Online Colleges in California

California has a history of high-profile online education experiments and initiatives. In 2013, Governor Jerry Brown worked with San Jose State University to pilot an online Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) program with Udacity. Unfortunately, the experiment did not fare well, with just about 4% of students finishing their courses using this system. However, the state of California did not let these challenges break their stride in exploring viable ways to deliver online education. Governor Jerry Brown's Online Education Initiative, launched in 2013, continues to move forward with distance learning goals, including online course peer reviews, certification processes, and professional development.

In this rapidly growing state, enrollment levels are high. Boasting well over two million actively-enrolled students, California's colleges and universities serve the largest student population in the nation. Of course, competition for funding is competitive — in-state tuition rates at four-year institutions doubled between 2006-2011 and continue to skyrocket. Unfortunately, state appropriations aren't likely to alleviate the financial strain of rising costs. California's total higher education appropriations dipped by 12.4% within the same five year span.

Search the database below to review the top online programs offered in California. For more insight into California's higher education environment, check out the state facts tab below.