Best universities in California: find options near you

A university that feels like its own little world. Stanford University is seriously impressive. The beautiful architecture, huge campus, palm trees and perfectly maintained grounds make simply walking around an experience on its own. Even without being a student, there is plenty to see and the whole campus has a special atmosphere. It feels less like visiting a university and more like exploring a very well-funded academic kingdom. Intelligence +10, student debt successfully avoided. 5/5.

I visited Mountain View for a conference and had the opportunity to explore the institution where Dr. Andrew Huberman works. I can understand why he is so proud of his teaching at this school. The campus is not only aesthetically pleasing but also teeming with intelligent individuals. I engaged in various conversations with multiple faculty and students, truly a remarkable campus.

Our family had an incredible experience at Stanford University. We dropped off our son this weekend, and we were truly impressed by every aspect of the university. Beyond the breathtaking campus and world-class infrastructure, what stood out the most was the warmth, professionalism, and genuine care shown by everyone we interacted with. The welcoming environment made this important milestone much easier for both students and families. Stanford’s commitment to excellence is evident not only in its academic reputation but also in the quality of its facilities, its innovative approach to education, and the outstanding support provided to students. We are incredibly proud, honored, and grateful to now be part of the Stanford family. Thank you for making this experience so special.

One of the world’s most prestigious universities, Stanford University, had always been a place I wanted to visit. The campus is much larger than I expected, so walking everywhere wasn’t realistic. I drove between different areas, stopping whenever I found a spot worth photographing. There was still so much I couldn’t capture, but I decided to enjoy the experience instead of trying to photograph every corner. Standing on this campus, I couldn’t help but think about the countless people who had studied here before going on to change the world. I hope to return one day with more time. For now, I’m simply grateful to have walked through this place and taken a little of its inspiring spirit with me. 🧭 HELLO VOYAGER

The Campus is huge, quiet and impressive. Saw the Rodan gardens with the doors to hell and other statues in bronze as well as the amazing architecture of the place. Walked the palm drive and was blown away by the difference between the UK universities and this one in the US

A great place to enjoy the outdoors. Plenty of grass areas to enjoy. Saw families enjoying the grassy areas and exploring the various campus buildings and life. Felt very safe and secure there.

I was there for my daughter’s graduation and found the campus easy to navigate with parking closer than I anticipated. The campus is beautiful.

Caltech is a really well designed university. I can’t say much about the classes (since I never enrolled) but according to many the classes are exceptional as well

UCLA is the largest of the UC’s, also considered as the flagship of all UC’s , in part because it houses roughly 33,000 students. Every year UCLA admits over 5,500 freshman and 3,100 transfer students. Notably one of the most beautiful campuses, located in the heart of Westwood, is full of excitement, has great teaching faculty, and wonderful staff personnel, across a plethora of majors, minors, and counseling centers, geared to provide students with the resources to thrive academically, graduate, and become leaders of the 21st century.

I went here to visit my son on his summer programs. The campus is large, with nice buildings and plazas. Not too easy to find parking space for visitors. They have a large student center and store with restaurants.

Very health conscious, clean, and gorgeous campus. The school shop has SO MANY Bruins clothing options and styles, it’s hard to choose! The staff is lovely and helpful, from the library to the stores. There are free covid tests on campus for students, too. Looking forward to a great time here! Especially with Mr. Powell, the kitty ♡

Just beautiful. We visited UCLA back in 2022 as part of a Jack Kent Cooke scholars trip and this university is amazing. The buildings have beautiful architecture and there are wide open spaces for a nice long walk.

Visited USC with my family. The campus is beautiful — classic red-brick architecture, plenty of green space, and a calm, welcoming atmosphere. It’s open for visitors to walk around and soak in the academic vibe. USC Village nearby has restaurants and shops, which is convenient for a break. A pleasant place for a stroll, and nice for families wanting to experience a well-known American university campus. Worth a visit.

Went in at the ‘wrong ‘ time. Place was full of students, some looked real good. Big selection courteous service. Only some of my old time favorites I couldn’t find like frozen mushrooms fettuccine dinner etc. The hundred feet line to the cashier cleared up in five minutes. I wish it hasn’t bc the beauty I was talking to ended too soon. No problem, next time might be luckier.

Great university. Attended a graduation ceremony. Well organized.

I had an amazing experience visiting University of Southern California. The campus is absolutely beautiful, with well-maintained grounds, impressive architecture, and plenty of green spaces that make it a pleasant place to walk around or study outdoors. The university has a vibrant and energetic atmosphere. Everywhere you go, you can feel the sense of community among students, faculty, and staff. There are lots of resources available, from libraries to student centers, which makes it easy to find support whether you’re studying, doing research, or participating in campus activities. One of the things I appreciated most was how organized and accessible the campus is. Signage and maps make it easy to navigate, and the staff I interacted with were friendly and helpful, always ready to answer questions or provide guidance. The range of academic programs and opportunities for involvement is impressive. From cutting-edge research facilities to engaging student organizations, USC clearly fosters both personal and professional growth. Overall, University of Southern California is a top-notch university with a beautiful campus, strong community, and excellent resources. Whether you’re a student, visitor, or prospective applicant, it’s definitely worth experiencing firsthand.

They really care. I enjoy being Dr. Hassan’s patient. He explains everything. Best Dentist I have ever had. Thank you for excellent service.

Very nice campus. However, the building style are pretty much same styles within the campus. This place is so well maintained it is so clean. I saw at least 10 security guards within my one hour visit. And the whole campus is well confined within its own boundaries. I believe it must be very safe within the campus. It is a private school and has lots of good programs. The tuition is not cheap. I think that is why they can maintain such a good program and environment.

There were not many people or students walking around making it a nice walk from TH target bruxien and crumbl. Parking was the biggest flaw that it was ticket less. It could have been better if the camera records your license plate so you can exit and just go without asking for an entry

We were at the hospital and beyond a doubt some of the best, most professional; yet personable staff I’ve ever had the opportunity to come across. They took amazing care of my Mom, so thank you UCSD!

In my opinion, UC San Diego is clearly the stronger choice over UC Davis. UC San Diego offers higher academic upside, stronger research opportunities, and better pathways for ambitious students. UC Davis, by contrast, can feel more focused on social polish and networking optics than pure merit. Too often, success seems tied less to talent or hard work and more to knowing how to flatter the right people and play the game. That kind of culture can frustrate serious students who expect achievement to be earned. Add in concerns about lower long-term earnings outcomes like $58k after ten years, and it raises bigger questions about whether the environment truly rewards excellence. For students who want a place driven by performance and opportunity, UC San Diego would be the better choice.

The staff here is very nice, an extremely helpful. Our appointment was located on P7, which, by the way, means plaza level 7. Because there is a level below, What appears to be the first level. For the life of me, I could not find it. And I wandered into a random office and asked them. They explained to me where it was located. That was slightly confusing but other than that definitely recommend.

I had a breast MRI on 7/8 and they told me 5 business days for the results. Tomorrow will be 2 FULL weeks and still no results. My doctor and cancer coordinator has requested them several times to post my results to my chart. The cancer in my body is growing and I don’t know what stage it is and I can’t get surgery to remove it until we ALL get the results of this MRI. If you can’t handle the work load, farm it out or hire more people. I shouldn’t have to suffer waiting while cancer is growing in my body for you people to get your act together. This is unnaceptable! This was my only choice having kaiser permanente as health insurance or I would have gone somewhere else.

Compared with UC San Diego, UC Davis feels seriously underwhelming. UCSD has a stronger modern reputation, a more exciting academic environment, better connection to tech, biotech, medicine, research, and coastal California opportunities. Its location near major innovation hubs gives students access to industries and networks that feel much more valuable for long-term career growth. UCSD feels ambitious, competitive, and globally relevant. UC Davis, by contrast, feels overrated and too dependent on the UC name. For the cost of attending school in California, the outcomes do not look impressive enough. Reported employment-related indicators, including an employment outcomes score around 33.3/100 and salary figures around $58k ten years after enrollment before taxes, raise real concerns about return on investment. That number does not go far in California after rent, taxes, transportation, and basic living costs. Safety is another issue applicants should not ignore, especially with reports of assaults and campus security concerns. UC Davis may be a good fit for some specific programs, but overall it does not compare well with UCSD. UC San Diego feels stronger, more future-focused, and much more worth the investment.

As much revenue as this facility generates, they wouldn’t go out of business if they didn’t charge for parking. Which is a MAJOR problem at both La Jolla and Hillcrest medical centers – especially since they don’t validate for patients. Enough of a problem to consider another healthcare provider. The quality of service does not compensate for this issue. Not everyone especially those with mobility issues can afford upscale parking lot fees. Would gain extra star (whoopee) if parking policy addressed…

We came to visit. Ali, she was our tour guide. Fantastic, she gave us a good tour and answered all our questions. I am sure she is a success and will have great future. University is amazing 7.5 times bigger than Disney land and library has 5 billion, plus books. We loved it. Came back for parents day. Informative.

Review 1: as the parent of a graduate student, this experience has been rich with experiences and opportunity. Review 2: campus visit for the gardens is amazing. There are so many varieties of plants and flowers. I’ve never seen many of the varieties there. The campus is meticulously maintained and great care taken to create beautiful spaces.

Great UC school. Nice campus and dorms. They have great weather. Good eating places near by and beautifully maintained city nearby unlike other UCs like Berkley and LA. It’s also close to the beaches.

UCI is a great place to spend an afternoon or to wait for an evening flight at John Wayne Airport. I had a dragon fruit gelotto and had a great conversation about statistics with a random undergrad I met. I flew into Orange County for my meeting that started at 10:00 AM. I didn’t know when the meeting would end so I booked the return flight for 6:00 PM. The meeting got out at 1:00 PM and I spent the extra time hanging out at UCI.

Merry Wives of Windsor was a Wonderful evening of fun! The multi talented cast of characters were perfect! Shakespeare’s comedy is updated with new music, songs, dance and costumes. We loved it!

My kids attended UC Irvine, and I can honestly say it is a fantastic university. The campus has become so nice lately, the new apartments in the main area have such a sleek, futuristic look! The professors are genuinely kind and helpful, and the education is top-tier. We also love the massive park in the center; it’s a beautiful, peaceful place to walk. Highly recommend UCI for any family!

Its a five star but surrounding buildings needs extra lighting for the safety of all attending (dorming ) students. Raise more awareness about the Ebikes- E-scooters.

Just went here for my daughter’s graduation. I hear it’s a good school. Large campus. Clean. Would come back.

Awesome university location with a calm ambiance and lively atmosphere when students are around. Welcome center is a great location to visit and get guidance on what you are looking for. Parking is abundant and free typically on weekends. Check for events that may impact the free parking experience that may at times convert certain portions of the day to paid. The Davis town area is a great place to go to get a good bite to eat and has abundant styles of cuisine to choose from. A great area to stop, take a break and enjoy a meal if passing by.

A great university near both Sacramento and the Bay Area. I love visiting my daughter there and taking her downtown to eat. The downtown area has a Carmel vibe since it thrives with all the money brought in by students and their families. Show me a nicer small town in California that pulses with activity and a feeling of safety. It’s like a colorful Berkeley downtown set in Pleasantville.

I’ve attended UCD for about a year and have enjoyed every second. The campus is beautiful, the academics are elite, and the food/dorms are awesome to live in and enjoy. I wouldn’t choose anywhere else!

Some of the Campus police are decent kind understanding people. Others, not so much and need more retraining, de escalation, and more professionalism when dealing with the public over simple questions.

Parents don’t let your students come here if you don’t want to loose them. It’s a liberal school, the students come here to waste their time. Follow all their online pages, do your research and you will see for yourself.

Best vets, caring and compassionate. Two eye surgeries on my pinto gelding and they take the best care of him and even call me to check on him.

Provided water for the Davis Turkey Trot! It was such a wonderful day filled with runs for all ages and even furry pets. So glad that we got to share clean oollee water to all the participants! Thank you UC Davis !

Beautiful campus, great location, nearby amenities include cheap burritos and a 24/7 rave taking place in a multi-acre walk-in bong. How anyone graduates is beyond me… But my kid managed to… With honors… As a div-I athlete… Go gauchos!

Research University with Great surroundings and weather. Great place for people who love the ocean and beaches. beware of skunks! cute foxes and racoons. The downsides : have to cmmute for internships because the city is far. food options are limited. (no halal options ) The dorms are ok but are very conjusted for 3 people.

It was great! I had a totally fantastic day, and I even met elliot he gave out 6 hugs right here on a totally fantastic day. Overall I just loved the place 5/5 would come again to meet elliot.

A world class university situated on 708 acres (main campus) located on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the 10 school University of California system and was founded in 1944. The original campus is located on a former Marine Corps base. Some of the original marine corps buildings are still in use today. It is one of the few Universities in the United States that has it own beach. Beside being located in a scenic beautiful location it has a well deserved reputation as a top academic institution with eight faculty winning the Noble Prize and six still actively working on campus.

Compared with UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis feels weak, overrated, and much harder to justify. UCSB has a stronger campus appeal, better student energy, a more recognizable lifestyle, stronger coastal location, and a reputation that feels more attractive to students and employers. It feels like a UC with real personality, stronger visibility, and a better overall experience. UC Davis, by contrast, feels inflated by the UC label without delivering enough where it matters most: outcomes, ROI, employer recognition, and long-term payoff. If the reported salary ten years after enrollment is around $58k before taxes, that is a serious failure for a California university charging California-level costs. After rent, taxes, transportation, loans, and basic living expenses, that number does not feel impressive at all. A school can talk about rankings and research all it wants, but if the financial outcome is weak, the value is weak. Safety and campus culture are also concerns applicants should examine carefully. UC Davis may work for some specific programs, but overall it feels overhyped, expensive for the payoff, and not strong enough compared with UCSB. UCSB feels more desirable, more dynamic, and much easier to respect.

What a wonderful place to come visit. I was so impressed with the high quality of education here, and also, the wonderful location, the entire spirit and vibe of this school. I had taught summers at UCLA for 10+ years, but never ventured down here before, so I was very pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be back to do a whole tour and check this school out. I love that it is in such a pretty Cali location, if you are looking for a school that is away from the crazy LA life, this is it. Congratulations to all the wonderful grads I met, and especially, our darling Amanda 💯❤️🤩🎉🎉🎉👌👌✨✨🙏.

The campus is beautiful, easily walkable and the views of the Pacific always make me forget I’m visiting my daughter at college.

This review is for CSUN’s Testing Center and Proctoring Service. My son was taking online summer classes from his out of state university and needed a certified proctor (part of the National College Testing Association) for his exams. The test center was friendly, easy to schedule via phone/email and able to accommodate paper exams. They are located at Bayramian Hall with easy parking nearby. You can find their contact info within CSUN’s website, just search for «proctoring services.» Exam fees are cash only.

Its amazing that you people feel so entitled to my money. I dont owe you all anything. I never used my degree to get the job I have now. Maybe instead demanding money, why dont you fire the racist professors in your roster that told me I didnt have the right skin color to be in a some of the classes I took.

Went there today because Freedom church services was held there, in the theater place. Its big and beautiful. I never new what that building was but now i know. It was first time there. Im dig more into it cause I think they have plays there. And if so imma take my sober living there for a family outing. Go check it out. Much mahalo.

Beautiful campus, I visit to have the students do my taxes. They are always nice, professional and very busy. The parking is 6 dollars. I love hearing the bells. Nice landscaping and wildlife. When I go it feels peaceful.

My son Dionte Bostick played basketball at CSUN for 2 years. When me and my wife would visit it would always feel like home. We Loved this School.❤️

CSUN Accounting is Stealing Money from Senior Citizens. Having student loans, I took a class at CSUN 20 years ago at the behest of the campus counselor.There was no mention that the class would not be covered by my loans. I left CSUN for another college at the end of the semester. 20 years later, I was involved in an auto accident. My insurance company sent me a check for reimbursement of my medical expenses. I had moved & even though I notified them of my move, for some reason they did not update their records. The check was returned to them so they sent it to CA’s Unclaimed Funds Dept. When I found out about this, I submitted a claim to get my funds. It took a year but I finally got a letter that my funds would soon be sent. After receiving said letter, I received another letter that CSUN had deducted $273 form the amount I was to receive, to pay for that class. Being a senior citizen on a fixed income ($800/month and food stamps), this affects my well being and CSUN does not care.

Current student here. Not a great experience. WiFi is terrible and goes out multiple times a day. Parking lots are always a war zone to get a spot. Homeless people all over campus (I once walked into the bathroom and a homeless person was sleeping on the floor). Not many high quality resources for students. Degrees from here don’t mean much.

This is a great university with students from all around the world, very beautiful buildings, gardens and sport facilities. It was a fantastic experience to study there for an year and enjoy such a nice atmosphere. Just be aware that you need a car to travel in weekends, for Riverside itself does not have many attractions, though it’s a cozy city.

The University Is awesome and also is huge,I cannot believe how Big this place is,My wife and I went to the Botanical Gardens it was beautiful,Everybody in Riverside should go and check this place out. There are more plants and trees and this place than anywhere in California.It was a great place to visit. In

Beautiful campus. So green. I love the Eucalyptus trees. It’s quiet in certain areas and social in others when students are around. A little something for everyone. Nice pathways for both walking and cycling. There are benches all around the campus to provide ample sitting areas to either just rest or to study with solar powered charging stations.

One of a kind curriculum for the specific study you choose. It’s a great school experience for students all around… School spirit is alive and the academics are most respected and trusted. The Agricultural department is thriving as well.

Catalytic Converter on my truck got stolen… please be vigilant, if you see strange people looking under the car or truck and has saw to remove the catalytic converter call the police right away. 5/13/26 when my catalytic converter got stolen and now the shop is having a hard time to look for replacement… they took 2 of my catalytic converter. These people are nuts. They don’t care and I don’t think the cops can prosecute them because it happened to the other student as well. I believe it’s the same person who is stealing it. It cost a lot of money and time consuming for repairs… good luck.. The traffic enforcer is great in writing tickets. Hopefully he will be good in catching the bad guys too.

The students riding electric scooters through the campus should really slow down or walk their scooter instead. I saw one crash by the fine arts theatre

Does not take grade appeals or student complaints seriously. Very disappointed in their protection of toxic and unprofessional professors. Do better. Laila Lalami was especially unpleasant to deal with.

Went there for a womens basketball game. Parking in the structure was nice and easy plus it’s very close to the gym so that was nice. It does cost $4 an hour (on weekdays, weekends are free) to park there. The gym is real nice, music was definitely hype – the DJ plays great music, really keeps the energy up, concession stand is questionable i dont suggest the pretzel or the coffee, easy restrooms, everyone was friendly and helpful. Support your college athletes! TUSKS UP!!

Beautiful campus… My daughter had the best experience.. The campus is huge and theres so much… Safe environment, police on campus…. Love it…

California State University (CSU) is the largest public university system in the United States, with 23 campuses spread across California. It serves around 460,000 students and employs about 56,000 faculty and staff. CSU is known for its affordability, diversity, and focus on practical education and workforce development. Key Points: 1. Campuses: Includes popular ones like CSU Long Beach, San Diego State University, and CSU Los Angeles. 2. Programs: Offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in various fields, including business, engineering, arts, sciences, and education. 3. Tuition: Relatively affordable compared to private institutions, with financial aid options available. 4. Diversity: One of the most ethnically and culturally diverse university systems in the nation. 5. Mission: Emphasizes access to quality education, community service, and practical career training. Let me know if you’re looking for information about a specific campus or program!

We visited California State University at Fullerton on a self-guided tour along with some other schools in California. It was summertime, so the campus was not crowded. We were impressed with the beautiful buildings and the overall atmosphere of the campus. There was background music playing from speakers all around, adding to the ambiance. The buildings looked well taken care of, with nice seating areas throughout the campus. Few students were moving about on these fast scooters as the campus is vast. There was a lot of trees and plants all around – very green campus. What stood out to us were the unique architectural features on many buildings, which made it different from the other three schools we visited that day. It was a very pretty and fun visit for a family of a prospective student.

I took my son to visit this Campus,he loves it,so big,clean,all Campus so green with trees and plants. And they have big garden with ponds inside 25 acres. We walk a lot, to know the buildings and it feels safe.

Great university with a strong academic environment and supportive community. The professors are knowledgeable and genuinely care about students’ success, always willing to help both inside and outside the classroom. The campus is beautiful and well-maintained, with plenty of resources like libraries, study spaces, and modern facilities. I also appreciated the diversity and opportunities to get involved in clubs and activities. Overall, a very positive experience — highly recommend!

The buildings of CSU Fullerton which are beautiful look more modern structure than other colleges. I visited there with my son who said CSU Fullerton is located in the middle of Los Angeles area which is really convenient going everywhere. How nice.