How many colleges are in California?

There are 653 colleges in California in our data as of 10/15/2026.

Which California cities have the most colleges?

Los Angeles (62), San Diego (29), San Francisco (17), Pasadena (13), Anaheim (12).

Checked Oct 21, 2026

653 colleges in 218 cities and 42 counties · Data as of 10/15/2026

Colleges on this page

With a population of 39,287,377, California has 653 colleges (0.17 per 10,000 people).
That is about the same as the national rate (0.18 per 10,000).
It has more colleges than any other state.
The largest group is Trade and Career School (40%), ahead of Private College and Community College.
Los Angeles (62), San Diego (29) and San Francisco (17) have the most, 17% of the state total combined.

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653 listed, A to Z · Page 1 of 22

How many colleges are in California?: There are 653 colleges in California in our data as of 10/15/2026.
Which California cities have the most colleges?: Los Angeles (62), San Diego (29), San Francisco (17), Pasadena (13), Anaheim (12).