2023 Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in California
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamps with offerings that you might find attractive.
The Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in California ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 209 schools in California to see which bachelor's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Featured schools near , edit
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in California
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found University of California - Berkeley to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in California. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 10,523 students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UC Berkeley is $14,226. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $43,980. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $15,205 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UC Berkeley. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 10,102 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from California who attend UCLA full time pay an average of $13,258 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $43,012. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $16,277 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UCLA. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10,010 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $6,976 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cal State Fullerton. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,856. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $17,931 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 59% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Cal State Fullerton. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of California - Irvine is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Irvine, California, the large public school handed out 9,882 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Students from California who attend UC Irvine full time pay an average of $13,775 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $43,529. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $16,722 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 55% were women.
One thing to take note of is that UC Irvine does offer online classes in some areas. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of California - Davis is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Davis, California, the large public school awarded 9,846 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UC Davis is $14,645. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $44,399. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UC Davis accumulate an average of $14,449 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UC Davis. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #6, California State University - Northridge did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. California State University - Northridge is a large public school located in Northridge, California that handed out 9,572 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CSUN is $7,043. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,923. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from CSUN accumulate an average of $18,166 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
CSUN does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 99% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 9,179 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $6,846 in tuition and fees if they attend CSULB full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $18,726. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,689 in student loans. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
CSULB does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
University of California - San Diego landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. Located in La Jolla, California, the large public school awarded 9,086 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Students from California who attend UCSD full time pay an average of $14,700 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $44,454. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $17,172 in loans while pursuing their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
UCSD does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
San Diego State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,719 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $8,136 in tuition and fees if they attend SDSU full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $20,016. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from SDSU accumulate an average of $18,150 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 58% were women.
SDSU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 100% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
California State University - Sacramento landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7,644 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from California who attend Sac State full time pay an average of $7,392 in tuition and fees. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,272. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,924 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 59% of those degree recipients were women.
Sac State does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
San Jose State University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. This large public school is located in San Jose, California, and it awarded 7,192 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at San Jose State is $7,852. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,732. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at San Jose State. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Santa Barbara, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,001 students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UCSB is $14,417. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $44,171. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $16,986 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 56% of those degree recipients were women.
UCSB does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
San Francisco State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 6,627 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students from California who attend SFSU full time pay an average of $7,304 in tuition and fees. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $19,184. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,482 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
SFSU does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Located in Pomona, California, the large public school handed out 6,526 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $7,439 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Cal Poly Pomona. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $19,319. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Cal Poly Pomona accumulate an average of $18,789 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 49% of those degree recipients were women.
Cal Poly Pomona does offer online classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of California - Riverside landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree programs. University of California - Riverside is a large public school located in Riverside, California that handed out 6,193 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at UCR is $13,754. Out-of-state students pay an average of $43,508. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from UCR accumulate an average of $18,387 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 55% of those degree recipients were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UCR. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #17, University of Southern California did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. USC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,745 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees at USC is $61,503. In-state students do not receive a discount, however you may be able to reduce your price if you receive financial aid. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from USC accumulate an average of $15,669 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at USC. During the 2019-2020 year, about 98% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Located in Los Angeles, California, the large public school awarded 5,742 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cal State LA is $6,785. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,665. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Cal State LA accumulate an average of $17,712 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 61% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Cal State LA does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #19, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,426 students in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $14,070 in tuition and fees if they attend UC Santa Cruz full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $43,824. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $18,900 in loans while pursuing their degree. Around 51% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at UC Santa Cruz. During the 2019-2020 year, about 100% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California list. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the large public school handed out 5,421 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $10,195. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $28,105. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo accumulate an average of $18,067 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 52% were women.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report
California State University - Fresno came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in Fresno, California, the large public school awarded 5,099 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $6,653 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Fresno State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $18,533. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $17,360 in student loans. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Fresno State does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
California State University - Chico came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California ranking. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school located in Chico, California that handed out 4,313 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full-time students from California pay an average of $7,864 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Chico State. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $19,744. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $19,135 in student loans. Of those students who received their degree, 56% were women.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Chico State does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 100% took at least some of their classes online.
California State University - East Bay did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 4,189 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $6,995 in tuition and fees if they attend Cal State East Bay full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,875. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from Cal State East Bay accumulate an average of $20,301 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
Cal State East Bay does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
California State University - San Bernardino came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools in California ranking. CSUSB is located in San Bernardino, California and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4,061 bachelor’s degrees to qualified students.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at CSUSB is $7,213. Out-of-state students pay an average of $19,093. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from CSUSB accumulate an average of $18,358 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that CSUSB does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 100% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #25 on the list. CSUDH is a fairly large public school situated in Carson, California. It awarded 3,776 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In-state students pay an average of $7,060 in tuition and fees if they attend CSUDH full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $18,940. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from CSUDH accumulate an average of $18,973 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Since CSUDH is primarily an online school, it is an excellent choice for undergraduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.Some students may be able to take online classes at CSUDH. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 100% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Rest of the Top 15% Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in California
Not only did these schools make the top 32 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region
View Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our most popular schools ranking:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | University of California - Merced | Merced, CA |
| 34 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA |
| 35 | California State University - Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA |
| 36 | National University | La Jolla, CA |
| 37 | Humboldt State University | Arcata, CA |
| 38 | University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA |
| 39 | University of San Diego | San Diego, CA |
| 40 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA |
| 41 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA |
| 42 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.