Aerial view of buildings in University of California, Berkeley campus on a sunny autumn day, view towards Richmond and the San Francisco bay shoreline in the background.

Best College Towns In California

When choosing which university a student may attend, many factors contribute to this decision. For some, the city and environment you live in may make or break whether you attend a specific university, and may be an open door to finding a city to make connections in and settle down. Some students prefer to be in a bustling city where they can study hard during the week, grab takeout next door from a local restaurant, then party hard on the weekend at the most popular club. While others may prefer a laid-back town by the beach where they can enjoy scenery, architecture and be apart of a close-knit community of students. No matter your preferences, the big and beautiful state of California has a plethora of towns and cities home to top-tier universities in a variety of different environments. Whether east of downtown Los Angeles or in a small oceanside town on the Pacific Coast, California has much to offer.

Best College Towns In Southern CaliforniaSoCal towns boast programs in all disciplines like engineering, business, and liberal arts.

1. Berkeley

Overlooking the campus grounds of the University of California, Berkeley — University of California, Berkeley. Image credit Ken Wolter via Shutterstock

Berkeley is a proud community, boasting this vibrant college town's status as home to the most senior campus in the University of California, the University of California, Berkeley, and also the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which is primarily managed and operated by the university. Berkeley also has the Graduate Theological Union, one of the grandest religious studies institutions in the entire world. Berkeley is very proudly considered one of the most socially progressive cities in all of the United States. The city of Berkeley also boasts an impressive 73.5% of its residents with a minimum of a Bachelor's degree, making the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley area of California the US's 5th most educated city! With such a high student population, this ensures Berkeley has a bustling nightlife with a plethora of popular bars, clubs, pubs, restaurants, and nighttime events such as Drop 84, Triple Rock Brewery, Tupper & Read, Spats Berkeley, Study Hall Rooftop Lounge and many more exciting downtown destinations! Top-rated restaurants in Berkeley include Imm Thai Street Food, Heroic Italian Berkleley, Angeline's Louisiana Kitchen, and Eureka!

2. Chico

Chico City Skyline and architectural landmarks, the autumn landscape at the historic district in Chico, Northern California — Chico City downtown.

Despite this town's name translating to "little" in Spanish, Chico, in the grand state of California, is the most populous city in Butte County, California. The city of Chico is the economic and cultural hub of the gorgeous northern Sacramento Valley, as well as the largest city in California north of the capital city of Sacramento. The city of Chico is primarily recognized as a college town with two post-secondary institutions. These are California State University, Chico, and Cal Northern School of Law. Thanks to such a high number of students flocking to study in this beautiful Sacramento Valley town, Chico's nightlife has been booming with joints such as The Beach Nightclub, Crazy Horse Saloon, Duffy's Tavern, Studio Inn Lounge, Argus Bar & Patio thriving in a college town full of young adults.

3. Santa Barbara

Sunset on American City College, Santa Barbara — Overlooking City College, Santa Barbara.

Not only beloved for the towns refreshing coastal scenery, picture-perfect architecture, and perfect climate often described as Mediterranean and dubbed the American Riviera, Santa Barbara also boasts great opportunities for higher education. Although the city only ranks overall 62nd for top educational cities, Santa Barbara boasts an impressive 11th for quality of education due to the number of high-quality post-secondary institutions. These amazing institutions include Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara City College, University of California, Santa Barbara, Westmont College, Santa Barbara College of Law, and Southern California Institute of Law. With so many students come many opportunities for a night of fun downtown. Some popular nightlife venues and establishments include EOS Lounge, Wildcat Lounge, Pearl Social Santa Barbara, The Red Piano, The Good Lion, and many more.

4. Claremont

Stairs on the campus of Scripps College, Claremont, California. Image credit James via stock.adobe.com

East of downtown Los Angeles is the lovely Claremont, California, with streets lined with palm trees and high-quality educational institutions. Claremont is the perfect city for new students to locate to further their quest for further education. When visitors search for which schools reside in Claremont, they will discover a plethora of schools that call Claremont home. These include Claremont McKenna College, Pomona College, Harvey Mudd College, Scripps College, Pitzer College, Keck Graduate Institute, and Claremont Graduate University. With great universities in a city near downtown LA, there is also a bustling downtown. Must-check-out downtown spots include Piano Piano, The Haven, The Whisper House, 3rd Base Sports Bar, Patty's Mexican Food, Aruffo's Italian Cuisine, and The Quarter Creole Cuisine.

5. Irvine

A view of students walking towards the Student Center on the UCI Campus, Irvine, California. Image credit The Image Party via Shutterstock

With warm sunsets, palm trees, and modern architecture, Irvine is a unique California city famous for its high-quality institutions. Irvine is popular for being home to several higher education institutions, including the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, and campuses of California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), University of La Verne, and also Pepperdine University. This makes for an impressive roster of schools that attract and retains new students and future long-term residents. Irvine holds a number of corporations and national/international headquarters, particularly in the technology and semiconductor sectors. After a long weekend of hitting the books, students can stroll the streets of downtown and enjoy the nightlife of Irvine and closeby areas which include clubs and restaurants such as Hive & Honey Rooftop Bar, FLOE Lounge, Plush Karaoke Lounge, Yard House, Legacy Nightclub and Lounge, Tuk Tuk Thai Street Food, and Cluck Chicken.

6. Riverside

World Peace Bridge atop Mount Rubidoux Park is an important landmark and religious site in Riverside, Southern California. Image credit Ken Wolter via Shutterstock

Riverside has some of the most gorgeous architecture of all the towns in California, with landmarks constructed in styles such as Mission Revival Style dappled all across the city. The quality of education in Riverside is reflected through the city's architecture, seeing how well history is preserved and respected, offering education merely by viewing and learning about the many historic projects scattered across the map of Riverside. Top-tier institutions that drive students to Riverside include California Baptist University, La Sierra University, National University, a branch campus in Riverside, Riverside City College, Riverside Royals College, and the University of California, Riverside. Riverside is a beacon for young adults seeking educational advancement, which leads to a boom in the recreation and nightlife industries in the city. Amazing spots to check out are Aurea Vista Night Club & Bar, Downtown Experiment, VIP Nightclub and Restaurant, Le Chat Noir French Restaurant, and Islands Restaurant Riverside.

7. Merced

Aerial skyline view of downtown Merced, California — Skyline view of downtown Merced, California.

Dubbed The "Gateway to Yosemite," the city of Merced in the big and beautiful state of California is an excellent city packed with amazing educational institutions such as the University of California, Merced, and Merced College. Great features for students and visiting family of students in Merced is that it is less than two hours by automobile from Yosemite National Park to the east and Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and multiple beaches to the west of the town. The community is served by the passenger rail service Amtrak, a minor, heavily subsidized airline through Merced Regional Airport, and three bus lines which are perfect for students without cars. Merced is very central and is approximately 110 miles from Sacramento, 130 miles from San Francisco, 55 miles from Fresno, and 270 miles from Los Angeles. For a memorable experience downtown, stop by establishments such as Star Club, El Palacio Night Club, The Partisan, Lucky Lotus Bar, The Den, Paul's Place, Rainbird, Destino's, and Lupian's Mexican Food.

8. Pasadena

Aerial view of Pasadena California with blue sky and interesting cloud covers with buildings and purple trees in the cityscape and mountain range — Overlooking Pasadena, California.

The alluring city of Pasadena is a large community in California, just northeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is home to Pasadena City College, California Institute of Technology, Art Center College of Design, and Pacific Oaks College, among others. In the center of this amazing city is Old Pasadena, which is a shopping and dining district admired for its Victorian and art deco buildings, which draw visitors in from all over. Pasadena has more than one can imagine offering visitors and newcomers, such as progressive and high-quality post-secondary schools, which will provide advanced education to those who enroll in a picturesque city near Los Angeles. There is much to enjoy in terms of recreation in Pasadena, such as the awe-inspiring modern Norton Simon Museum, which houses notable European and Asian art, plus a one-of-a-kind sculpture garden. After a relaxing day of wholesome activities such as visiting the Norton Simon Museum, students in Pasadena have an array of selections when it comes to nightlife and food. These options include the Dungeon Nightclub, Ixtapa Cantina and Lounge, Club 54 Lounge, The Tap Room, Dirt Dog Pasadena, Yard House, Russell's, and Mercado Pasadena.

Best College Towns In Northern CaliforniaCalifornia finds itself among the top student destinations, with its world-class institutions, vibrant communities, and work prospects, including the iconic Silicon Valley.

When choosing which college or university to attend, things may get stressful, especially when taking the town you will be living in for the next four years into consideration. Thankfully, many high-quality towns boast top-tier post-secondary institutions to choose from, all with their own amazing qualities and schools. When choosing your educational pathway, selecting which town to live in becomes easier after checking out these admirable California college towns.

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