Jan 14
13
Top 10 Best Universities in Southern California
Thinking of going to college in Southern California? Why not? SoCal is famous for its great weather, popular beaches, legendary surf spots and vibrant outdoor life. And of course, it’s home to some of the best colleges and universities in the country, and perhaps the world. Sounds good? Here are the top-ranking universities in Southern California you should consider applying to.
1. California Institute of Technology
Caltech consistently ranks among the country’s top engineering schools, with graduates founding big companies like Hotmail, Intel and Compaq. A year at Caltech costs $41,538 and its most popular majors are Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Biology, Computer Science, Math and Electrical Engineering. Financial aid is need-based and through scholarships.
2. University of Southern California
The most popular majors at this highly competitive university include Communication Studies, International Relations, Psychology, Political Science, Business Administration, Biology, Accounting, Architecture and Economics. Tuition and fees cost $46,298 per year at USC and the school offers financial aid by jobs and work-study, scholarships, loans and grants. USC’s most famous alumni include Judd Apatow and George Lucas.
3. University of California Los Angeles
UCLA ranks 23rd among the nation’s best colleges, and is one of the most vibrant, with over 25,000 undergraduate students and more than 4,000 teaching faculty. Yearly In-state tuition and fees at UCLA costs $12,696 while it’s $35,574 for out-state. The most popular programs at the school include Psychology, Business, History, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Biology and English. Student financial aid includes scholarships, grants, part-time student jobs and loans.
Pepperdine’s beautiful campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean – all 830 acres of it. The most popular majors in Pepperdine are International Studies, Advertising, Business Administration, Psychology and Communication Studies. Tuition and fees are $44,902 per year. The university houses five schools and financial aid differ within each, although loans, scholarship, work-study and grants are usually offered.
Among the top liberal arts universities in Southern California, Pomona boasts of an impressive 8:1 student-teacher ratio. The most sought-after majors in Pomona include Economics, Biology, Media Studies, Political Science, English and Psychology. Yearly tuition and fees at Pomona are $43,580. Financial aid is given in the form of federal, need-based, state and private aid.
With a faculty to student ratio of 1:9, Scripps is indeed one of the best women’s colleges in the country today. Annual tuition and fees at Scripps costs $45,546. Popular majors include Psychology, English, Fine Arts, Political Science, Math and Biology. Scripps offers financial aid in the form of employment, grants, loans and scholarships.
Claremont McKenna is among the top twenty most selective colleges in America, with an acceptance rate of just 13.6%. The school’s most popular majors include Neuroscience, International Relations, Government, Psychology, Economics, Biology and Accounting. Tuition and fees are $45,625 per year and financial aid includes ROTC loans, work-study, academic scholarships, loans and need-based awards.
Another top-ranking engineering school, Harvey Mudd’s most notable graduates include astronauts Stan Love and George Nelson, and former U.S. diplomat Richard H. Jones. The most popular programs at Harvey Mudd include Physics, Engineering, Math, Computer Science and Chemistry. Tuition and fees are $46,509 yearly and financial aid includes demonstrated need-aid, grant and need-based aid, merit-based awards and scholarships.
9. University of California Irvine
Located in the heart of Orange County, University of California Irvine’s 1,500-acre campus has a circular design with Aldrich Park at its center. Its highly-ranked popular majors include Criminology, English, Psychology, Biology and Health Sciences. Tuition and fees at UCI are $14,688 for in-state and $37,566 for out-of-state. The school offers financial aid in the form of work-study, scholarships, loans and grants.
10. University of California San Diego
Considered as one of the “public ivies”, UC San Diego’s strengths are in the sciences and engineering. Because of its coastal location, the school is particularly strong in the biological sciences and oceanography. Its six residential colleges were modeled after Cambridge and Oxford, each with its own curricular merits. Tuition and fees are $13,234 for in-state and $36,112 for out-of-state. Financial aid includes work-study, loans, grants and scholarships.
If you’re looking to combine your education with some serious fun under the sun, then head on out to SoCal. These top universities in Southern California will take care of your education, and the fun part is entirely up to you. However, most of these colleges are not easy to get into, so it’s best to keep that in mind as well.