Los Angeles as a Study Destination
- Suzie Castello
- Jun 9
- 10 min read
Updated: Jun 11
The following is an overview of undergraduate opportunities in Los Angeles. Full disclosure: I am a native Californian, born and raised. I am an alumna of CSU, Northridge and UC Irvine, and the mom of a UCLA alumnus.
Los Angeles is an economic powerhouse
Counting its suburbs, the greater LA area is home to over 18 million people. It is a vast region made up of a rich mix of industries, arts, entertainment, cultures, languages, and food. Its geography includes beaches, forests, mountains and deserts. It stays connected to the world by several airports and the busiest container port in the western hemisphere. People navigate it all via a network of freeways and a burgeoning public transportation system.
It is the home of tech firms, sports teams, health services, real estate, aerospace, manufacturing, tourism, international trade and the entertainment industry. Disney, Netflix, Sony, Amazon, Youtube, Spotify, Northrup Grumman, Boeing, the big four consulting and auditing firms, investment banks and private equity firms, Nestle, Pepsi Co, BYD, and many other global companies have a presence in LA.
Los Angeles plays a key role in California's economy, the world's fourth largest in 2024. According to CA Governor Gavin Newsom quoting recent data from the International Monetary Fund, "California’s economy is growing at a faster rate than the world’s top three economies. In 2024, California’s growth rate of 6% outpaced the top three economies: U.S. (5.3%), China (2.6%) and Germany (2.9%). California’s success is long-term –the state’s economy grew strongly over the last four years, with an average nominal GDP growth of 7.5% from 2021 to 2024."
All this is to say that Los Angeles presents opportunities to explore careers and industries like nowhere else.
LA is a great place to be an international student
Los Angeles is a unique convergence of cultural, economic, and natural diversity making it an ideal growth environment for a young adult. The city offers a variety of museums and concert halls, cinemas, music and cultural events and festivals. It is home to multiple NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS teams and other top sports leagues and events.
Demographically, LA is very diverse with nearly half the population of Latino descent, and nearly a third of Asian descent. Languages from around the world are regularly spoken all over the city. The diversity of the region offers endless opportunities to grow cultural awareness and appreciation. The wealth of contributions from its vibrant immigrant communities makes Los Angeles a uniquely rich experience, and in my opinion, the best foodie destination in the US.
Southern California is famous for its beaches and relaxed coastal lifestyle. Winters are very mild. Snow is available for those who seek it out. Students can enjoy skiing and snowboarding in the nearby San Bernardino mountains. There is no burden of living and having to get around in the snow in Southern California. For most of the year, shorts and hoodie will be plenty.
Housing is expensive, but not as arduous to arrange as in other North American cities such as New York and Chicago. Getting around the greater LA area can be a challenge without a car, but many university neighborhoods are very pedestrian friendly and offer many of the shops and services a newly-arrived international student might need.
LA is full of educational opportunities
The following is a very superficial overview of public and private universities in the greater LA area. It is meant merely as a starting point for anyone considering doing their undergrad study in LA.
Public Universities
For more than 100 years, California has been dedicated to offering quality public higher education. The state has two public university systems offering bachelors and advanced degrees. In addition, California has a system of 116 Community Colleges that offer two-year Associate's degrees, and many with transfer pathways to bachelor's degree programs.
The Cal State System
The Cal State system, with 23 campuses and more than 450,000 undergraduates across California, is the largest public university system in the United States. CSU campuses in the greater LA area include:
California State University, Channel Islands
California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Northridge
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State University, San Bernardino
About half of the bachelor's degrees and a third of all master's degrees awarded in California are from CSU institutions. CSU had more graduates in business and engineering fields that all other California institutions combined. The CSU system offers more than 1800 degree programs in over 240 subject areas. CSU institutions have been lauded for many years for being as elevators of social mobility, best value, and highly diverse.
Since the CSU system has so much to offer, they offer a tool to search programs by size, location, degree, area of study, and athletic program. The CSU system offers a wide range of athletics. Its programs are members of NCAA and NAIA. Housing and health services are available on all campuses.
Admission is done centrally via Cal State Apply. Admission of international students is based mostly on a student's high school transcript and grades, demonstration of English proficiency, and financial certification. Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are not used in admissions, but may be used for placement, especially for math coursework. Selectivity differs by program. Popular programs, or impacted majors, receive many more applicants than there are spots in the program making them more selective. The window for Freshman application for Fall 2026 is October 1 - December 1, 2025.
The UC System
The University of California, or UC system is a collection of 10 public R1 classified research universities across California. Nine campuses offer undergraduate study, and the system has six medical schools. The combined system is home to over 230,000 undergraduates in over 800 degree majors. The UC system is California's land-grant university system, and the governing body of its two flagship institutions, UC Berkeley and UCLA. Learn more about each campus here. The UC campuses in greater LA area are:
UC Irvine
UCLA
UC Riverside
Across the UC system, students will find a wide range of majors and unique educational experiences from animation to nano engineering. Check here to find where your academic interest is offered. Most athletics programs are NCAA Division 1 or 3. Housing and health services are offered at all UC campuses.
While both systems' institutions represent a range of selectivity, undergraduate admission to many UC institutions is more selective than for the CSUs. This is a broad generalization as selectivity varies by campus and major. Academic requirements for the UCs include a higher GPA threshold and a more rigorous evaluation of academic achievement. UC institutions are among the most selective public universities in the country.
UCLA is the most popular university among first year applicants. In 2024, they received 146,250 first year applications. It was the 8th year in a row that UCLA received more applications than any other US university. The UC system as a whole received more than 200,000 first year applications total for Fall 2025.
Like the CSU system, applying to the UCs is centralized via the UC Application. According to UC admission leadership, admission is based on comprehensive review which "takes a student’s full picture into consideration by looking at more than just GPA and other quantifiable measures to get a total view of the individual and how they might add to a particular campus community." Admission practices do vary slightly among the nine campuses. "Working within UC-wide guidelines, each undergraduate campus has its own way of applying comprehensive review at the local level. Some campuses call their process 'comprehensive review,' while others have moved toward 'holistic review,' but they all follow the same systemwide policy that calls for considering up to 13 factors when evaluating applications."
The 13 admission factors include an examination of many nuanced elements of high school academic performance, as well as special talents, completion of special projects, special circumstances, and geographic location. The application asks applicants to choose among eight prompts to write four Personal Insight Questions. Except for specific programs, the UCs do not ask for letters of recommendation, and do not consider standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT for admission. The application for Fall 2026 opens August 1, and the window to submit is October 1 to November 30, 2025.
Further proof of California's commitment to providing quality higher education is its system of Community Colleges. These institutions have primary mission of providing learning opportunities to their surrounding communities. Students demonstrate a range of academic commitments, from the hobbyist seeking a ceramics class for fun to students seeking onramps to full four-year degrees. The California Community College system offers specific degree programs that prepare students to transfer to universities in the Cal State and UC systems, and other universities across the country. Over 80,000 California community college students transfer to a UC or Cal State campus every year.
Entry to community college programs have a less rigorous requirements, and are a great opportunity for a student who didn't have chance in high school missing admission requirements for direct entry to a four-year degree program. Like the UC and CSU institutions, standardized tests like the SAT or ACT are not required.
While most community colleges do not have on-campus housing, they do offer assistance for their students to find housing in the surrounding neighborhoods. One exception is Orange Coast College which does offer on-campus accommodation.
Private Universities
The greater LA area is also home to a wide range of private colleges and universities, including large research institutes, small liberal arts colleges, and institutions with specialized missions. The following list is not exhaustive, but focuses on institutions popular with international students.
Large > 15,000 undergrads
University of Southern California
USC is a large research institute with schools and academic units dedicated to a wide range of academic research and study, including a schools of medicine, engineering, business, innovation, music, arts and design, architecture, dance, and cinematic arts. Athletics are NCAA D1. On-campus housing is available. USC is located near downtown LA and the Coliseum.
Medium 3,000 - 15,000 undergrads
Chapman University
Chapman offers a range of programs, including those through colleges dedicated to business, performing arts, health sciences, engineering, communications, and film and media arts. Most athletics programs are NCAA D3. Housing is available on campus. Chapman is located in the city of Orange, near Disneyland and Angel's Stadium.
The Claremont Consortium
While each college in this group is small, together they form a medium sized campus of around 5,000 undergrads. The Claremont campuses are contiguous, sharing just under 550 acres in the suburb Claremont east of downtown LA, and just south of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Claremont undergraduate colleges are: Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Pitzer, Pomona, and Scripps.
Admission to each of the Claremont Colleges is conducted independently, and academic focus and mission is unique at each college. Harvey Mudd, for example has an academic focus of design, systems, and engineering science. Pitzer is a liberal arts and science college with a social justice and sustainability ethos. Scripps is a women's college with a unique interdisciplinary core curriculum and focus on humanities and arts. Claremont McKenna offers a liberal arts education with a strong focus on social sciences, economics and government. And Pomona offers a liberal arts education across a broad curriculum, and is the most selective of the consortium. Cross-campus enrollment and shared resources is a terrific benefit for all students in the consortium. On-campus housing is available and athletics are NCAA D3.
Loyola Marymount University
LMU is a Jesuit university with core academic teaching at the center of its undergraduate programs. LMU's dedicated schools include engineering, business, communications, and film & TV. Many of its athletics programs are NCAA D1. On-campus housing is available. LMU is located in the coastal area of Playa Vista, an important center for technology and media industries.
Pepperdine University
Perched overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu, Pepperdine is a Christian college offering undergraduate programs through its business school and liberal arts college. Popular majors are in the business and management fields, communications, social sciences, and visual and performing arts. Housing is available in campus. Many athletics programs are NCAA D1.
Small < 3,000 undergrads
Cal Tech
The California Institute of Technology is a small institution focused on scientific research and technology. Its just under 1000 undergrads learn in an interdisciplinary environment focused on research. Cal Tech's many projects includes managing JPL, (Jet Propulsion Labs) for NASA. Cal Tech is located in Pasadena, a suburb north of downtown LA. Its residential experience is an integral part of the learning environment and most undergrads remain in their residence halls for all four years. Athletics are NCAA D3.
Occidental College
Located in Eagle Rock, tucked in the hills in northeastern LA, Occidental College is dedicated to interdisciplinary undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences, cultural understanding, and engagement with the global community. All students complete a core program of study, and are encouraged to conduct research. Housing is available on campus, and athletics are NCAA D3.
Cal Lutheran University
Located north of Los Angeles in the quiet, suburban community of Thousand Oaks, Cal Lutheran University offers undergraduate study through their College of Arts and Sciences, and School of Management. Popular majors are Business Administration, Psychology, and Exercise Science. On-campus housing is available and athletics are NCAA D3 and SCIAC.
Women's Colleges
Mount Saint Mary University
MSMU is a Catholic university with two main campuses, the Chalon campus on the west side of Los Angeles in the hills of Brentwood near the Getty Center, and the Doheny campus other in the historic West Adams District. MSMU is a women's college and recognized Hispanic Serving Institution. Popular programs include Film and Media (with its own learning spaces in the former Columbia Pictures Studios), Business, Psychology and Nursing. Housing is available on both campuses.
Also see Scripps College described in the Claremont Consortium above.
Arts Education
Many of the universities and colleges mentioned offer prestigious, focused degree programs in the arts. In addition, the following institutions are dedicated uniquely to arts education.
California Institute of the Arts
Located north of Los Angeles in the community of Santa Clarita, Cal Arts is renown for its BFA programs in Art, Dance, Critical Studies, Film and Video, Music, and Theater. It is well known for its BFA in Character Animation. On-campus housing is available.
Art Center College of Design
Art Center undergraduate education focuses on the visual arts and design, including unique programs in entertainment design, spacial experience design, and there famous transportation design program. Art Center is located in Pasadena. Housing is only available off campus.
Otis College of Art & Design
Otis offers career-oriented arts and design BFA programs, including game and entertainment design, fashion, product design, and toy design. Otis is located in Playa del Rey near many media and entertainment design firms. On-campus housing is available.
The Colburn School
The Colburn School is a conservatory that offers an programming for youth, undergraduate and graduate levels. Their undergraduate degrees include a Bachelors in Music and a Performance Diploma. Colburn is located in downtown between the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Museum of Contemporary Art. They do not offer on-campus housing.
I hope this overview of Los Angeles as an educational destination is enlightening. If you would like to learn more, please get in touch.
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