List of colleges and universities in California

*University of California, Los Angeles was founded in 1882 as the southern branch of the California State Normal School.

**University of California, Santa Barbara was founded in 1891 as an independent teachers' college.

*California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo was founded as a vocational high school.

It became a vocational school in 1924, and then started awarding bachelor's degrees in 1940.

**California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, was founded as a southern branch of California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo in 1938, but became independent in 1966.