Colleges & Universities in Orange County, CA (2024)
Orange County definitely isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of a college town—it’s a giant suburb made up of residential neighborhoods, shopping malls, and parks.
But the colleges that we do have are well-regarded, with beautiful campuses to boot.
The community college network, one of the largest in the country, has strong transfer rates to state schools.
Check out the complete list below of Orange County’s major colleges and universities.
4-Year Colleges in Orange County
Chapman University (Orange, CA)
Check out CU’s attractions here
University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA)
Home to several of the coolest buildings in OC
Cal State University Fullerton (Fullerton, CA)
2-Year Colleges in Orange County
Cypress College (Cypress, CA)
Fullerton College (Fullerton, CA)
Golden West College (Huntington Beach, CA)
Irvine Valley College (Irvine, CA)
Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa, CA)
Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, CA)
Santa Ana College (Santa Ana, CA)
Santiago Canyon College (Orange, CA)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Orange County, CA?
There are three major universities in Orange County, CA: Chapman University, UC Irvine, and CSUF.
What is the best college in Orange County, CA?
UC Irvine is the highest ranked college (#33) in Orange County by US News & World Report.
