Have you ever dreamt of studying in California? Do you have more interest in a college or University with fewer crowds or lesser people? Are you a student that prefers a more intimate method of learning? This post “List of Small Colleges in California” will help give you a sure direction to look. We also talked about Advantages of studying in California and it’s downside. As well as how much does studying in California cost? And choosing a College in California.
Studying in the U.S. is one of the biggest dreams a serious student could ever have. There are currently over 1 Million enrolled students in the States institution or working in OPT. However, despite all of the eye catching cities in the U.S. most students often opt for California. The reason is not far fetched as California is a beautiful city on its own and houses many Universities. In 2021, there were over 130,000 international students across California Colleges. Thus making it the city in U.S. that has more international students than any other place.
However, it is often said that no good thing comes for free hence the price to study in California is no walk in the park. The National Center for Education Statistics have shown that a full time nonresident student pay 10% more than others. This means that such student pay 10% more than average for tuition, accommodation and board. Also, studying in California require a vast amount of preparation and consideration. If you think you’d still like to study in California, follow this post on List of Small Colleges in California“.
Advantages of Studying in California
Studying in California has its perks and some of them are;
Cultural Diversity:
According to research, California ranked top amongst the culturally diverse States in the U.S. Studying there will enable you relate with people from different parts of the world, sharing values and beliefs.
Academic Opportunities
California has been said to be the home of several top Colleges and Universities in the world. They offer so many academic programs as well as the STEM programs. Studying in the state exposes you to multiple opportunities to aid your education.
Economic Opportunities
The massive economic rate in California is more than enough to make it pass as a Country. In addition to this, California easily has the largest economy in any state worldwide. It would have ranked 5th largest in gross domestic product if it were a country.
Recreational Activities
California offers lots of recreational activities that ranges from a day out in the beach to picnics. They also have museums and parks where students can go to pass time and also gain knowledge in the process.
Downside of studying in California
There is a downside to everything beautiful, thus there are equally cons of studying in California. Below are some of the reasons why you might not want to study in the city. They include;
High Cost of Living
You would think that a city with that much international student will run on affordable living. However the reverse is the case as California is known for having very high cost of living. Although there are areas that are affordable, yet the average cost of living in the state is higher that the national average. California’s average cost of living is about 50% higher than that of the rest of the world.
Population
Because California is a large state, the population is equally out of this world. California is also ranked the most populated state in the United States of America. Some areas are in fact over crowded and congested. Research has shown that in Los Angeles, there are over 4 million residents and the state also houses the most students.
High Cost of Learning
The fees for non resident students in California has been ranked 6th highest on the United States. As earlier said, a non resident students pays 50% more than indigenes of the country. Also, part time jobs are not made readily available for immigrants compared to indigenes
Mode of Transportation
Gas rate at California is simply mind blowing and might throw students off balance. Although there are trains to convey students to school, they also come with high fee. Generally the transportation system in California is on the high side.
How much does studying in California cost?
As earlier stated, California ranks 3rd in the nation for the highest cost of living. However, they are also the 3rd largest state in the U.S. thus offering colleges in numerous cities. Some top private research universities in California require hefty tuition fees. A perfect example is Stanford University whose tuition fee in the past year was $55,000. In addition to this, the cost for tuition in public universities are no better as nonresident students had to pay $34,000. According to the NCES, the average tuition fee for private colleges in California was about $38,000 in the previous year.
By and Large, studying in one of California university in 2021-22 cost about $44,000 for non resident students. This amount only covers for tuition and fees as they have to pay additional amount for board and rooms. In some situation, they also include supplies, health insurance, books and transportation. It has been said that in total, these additional cost add up to about $28,000 for students in campus. Students living off campus have additional $24,000 to add up to the tuition and fees. These costs are however subject to change as the school pleases and according to the College you’re choosing.
Choosing a College in California
There are over 450 Colleges and Universities in California which means you have 450 choices. However, this post is to help narrow your choices as regards colleges with high standards. Below are things to consider when choosing the right university or College for you.
- Narrow your focus by identifying your area of interest
- Conduct a research and know your available options.
- Decide on the location you’d like to school in by considering the size of the colleges in the city.
- Ensure that you are eligible to apply into the school of your choice.
- Consider the cost of tuition and fees. If you are a nonresident student, remember you are paying 50% more than normal.
- Be sure to check out the student support services.
List of Small Colleges in California
Having established that California is the one of the largest states in the United States of America, there are several small Colleges in the state. These colleges exist in order to reduce the distance between Lecturers and teachers. There are students who need more intimate attention in education and these colleges are perfect for them. We will now take a look at a couple of small colleges you can attend in California.
Pomona College
This College was established in 1887 by a group of church leaders who wanted to recreate a type of England college in Southern California. Pomona College is a private Liberal arts College and also the founder of Claremont Colleges Consortium of affiliate institution. The University is located in Claremont, California, United States with about 140 acres of land. Pomona admits about 1,700 for a 4 year course and offers about 650 courses as well as additional 2000 courses. The admission criteria for this university is at 8% with a Net Price of &69,725 and SAT Range of 1370-1530.
California Institute of Technology
Popularly known as Caltech or CIT, the California Institute of Technology is a private research university founded in 1891. CIT is well known for its scientific advancements and achievement in the world of technology. It is the best kind of College for students with interest in pure and applied sciences. The University is located in Pasadena, California and is one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Caltech has an acceptable rate of 7% and a Net Price of $68,901 and SAT Range of 1530-1590. It is the second best small college in California.
Claremont McKenna College
Established in 1946, Claremont McKenna is a private Liberal arts College with emphasis on everything government and economics related. Its motto is “Crescit cum commercio civitas” which translates to mean “Civilization Prospers with commerce “. Claremont McKenna is affiliated with NAICU, Annapolis Group, Oberlin Group and Claremont Colleges. It is located in Claremont, California, United States and has about 69 acres of land. Acceptance into this s College is quite competitive and its rate of acceptance is 10%. It also has a Net Price of $71,745 and a SAT Range of 1340-1510.
Harvey Mudd College
A part of Claremont Colleges, HMC, as it is fondly called, is a private college focused on engineering and science. Getting into this university is no walk in the park as it is very competitive. It was founded in 1955 and is located on n Claremont, California United States of America. It is important to note that although Harvey was involved in the planning, however he died before it opened. Thus the University was majorly funded by his friends and family and designed by Edward Durell Stone. The acceptance rate at this university is 15% and it is the 4th best college in California.
Scripps College
This is one of the top Women colleges in Claremont California and it was founded in 1962. The initial endowment for this university was given by Ellen Browning Scripps, a Journalist and philanthropist. Scripps’ college latin is “Incipit Vita Nova” which translates to “Here begins a new life “. The college was established in 1926 and was designed by Gordon Kaufmann in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Scripps College was mostly built for women and is regarded we the most prestigious college in United States. The acceptance rate to this university is set at 33% and it’s SAT Range is 1290-1460.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in California?
California has over 450 Colleges and the colleges offer numerous number of courses.
What City in California has the most Colleges?
The city with the most Colleges in California is Los Angeles. Los Angeles has over 250 Colleges and the most international students as well.
What is the difference between College and Universities in California?
Colleges are relatively smaller than Universities in terms of size. Also, while College offer undergraduate degrees, Universities offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
What is the most popular college degree?
The most popular college majors in the states are business, health and social sciences. These majors add up to 40% of the degrees gotten in the U.S. every year.
See also: https://www.applyboard.com/blog/international-student-california