The state of California is probably the most popular international student destination in the United States with its world-renowned universities and abundant work opportunities. If it were a country, California would have the sixth largest economy with its substantial contribution in major sectors such as aerospace, manufacturing, and agriculture. It is also where one of the world’s leading center for technological innovation, the Silicon Valley, is located. California’s high standard of living is justified by its infinite opportunities for everyone, charming attractions and climate, and upscale profile in the entertainment and cultural scene.

California has more than 1,000 colleges and universities that could grant students an outstanding education in fields including but not limited to the arts and humanities, social sciences, medical sciences, business and marketing, and technology and engineering. It is home to one of the best universities in the world, the Stanford University, that has produced several notable personalities such as Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, political commentator Rachel Maddow, Nike’s co-founder Phil Knight, Paypal’s co-founder Peter Thiel, Netfix Co-founder Reed Hastings, and Microsoft’s CEO Steven Ballmer.

Other universities in California with top-notch quality are the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Delaware State University, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Davis, University of Southern California, University of California-San Francisco, and the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). Moreover, California’s diverse ethnic composition motivates international students to explore its many reputable universities. The 2010 US Census reveals that 38% of California residents are Hispanic or Latino, 14% are Asian, 6% are African American, and 5% are from other races. Accordingly, international students can find a home away from home in California as it is an open and inviting state for any nationality.

The education system in California is delivered by both public and private schools. The state is reported to have 150 public and 153 non-profit private institutions. Children are required to attend school at age 6 to 18 (16 or 17 when they have successfully completed the California High School Proficiency Exam). Pre-school or kindergarten is not compulsory, but primary school and secondary school are. After secondary school, they can proceed to higher education institutions or try their hand in the employment world. California is also a state that approves homeschooling for children.

Typically, the school year in California starts in mid-August until the first week of June of the following year. They have thanksgiving break in November, winter break in mid-December to January, and a one-week spring break in April.

Applying for admission to a university in California is easy, but it does not mean that it can be completed in a few minutes because some institutions take a long time to evaluate and respond to applications. It is always best to allot sufficient preparation time for your application. When you have decided which university in California to enrol in for your bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate studies, you should visit the university website and review any specific procedures they have for international student admission. Usually, the following are needed for you university admission application requirements:

Some universities have further requirements that you need to fulfil together with your application. Other institutions that offer specialized learning require a skills test as well.

A friendly city is best lived with friends, don’t you think? Share this article with your friends, and explore the California study abroad experience together!

Below is a comprehensive list of all universities in California. Edarabia strives to offer the latest updates, helping you find the best university in California with information on tuition fees, accreditation details, videos, photos, location map, community reviews and ratings.

Edarabia showcases all universities and colleges in California which can be filtered by courses and tuition fees. International students looking to get a degree in California can choose from a diverse range of programs and diplomas and obtain their Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhDs (or MBAs) from some of the top-rated institutions. Some universities also offer online courses through which students can apply for distance learning and get an online degree in certain fields.

Students who require financial aid can apply for scholarships in order to study higher education at a lower cost. Student visas and accommodation are also provided to students at many universities. There are study abroad and exchange programs offered in order to promote language development skills while giving students the opportunity to interact with other cultures around the world. Additionally, each university/college has ratings based on student reviews and are ranked below accordingly.

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