There are many colleges in California, so how do you choose? There are private colleges in California, which include Stanford and University of Southern California. 23 colleges in California belong to the California State University system, and 10 colleges in California fall under the University of California system. Here is a list of eight of the greatest colleges in California.
1. Stanford
According to U.S. News, Stanford University is ranked number four as America’s best college in 2008. Stanford, a private school, is very selective when it comes to admissions. And if you do get in, be prepared for a $34,800/year tuition. Room and board is a little under $11,000/year.
There is housing available for undergraduate and graduate students on campus. There is also subsidized housing available off campus. The monthly rate, according to Stanford’s Web site, is between $750 – $900/month.
Stanford University is located in the heart of Silicon Valley. It’s a suburb of the San Francisco bay area. It’s less than an hour away from San Francisco (give or take the traffic). The bay area has endless tourist attractions. From the Golden Gate Bridge to snow boarding or skiing in Lake Tahoe, Stanford students have a lot of things to choose from. That is, when they aren’t busy studying.
Stanford University is known for it’s prestigious law and medical school. Some of the undergraduate degrees you can pursue are: English; Feminist Studies; History; East Asian Studies; Linguistics; African and African Studies; Engineering; and so much more. Check www.stanford.edu for a complete list of degrees offered.
2. University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA ranks 25 in the nation as America’s best college of 2008 according to U.S. News. The UCLA School of Public Health is one of the top in the country. The school is located off of Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles. Students are five miles away from the ocean and are close to many tourist attractions including the studios in Burbank and Hollywood. Depending on traffic, students can get to San Diego in about an hour and a half. On the weekends, why not take a trip south of the border to Mexico.
UCLA offers their students housing assistance for both on-campus and off-campus housing. Undergraduate student housing can range from $5,000 to $12,000 per academic year.
3. University of California Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
Ranked 21 as America’s best college of 2008 by U.S. News, UC Berkeley is the oldest UC campus. The campus is situated in the San Francisco bay area and is considered urban. UC Berkeley is a premier research university.
Students are in range of beaches in the summer and snowy mountains in the winter. There is always something to do in the bay area.
UC Berkeley offers residence halls and dining services for students. There is also an International House for international students.
4. University of Southern California (USC)
According to US News, USC is ranked 27 as America’s best college of 2008. USC is a private university located in Los Angeles. USC’s Web site states that it enrolls more international students than any US university. It is also a global center for arts, technology and international trade.
The estimated tuition fee for the 2008-09 academic year is a little under $39,000. USC provides students with on-campus furnished housing. They provide free Ethernet and phone lines to students. The best thing is you won’t have to pay extra for rent if your roommate decides to drop or move out.
5. San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is located in Northern California. The university is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. San Francisco State has a great creative writing program, as well as film and television progam. Famous alumni include Annette Benning, Danny Glover, Anne Rice, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’s B.D. Wong.
Housing in San Francisco is extremely expensive. On-campus housing is limited, and as San Francisco State’s Web site says, housing is not guaranteed. Your best bet would be to try to find housing outside the city, perhaps in Daly City, where housing is a little bit cheaper (not by much).
6. University of California San Diego (UC San Diego)
US News ranks UC San Diego 83 as America’s best college in 2008. It’s located on the coast of Southern California and is a short drive or bus ride to the Mexico border. The campus is known for engineering and science.
On-campus housing is available and comes with cable TV. There is a dining plan option for those that want it. Housing is not guaranteed for transfer students, but there are many options in the San Diego area for off-campus housing.
7. University of California Davis (UC Davis)
According to US News, UC Davis is ranked 42 as America’s best college of 2008. The campus is situated in the valley of Northern California. It’s a little over an hour away from San Francisco and twenty minutes away from the state capitol, Sacramento.
UC Davis is known for its agriculture and medical programs. UC Davis offers over 100 undergraduate degrees and has 60 graduate programs.
UC Davis offers residence halls, campus apartments, and cooperatives to its students. Students that live off campus don’t have to worry about transportation. There are buses and many students ride bikes around Davis.
8. California State University Sacramento (CSU Sacramento)
CSU Sacramento is located in northern California. Sacramento is known as the “City of Trees” and CSU Sacramento is park-like because it is full of trees. CSU Sacramento, or Sac State, is about an hour-and-a-half away from Lake Tahoe and in the other direction, you’ll find San Francisco an hour-and-a-half away. The campus is situated right next to the American River, a popular spot for students to walk or bike along.
CSU Sacramento has a great criminal justice and nursing program. There’s a lot of housing available both on-campus and off. The university just recently built new housing close to campus solely for students.
Transportation for students is great. There is a light rail station close to the campus and plenty of buses.
