Colleges, Universities & Online Colleges in Los Angeles
With a population of more than four million people and encompassing 503 square miles, Los Angeles, California is one of the largest cities in the United States. As a result, LA is home to 63 colleges and the city’s nearly constant sunny weather attracts students from all over the nation.
Colleges in Los Angeles
The state of California has an extensive public education system. In fact, it has 111 community colleges alone. LA has a wealth of community colleges, public and private four-year universities and online colleges.
The largest community college by enrollment is Los Angeles City College (LACC). It was established in 1929 and has 16,042 students. According to the California Colleges website, one unique feature of LCC is its multi-ethnic student base that ranges in age from high school students to senior citizens. LACC offers degrees and certificates in music, nursing, engineering, and many other areas of study. The school also offers career and vocational programs for students who want to pursue careers in areas such as law enforcement, business, entertainment, and child development.
Other two-year public colleges in LA include Los Angeles Harbor College and West Los Angeles College.
In addition to two-year colleges, LA has two four-year state universities. California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) serves 18,074 students and accepts 67.5 percent of those who apply each year, according to U.S. News & World Report. CSU Northridge (CSUN) has 31,119 students and has a 46.2 percent acceptance rate. Both universities offer numerous degrees, credentials and certificates for undergraduate as well as graduate students. Some examples include: African American studies, social work, urban learning, and exercise science.
Los Angeles is also home to the well known University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). According to the institution’s website, UCLA is the most applied-to university in the U.S. UCLA’s 42,163 students can choose from over 125 majors and more than 80 minors. Areas of study available include music history, Asian American studies, dance, and statistics. UCLA has five academic divisions: letters and science; arts and architecture; engineering and applied science; nursing; and theater, film and television.
Los Angeles also has a number of private four-year institutions, including the University of Southern California (USC), Anitoch University Los Angeles, American Film Institute Conservatory, American Jewish University, Occidental College, Marymount College, and Mount St. Mary’s College. These institutions provide a mix of undergraduate and graduate degrees and sometimes revolve around special interests such as the arts or a highly religious campus environment.
To get a better idea of the range of two- and four-year higher education options LA has, here are just a few choice students have:
| Institution | Type | Training/Degrees Offered |
| Los Angeles City College | Public | Certificates, Associate’s degrees |
| Los Angeles Harbor College | Public | Certificates, Associate’s degrees |
| West Los Angeles College | Public | Certificates of achievement or skill, Associate’s degrees |
| California State University Los Angeles | Public | Certificates, Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees, PhD |
| California State University Northridge | Public | Teaching credentials, Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees, PhD |
| University of California Los Angeles | Public | Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees, PhD, Continuing education |
| University of Southern California | Not for Profit Private | Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees, PhD, Continuing education |
| Mount St. Mary’s College | Not for Profit Private | Certificates, Associate’s degrees, graduate degrees |
| Marymount College | Not for Profit Private | Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees |
| Occidental College | Not for Profit Private | Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees |
| American Jewish University | Not for Profit Private | Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees, Continuing education |
| Alliant International University | Not for Profit Private | Bachelor’s degrees, graduate degrees |
Online Colleges in Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$41,196
- In-State$11,442
- Out-of-state$26,544
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate12%
- Students Enrolled44,371
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment5%
- AccreditationYes
University of Southern California
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$57,256
- Out-of-state$57,256
- In-State$46,272
- Out-of-state$46,272
- Retention Rate96%
- Acceptance Rate11%
- Students Enrolled48,321
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment17%
- AccreditationYes
California State University, Los Angeles
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate48%
- Students Enrolled26,671
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment33%
- AccreditationYes
Loyola Marymount University
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$49,550
- Out-of-state$49,550
- In-State$18,606
- Out-of-state$18,606
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate44%
- Students Enrolled9,822
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment6%
- AccreditationYes
Mount Saint Mary's University
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$41,592
- Out-of-state$41,592
- In-State$11,964
- Out-of-state$11,964
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate90%
- Students Enrolled2,855
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment35%
- AccreditationYes
Occidental College
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$55,980
- Out-of-state$55,980
- In-State$55,980
- Out-of-state$55,980
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate37%
- Students Enrolled1,985
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Southwestern Law School
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- In-State$18,430
- Out-of-state$18,430
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled819
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Otis College of Art and Design
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$45,200
- Out-of-state$45,200
- In-State$45,200
- Out-of-state$45,200
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled1,183
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment14%
- AccreditationYes
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,992
- Out-of-state$10,992
- In-State$21,564
- Out-of-state$21,564
- Retention RateN/A
- Acceptance Rate13%
- Students Enrolled2,999
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment82%
- AccreditationYes
Southern California Institute of Architecture
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$45,292
- Out-of-state$45,292
- In-State$45,292
- Out-of-state$45,292
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled497
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
