Los Angeles Has the Largest Student Population with 183,525 Students Enrolled in California

The top city with the largest student population in California is Los Angeles, CA with 183,525 students enrolled across 55 colleges. Los Angeles is the largest city in terms of both total student population and number of schools in California.

The largest college in Los Angeles is University of California-Los Angeles with 47,335 students enrolled.

Other top cities in California include

San Diego, CA (34 colleges, 143,421 students). The top college in San Diego is San Diego State University with 41,137 students.
Sacramento, CA (21 colleges, 106,814 students). The leading institution in Sacramento is California State University-Sacramento with 31,943 students.
Pasadena, CA (15 colleges, 76,921 students). The biggest institution in Pasadena is University of the People with 41,961 students.
Long Beach, CA (5 colleges, 69,398 students). The leading institution in Long Beach is California State University-Long Beach with 42,003 students.
San Francisco, CA (17 colleges, 68,602 students). The leading institution in San Francisco is San Francisco State University with 22,563 students.
Fresno, CA (12 colleges, 67,924 students). The biggest institution in Fresno is Fresno City College with 28,071 students.
Riverside, CA (12 colleges, 65,259 students). The most prominent college in Riverside is University of California-Riverside with 26,384 students.
Fullerton, CA (5 colleges, 65,162 students). The top college in Fullerton is California State University-Fullerton with 43,662 students.
Irvine, CA (6 colleges, 64,587 students). The top college in Irvine is University of California-Irvine with 37,297 students.

California Cities with Largest College Student Population

The following table lists cities with the largest student populations in California, including the total number of schools, total enrollment, undergraduate and graduate students , along with the distribution of men and women students across institutions. Click on any city to explore detailed information about colleges in that area. Each page also includes information about community colleges and trade schoools in the metropolitan region and nearby cities.

California Cities with Largest College Student Population
City	Total	Undergraduate	Graduate	Online Enrollment	Male	Female
City	Total	Undergraduate	Graduate	Online Enrollment	Male	Female	Los Angeles, CA55 Schools	183,525	129,890	53,635	28,072	79,182	104,343
San Diego, CA34 Schools	143,421	105,909	37,512	53,929	60,324	83,097
Sacramento, CA21 Schools	106,814	103,676	3,138	37,358	48,257	58,557
Pasadena, CA15 Schools	76,921	66,418	10,503	50,561	38,517	38,404
Long Beach, CA5 Schools	69,398	63,481	5,917	9,622	30,279	39,119
San Francisco, CA17 Schools	68,602	50,631	17,971	13,132	29,295	39,307
Fresno, CA12 Schools	67,924	64,126	3,798	15,003	28,769	39,155
Riverside, CA12 Schools	65,259	57,651	7,608	10,133	28,094	37,165
Fullerton, CA5 Schools	65,162	58,914	6,248	10,711	28,879	36,283
Irvine, CA6 Schools	64,587	49,773	14,814	9,582	29,750	34,837

Most Searched Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

Strayer University-Delaware Private, 4-year | Wilmington, DE
DeVry University-California Private, 4-year | Ontario, CA
Carrington College-Mesa Private, 2-4 year | Mesa, AZ
Carrington College-Tucson Private, 2-4 year | Tucson, AZ
Alaska Bible College Private, 4-year | Palmer, AK
City College-Hollywood Private, 4-year | Hollywood, FL
DeVry University-Florida Private, 4-year | Orlando, FL
Stautzenberger College-Brecksville Private, 2-4 year | Brecksville, OH
South University-Montgomery Private, 4-year | Montgomery, AL
DeVry University-Illinois Private, 4-year | Lisle, IL

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Graduate

University of Kentucky Public, 4-year | Lexington, KY
Adams State University Public, 4-year | Alamosa, CO
Albright College Private, 4-year | Reading, PA
Columbia University in the City of New York Private, 4-year | New York, NY
Princeton University Private, 4-year | Princeton, NJ
Rhodes College Private, 4-year | Memphis, TN
Western Carolina University Public, 4-year | Cullowhee, NC
Boston University Private, 4-year | Boston, MA
Cumberland University Private, 4-year | Lebanon, TN
Jackson State University Public, 4-year | Jackson, MS

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Online Schools

Johns Hopkins University Private, 4-year | Baltimore, MD
University of Southern California Private, 4-year | Los Angeles, CA
Harvard University Private, 4-year | Cambridge, MA
University of Wisconsin-Madison Public, 4-year | Madison, WI
Texas A&M University-College Station Public, 4-year | College Station, TX
University of Georgia Public, 4-year | Athens, GA
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Public, 4-year | Tempe, AZ
University of Arizona Public, 4-year | Tucson, AZ
University of Central Florida Public, 4-year | Orlando, FL
St. John's University-New York Private, 4-year | Queens, NY

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Trade Schools

Blake Austin College Private, 2-4 year | Vacaville, CA
Houston Training School-Main Campus Private, Less than 2-year | Houston, TX
Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio Private, 2-4 year | San Antonio, TX
Tulsa Welding School-Jacksonville Private, Less than 2-year | Jacksonville, FL
ZMS The Academy Private, Less than 2-year | Los Angeles, CA
Big Bend Technical College Public, Less than 2-year | Perry, FL
Academy of Massage and Bodywork Private, Less than 2-year | Bear, DE
Martin Community College Public, 2-4 year | Williamston, NC
Cortiva Institute Private, Less than 2-year | St. Petersburg, FL
Lia Schorr Institute of Cosmetic Skin Care Training Private, Less than 2-year | New York, NY

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