Universities & Colleges in California, USA – Rankings, Courses, Fees
- Why Study in California?
- Universities and Colleges in California: Highlights
- Best Universities in California
- 3.1 Top 10 Specialisations in California
- 3.2 Top Cities to Study in California
- Admission Requirements in California
- 4.1 Documents Required
- Cost of studying in USA
- 5.1 Tuition Fees for Universities in California
- 5.2 Cost of Living in USA
- 5.3 Student Visa Fees in USA
- Scholarships in USA
Why Study in California?
California is arguably the most popular destination in the US among international students, after New York, for mainly two reasons. The presence of world-class universities such as the Stanford, UC Berkeley, Caltech, UCLA and UC San Diego, and for the Silicon Valley, which houses some of the best companies in the world.
Universities and Colleg
- Why Study in California?
- Universities and Colleges in California: Highlights
- Best Universities in California
- 3.1 Top 10 Specialisations in California
- 3.2 Top Cities to Study in California
- Admission Requirements in California
- 4.1 Documents Required
- Cost of studying in USA
- 5.1 Tuition Fees for Universities in California
- 5.2 Cost of Living in USA
- 5.3 Student Visa Fees in USA
- Scholarships in USA
Why Study in California?
California is arguably the most popular destination in the US among international students, after New York, for mainly two reasons. The presence of world-class universities such as the Stanford, UC Berkeley, Caltech, UCLA and UC San Diego, and for the Silicon Valley, which houses some of the best companies in the world.
Universities and Colleges in California: Highlights
International students can study in California in over 130 universities. Here is a lowdown on universities in California:
| Head |
Details |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Colleges and Universities in California |
Approx. 130+ Colleges |
| Fees in California (1st Year Average) |
INR 18 Lakhs to INR 1 Crore |
| Top Specializations |
Information Technology, Healthcare, Business and Management, Computer Sciences, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence |
| Exams Required |
IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, PTE, GRE, GMAT |
Best Universities in California
The list of top colleges and universities in California along with their Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2026 are given in the table below:
| University Name | Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2026 |
|---|---|
| Stanford University | #3 |
| California Institute of Technology | #10 |
| University of California - Berkeley Campus | #17 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | #46 |
| University of California - San Diego Campus | #66 |
| University of California, Davis | #114 |
| University of Southern California | #146 |
| University of California Santa Barbara | #179 |
| University of California - Irvine Campus | #293 |
| University of California - Santa Cruz Campus | #458 |
Top 10 Specialisations in California
Some of the top 10 specializations offered to international students in California, USA are given as follows:
- Business and Management
- Computer Sciences
- Engineering
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- Environmental Sciences
- Finance and Marketing
- Human Resource Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Economics
- Mathematics
Top Cities to Study in California
Some of the cities where international students can prefer in Caifornia are given as follows:
- Stanford
- Berkeley
- Pasadena
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- Davis
- Santa Barbara
- San Francisco
Admission Requirements in California
The general admission requirements for international students in California are given as follows:
- Minimum GPA requirements
- Academic Record
- English Language Proficiency scores
- Standardised Test Scores
- Additional Academic Requirements
Documents Required
- Original Transcripts
- Minimum GPA 3.0
- English proficiency
- Valid scores in GRE or GMAT
- Proof of Financial Support
- Valid Passport
- Student Visa
Cost of studying in USA
The cost of studying in the USA for international students varies by program from one university to another. To study MS in the USA, the average first-year cost is INR 23.5 L and for studying MBA in USA, the average cost is INR 27.8 L for international students.
Tuition Fees for Universities in California
International students can check below the first-year tuition fees range of California Universities:
| First-Year Tuition Fee Range |
Count of Universities |
|---|---|
| Max 10 lakhs |
41 |
| Max 20 lakhs |
94 |
| Max 30 lakhs |
117 |
| Max 40 lakhs |
122 |
| INR 40 Lakhs + |
45 |
Cost of Living in USA
The cost of living in USA for international students is around INR 8.3 L to INR 15 L depending on the city. Students can check the Cost of Living in USA for the different states below:
| Big Cities in the USA |
Average Monthly Expenses |
|---|---|
| New York |
USD 3,300 or INR 2.7 L |
| California |
USD 4,000 or INR 3.2 L |
| Boston |
USD 3,316 or INR 2.8 L |
| San Francisco |
USD 4,000 or INR 3.2 L |
| Suburban Cities of the USA |
Average monthly expenses in USA |
| Atlanta |
USD 2,200 or INR 1.8 L |
| New Orleans |
USD 2,000 or INR 1.7 L |
| Philadelphia |
USD 1,300 or INR 1.1 L |
| Seattle |
USD 2,500 or INR 1.1 L |
| Texas |
USD 2,000 or INR 1.7 L |
| Illinois |
USD 1,470 or INR 1.2 L |
(USD 1 = INR 83.09)
Check the list of 8 Most Affordable Cities for Studying in the US
Student Visa Fees in USA
There are two fees associated with an F1 student visa for the USA
- The SEVIS fee is currently USD 350, and US student visa fees in Indian rupees are approximately INR 30,242.
- The Visa Application Fee (MRV Fee), currently USD 185, is equivalent to INR 15,985.
Scholarships in USA
Studying abroad is indisputably costly. This factor stops many aspirants from applying to universities abroad, especially, in a country like the USA, which is a hub for international students.
There are ideally four types of scholarships offered in USA and they are as follows:
- Government Funded or Publicly Funded Scholarships in USA
- US University-Specific Scholarships
- Merit-Based Scholarships
- Need-Based Scholarships
Apart from these, there are also externally funded scholarships. These can be funded by one's own country or foundations that help students fund their education. Some of the merit based scholarships offered to international students in USA are given as follows:
| Scholarship Name |
Funding Offered |
Description |
|---|---|---|
| AAUW International Fellowships |
USD 20,000–USD 50,000 |
Women only, for graduate/postgraduate study |
| Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford |
Full funding including stipend |
All grad programs at Stanford |
| Obama Foundation Scholars (Columbia) |
Full tuition, monthly stipend, travel |
For rising leaders from around the world |
| Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship |
Tuition + living stipend + travel |
For students from developing countries |
| PEO International Peace Scholarship |
Up to USD 12,500 |
Women from outside the US and Canada |
Universities & Colleges in California, USA – Rankings, Courses, Fees
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