portfolio and can't wait to start working for an audio company soon. If you're looking for practical education, put Cogswell on your shortlist.
Read 102 Reviews
C+
Overall Niche Grade
58% Acceptance Rate
$28,856 Net Price
— SAT Range
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San Francisco Art Institute
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
160 reviews
Works Here: SFAI is for students committed to discovering their unique talents who have the courage & commitment to become professional artists. Since 1871, this has been the birthplace of one important cultural movement after another from fine art photography to Burning Man. Faculty are dedicated mentors and a student-teacher ratio of 9:1 means every student receives individual attention. A spectacular waterfront graduate campus just opened where students are assigned their own studios. That's in addition to the historic campus where Kehinde Wiley, Annie Liebowitz, Barry McGee, and many other artists once studied. These well-known artists say SFAI played a critical role in development & often return for master classes, fundraising events, and exhibitions -- part of a network of influential alumni that is global in scope. Many also say that SFAI helped establish a local culture that embraces creativity, making San Francisco a hotbed of innovation across every industry.
Read 160 Reviews
C
Overall Niche Grade
95% Acceptance Rate
$47,947 Net Price
930-1160 SAT Range
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Expression College for Digital Arts
4 Year
Emeryville, CA
132 reviews
Senior: The school is great! I love the availability to be able to come back and do homework at any time or any day. The staff is very friendly and the teachers have their foot in the door in the industry that you want to get into. I feel that is key when you are starting the process into getting your degree. The tuition is a little pricey, but the school puts us first and I love it.
Read 132 Reviews
C
Overall Niche Grade
100% Acceptance Rate
$26,597 Net Price
— SAT Range
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Menlo College
4 Year
Atherton, CA
260 reviews
Alum: Menlo is such a special place, my experience at Menlo was amazing! I had the the best four years attending Menlo.

The Menlo community embraced me from the moment I stepped foot on campus. The faculty and staff truly care about you and are there to help you succeed not only in your academic career but also in your professional developments. Menlo offers a number of resources catered to help you succeed.

Our internship program is great, it was one of the reasons I chose Menlo. Students at Menlo are exposed to all the tools and resources the internship office offers from the moment they step foot on campus. Many of the students are offered full-time positions even before they graduate! Not only did the resources help me land the internship of my dreams, but my classes at Menlo truly prepared me for the real world. I was able to use all the knowledge and apply it to my job.

My experience at Menlo was like no other, I wish I could do it all over again!
Read 260 Reviews
B
Overall Niche Grade
45% Acceptance Rate
$26,699 Net Price
920-1150 SAT Range
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University of San Francisco
4 Year
San Francisco, CA
2,137 reviews
Freshman: USF is an amazing university! One of the things I love most about the campus is the positive environment between students. Everyone you meet genuinely wants to help you succeed and see you succeed. One thing that's great is that USF doesn't do "rank-based" grading and we have direct-entry programs, so it really fosters an environment where you don't feel like you're competing with others.

Professors really care about seeing you do well in their classes too. Many of them encourage attending office hours and the small classes means that it's not packed all the time.

The city has tons of amazing opportunities too! There's lots of options to build your career.
Read 2,137 Reviews
A-
Overall Niche Grade
65% Acceptance Rate
$34,475 Net Price
1130-1330 SAT Range
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Saint Mary's College of California
4 Year
Moraga, CA
1,039 reviews
Alum: I had an amazing experience at Saint Mary's! The campus is beautiful and extremely quiet, I loved that I was able to experience the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area and then return to our gorgeous campus tucked away in the hills. I always felt safe on campus and included and part of the community. The classes were also very engaging, the round table discussions we had helped to sharpen my speaking and critical thinking skills. The seminar classes allowed me to discuss the Great Books from writers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle among many others with my peers. My favorite program at SMC was our 4-1-4 schedule, that let me explore out of my major. Saint Mary's also has an amazing Career Center that helped me be able to graduate with a job at a Fortune 500 company. Overall I enjoyed SMC and encourage everyone to visit and consider attending if you are looking for small classroom sizes, great discussion, and a well rounded education.
Read 1,039 Reviews
B+
Overall Niche Grade
77% Acceptance Rate
$35,332 Net Price
1060-1250 SAT Range
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2020 Best Colleges in the San Francisco Bay AreaAbout this List

Best Programs

Students

Social Scene

Campus

Athletics

Stanford University

University of California - Berkeley

Santa Clara University

University of San Francisco

Saint Mary's College of California

Mills College

California State University Maritime Academy

Dominican University of California

Menlo College

San Jose State University

San Francisco State University

Foothill College

Holy Names University

Academy of Art University

California College of the Arts

California State University - East Bay

Skyline College - San Bruno

Notre Dame de Namur University

Gurnick Academy - San Mateo Campus

Unitek College - Fremont

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

SUM Bible College & Theological Seminary

Cogswell Polytechnical College

San Francisco Art Institute

Expression College for Digital Arts

Menlo College

University of San Francisco

Saint Mary's College of California