Universities in California for MS: Top Institutions, Programs, and Admission Tips
Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, UC Berkeley, and UCLA are some of the top universities in California for MS programs. But these are only a few of the excellent universities in California. With more than 281 colleges and universities, California is a hotbed of student activity, particularly for international students pursuing Master’s programs in business, technology, environmental sciences, healthcare, and many diverse fields.
If you are interested in pursuing a Master’s program in California but unsure about your options, this blog is for you. Read below to explore the top universities in California for MS programs and finalize the best option.
Studying a Master’s in California
From world-class universities to being the entertainment capital of the world, California has a lot to offer to international students. Home to institutes like UC Berkeley, UCLA, Stanford University, and Caltech, California is globally renowned for its academic excellence.
The tuition for a Master’s degree program in California can range from $20,000 to $50,000 annually. The cost of living in top Californian cities like Los Angeles can average up to $3,000 annually, which is 23.7% lower than in New York.
As one of the largest economies in the USA, California offers many career opportunities in Hollywood, biotechnology, Silicon Valley, and other industries. With OPT opportunities and high-ranking research universities, California attracts students worldwide to pursue higher education.
Best Master’s programs in California
The table below shows a list of Master’s programs at the top MS universities in California:
| University | Top Master’s Programs |
| Stanford University | MS in Computer Science/ AI/ Data Science/ Cybersecurity; MBA in Finance/ Strategy/ Entrepreneurship; MS in Electrical Engineering/ Robotics/ Signal Processing; MS in Electrical Engineering/ Robotics/ Signal Processing |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | MS in Bioinformatics/ Genomics/ Proteomics; MS in Computer Science/ Human-Computer Interaction/ AI; MS in Environmental Science/ Climate Policy/ Conservation |
| University of California, Berkeley | MS in Data Science/ Big Data/AI; Master of Public Health/ Epidemiology/ Biostatistics; MS in Business Analytics/ Predictive Modeling/ Operations Research |
| University of California, San Diego | MS in Bioinformatics/ Genomics/ Biomedical Informatics; MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering/ Embedded Systems/ Communications; MBA in Entrepreneurship/ Analytics |
| California Institute of Technology | MS in Aerospace Engineering/ Aerodynamics/ Spacecraft Design; MS in Physics/ Quantum Mechanics/ Cosmology; MS in Computer Science/ Machine Learning/ Systems |
| University of California, Los Angeles | MS in Engineering – Civil/ Environmental; MBA in Marketing/ Tech Management; MS in Architecture/ Design/ Urban Planning |
| University of California, Davis | MS in Agricultural Science/ Crop Science/ Soil Management; Master of Environmental Policy/ Management/ Climate Science/ Urban Policy; MS in Computer Engineering/ Networking/ Systems |
| University of Southern California | MS in Film Production/ Screenwriting/ Cinematography; MS in Computer Science/ Game Development/ Data Science; MBA in Media Management/ Finance |
| University of California, Irvine | MS in Civil Engineering/ Transportation/ Structural Design; MBA in Supply Chain/ Marketing; MS in Public Health/ Epidemiology/ Community Health |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | MS in Materials Science/ Nano-materials/ Energy Materials; MS in Marine Science/ Oceanography/ Environmental Science; MS in Computer Science/ Machine Learning/ Security |
Top universities for Master’s in California
Now that you have gone through a list of Master’s programs let’s dive deep into the top universities in California offering MS programs:
| Universities | Global Rankings (QS World University Rankings 2025) | National Rankings (USN) |
| Stanford University | 6 | 4 |
| California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | 10 | 6 |
| University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | 12 | 17 |
| University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | 42 | 15 |
| University of California, San Diego (UCSD) | 72 | 29 |
| University of Southern California | 125 | 27 |
| University of California, Davis | 130 | 33 |
| University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) | 178 | 39 |
| University of California, Irvine | 307 | 33 |
| University of California, Santa Cruz | 393 | 84 |
Here are some more details on the top 5 universities in California for MS programs:
#1 university for Master’s in California – Stanford University
Stanford University was established in 1885 and opened in 1891. With a 4% acceptance rate, it currently ranks #6 and #4 globally and in the USA, respectively. The university has 2,323 faculty members, including 20 Nobel laureates in the university community.
Started with a group of 52 students, Stanford University today has over 9,688 graduate students. These students are pursuing over 150 graduate courses under the following schools/ departments:
- Stanford Graduate School of Business
- Doerr School of Sustainability
- Graduate School of Education
- School of Engineering
- School of Humanities and Sciences
- School of Law
- School of Medicine
Here are some top MS programs offered by these schools that you can explore:
| Programs | Schools | Program Type | Application Deadline |
| MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics | School of Engineering | Full-time | December 3, 2024 |
| MS in Applied Physics | School of Humanities and Sciences | Full-time | December 16, 2024 |
| MS in BioEngineering | School of Engineering, School of Medicine | Full-time | December 2, 2024 |
| MS in Biomedical Data Science | School of Medicine | Full-time | December 3, 2024 |
| MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering | School of Engineering, Doerr School of Sustainability | Full-time | December 3, 2024 |
| MA in Communication | School of Humanities and Sciences | Full-time | December 3, 2024 |
| MS in Computer Science | School of Engineering | Full-time | December 3, 2024 |
#2 university for Master’s in California – California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Founded in 1891, the California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California. The institute has 1,440 graduate students and a student-faculty ratio of 3:1. Caltech is one of the top 10 institutes in the world, and its acceptance rate is 3%.
For academics, the California Institute of Technology is divided into the following 6 divisions:
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Biology and Biological Engineering
- Geological and Planetary Sciences
- Engineering and Applied Science
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Under these divisions, the institute offers the following graduate options:
| Divisions | Graduate Options |
| Division of Biology and Biological Engineering |
|
| Division of Engineering and Applied Science |
|
| Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering |
|
| Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences |
|
| Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences |
|
| Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy |
|
#3 university for Master’s in California – the University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley’s campus is spread over 1,232 acres of land. As one of the top MS universities in California, UCB receives a high number of international student enrollments. As of Fall 2024, UCB has enrolled 12,812 graduate students, of which 4,034 are international. The average class size for graduate programs is 21.
The University of California, Berkeley, offers over 200 graduate programs, of which 109 are Master’s/ professional programs, 95 are PhD courses, and 27 are dual degrees and certificate courses. Here are some of the top Master’s programs the university offers:
| Programs | Intake | Application Deadlines | GRE/ GMAT Requirements |
| Architecture & City Planning – MArch | Fall | December 3, 2024 | Not required |
| Master of Science in Architecture | Fall | January 3, 2024 | Not required |
| Master of Arts in Biostatistics | Fall | December 3, 2024 | GRE required |
| Master in Business Administration – MBA | Fall | Varies | GMAT/ GRE required |
| Master in Public Health – MPH | Fall | Varies | GMAT/ GRE required |
| Master of Science – Computer Science | Fall | December 9, 2024 | Optional |
| Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences MEng | Fall | December 6, 2024 | Optional |
| Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences | Fall | December 2, 2024 | Optional |
| Master of Science in Health and Medical Sciences (Joint UCSF) | Fall | February 15, 2024 | Not required |
| Master of Information Management & Systems – MIMS | Fall | January 7, 2024 | Not required |
#4 university for Master’s in California – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Founded in 1919, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public institution. The university has over 6,000 international students representing 107 countries. It has 13,636 graduate students, with the majority enrolling in social sciences, engineering, law, and management programs.
The University of California, Los Angeles, offers one to three years of Master’s degrees in more than 80 professional and academic fields. Although the program-specific details may vary, most Master’s programs require you to complete a minimum of 9 courses and 36 units. Here are some of the top Master’s degree programs you can explore at UCLA:
| Programs | Department/ Schools | Test Requirements |
| Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering | UCLA Samueli Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering | GRE and TOEFL |
| Master of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics | Physics and Astronomy Department | GRE accepted but not required |
| Master of Science in Business Analytics – MSBA | Anderson School of Management | GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS |
| Master of Science in Community Health Sciences | UCLA Fielding School of Public Health | GRE/ GMAT not required |
| Master of Science in Computer Science | UCLA Samueli Computer Science | GRE is optional, and IELTS or TOEFL is required |
| Master of Science in Data Science in Biomedicine | Computational Medicine Department | Not mentioned |
| Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering | UCLA Electrical and Computer Engineering | GRE is required |
| Master of Financial Engineering | Anderson School of Management | Not mentioned |
| Master of Applied Statistics and Data Science | College of Physical Science | GRE is highly recommended but optional |
#5 university for Master’s in California – University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD, is a public institution founded in 1960. Its acceptance rate is 25%. The U.S. News & World Report ranked it the 6th top public school, 29th top national university, and 177th best value school in the USA.
The university offers hundreds of graduate programs under the following schools:
- School of Global Policy and Strategy
- Rady School of Management
- School of Medicine
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Some of the top Master’s programs offered by these schools are mentioned below:
| Programs | Program Details |
| Master of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics | The course curriculum includes research in star and planet formation and evolution, galaxy formation and evolution, plasma astrophysics, general relativity, nuclear and particle astrophysics, cosmology, astrobiology, and astronomical instrumentation. |
| Master of Science in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology | Some of the core courses included in the curriculum are:
|
| Master of Science in Computational Science, Mathematics and Engineering | This two-year program requires students to complete 38 credit units to graduate. The following departments participate in offering the program:
|
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | Students must submit their GMAT or GRE scores. To prove their language proficiency, they must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. |
Career opportunities in California
Home to Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and many other tech, agriculture, and healthcare companies, the job market in California offers many opportunities to graduates. According to the job market data by the State of California – Labor and Workforce Development Agency:
- Education, leisure and hospitality, and health services are the leading growth industries.
- Tech companies like Apple and Google offer an average annual salary of $81,575, 19% higher than the national average.
- Professionals enrolled in lucrative roles in finance and engineering earn an average salary of $151,000 or over per annum.
These promising numbers and projections are particularly useful to international students pursuing STEM-designated programs. Such courses allow students to extend their Optional Practice Training by 24 months.
Life in California for international students
You’ve learned about the top Master’s programs, colleges offering those programs, and career opportunities in California for international students. But what about the life of an international student? Does California offer you global exposure or give you opportunities to explore different cultures? And what about the expenses you will incur?
The LA Times states California has the highest number of international students in the USA. 36% (over 140,858) of the total student population in the state is international. Out of these international students, 20% are from China and India. Exciting cities, cutting-edge technology, cultural riches, and a high standard of living offer plenty of global and cultural exposure to international students.
As for the cost of living and studying at the top universities in California for a Master’s, it can be expensive and cost you upwards of $50,000 per annum. As an international student, if you have a limited budget, the cost may make the education difficult, but not impossible, especially with FundRight (by GradRight) by your side. With FundRight, you can opt for study abroad loans of up to INR 2 crores without leaving the comfort of your house.
All you have to do is fill out a simple form, and the FundRight team will take your loan application to the top lenders and negotiate your offer to get you the best deal. Depending on your profile, your loan can be approved in as fast as 48 hours, and you’ll end up saving up to INR 23 lakhs.
So, what are you waiting for? Start now.
FAQ’s
1. How long is a master’s degree in California?
A typical Master’s degree in California can last one to three years, but the duration may vary depending on the type of program delivered and other relevant factors.
2. How much does a Master’s degree cost in California?
A Master’s degree in California can cost from $20,000 to $60,000 per annum. Please refer to the official website of your intended university for precise information, as the tuition varies highly for different programs and universities.
3. Is it expensive to study a Master’s in California?
With an average tuition fee of up to $60,000 per annum and the monthly cost of living averaging up to $3,000, California can be expensive for graduate students. However, you can opt for scholarships or education loans to offset the costs significantly.
4. How many units is a master’s degree in California?
The number of required credit units for a Master’s degree in California can vary for different programs. Typically, a Master’s degree requires 35-38 credits to graduate.
