California's top universities span from the hyper-selective Stanford University and UC Berkeley, which accept fewer than 4 out of every 100 applicants, to more accessible options like UC Davis, where your chances are around 41.6 percent. The eight schools profiled here split between three private institutions like USC and Loyola Marymount University alongside five University of California campuses, offering different financial models with an average net price of about $20,000 annually. Graduates from these schools earn a median of roughly $69,400 within six years of enrollment, suggesting the investment returns value whether you attend a highly selective school or a more inclusive one.