This is a list of colleges and universities in California.

Federal institutions

Graduate institutions

Other academic institutions

State institutions

Two-year institutions

Four-year institutions

University of California

• University of California, Los Angeles was founded in 1882 as the southern branch of the California State Normal School. It joined the University of California system in 1919 as the southern branch of the University of California. ** University of California, Santa Barbara was founded in 1891 as an independent teachers' college. It joined the University of California system in 1944.

California State University

• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was founded as a vocational high school. It became a vocational school in 1924, and then started awarding bachelor's degrees in 1940. ** California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, was founded as a southern branch of California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo in 1938, but became independent in 1966.

State graduate institutions

Private colleges and universities

List of defunct institutions