10 Best Colleges and Universities Near Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa, California sits in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area and is the largest city in Wine Country.

Not only is this area beautiful, but it offers access to many of the amenities of the Bay Area, including colleges and universities.

Keep reading to discover some of the top universities and colleges near Santa Rosa, California.

Featured Colleges in Santa Rosa, California

Though there aren't any colleges in Santa Rosa, there are several in the Bay Area. Below, we've listed some of the best universities and colleges near Santa Rosa, California in alphabetical order.

1. California College of the Arts

The California College of the Arts is a private art school in San Francisco, roughly 50 miles south of Santa Rosa. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees.

Degrees are available in the college's four core disciplines:

• Architecture
• Design
• Fine Arts
• Humanities and Science

The university was founded in 1907 and currently enrolls about 1,500 students.

2. Dominican University of California

Dominican University of California is a private university in San Rafael, a city about 35 miles south of Santa Rosa. It primarily offers bachelor's and master's degrees.

Students can earn degrees in fields such as:

• Business
• Computer Science
• Education
• Health Sciences and Nursing

Dominican University was founded in 1890. Today, it enrolls just under 2,000 students on a vast 80-acre campus.

3. Golden Gate University

Golden Gate University is a private university in San Francisco. It offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs on campus and online.

Degrees are available through five schools within the university:

• Ageno School of Business
• Braden School of Taxation
• School of Accounting
• School of Law
• School of Undergraduate Studies

The university was founded in 1901. It currently enrolls just over 2,600 students, about 2,000 of which are graduate students.

4. Pacific Union College

Pacific Union College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Angwin, a city on the opposite side of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. It offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.

Degrees are available through the college's three schools:

• School of Arts, Humanities, and Professional Studies
• School of Nursing and Health Sciences
• School of Sciences

Pacific Union College was founded in 1882. Today, it enrolls about 870 students, almost all undergraduates.

5. Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University is a private health sciences university in Oakland, roughly 50 miles south of Santa Rosa. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Students can earn degrees through the universities three colleges:

• College of Health Sciences
• College of Nursing
• College of Podiatric Medicine

The university was established in 1909. It currently enrolls just under 2,000 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1.

6. Sonoma State University

Sonoma State University is a public university in Rohnert Park, just south of Santa Rosa. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees.

Degrees are available in areas of study like:

• Business
• Education
• Health Sciences and Nursing
• Social Sciences

Sonoma State University was founded in 1960. Today, it enrolls around 6,600 students, making it one of the smallest in the California State University system.

7. University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley is a public research university in Berkeley, about 50 miles south of Santa Rosa. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

Students can earn degrees in fields such as:

• Business
• Computer and Information Science
• Engineering
• Social Sciences

The university was established in 1868 and is the founding campus of the University of California system. It currently enrolls over 45,000 students.

8. University of California, Davis

The University of California, Davis is a public research university in Davis, roughly 55 miles east of Santa Rosa. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.

Degrees are available in areas of study like:

• Biological and Biomedical Sciences
• Business
• Engineering
• Social Sciences

UC Davis was founded in 1905. Today, it enrolls nearly 40,000 students, most of them undergraduate students.

9. University of California, San Francisco

The University of California, San Francisco is a public research university in San Francisco. It offers health science programs primarily for graduate students.

Students can earn degrees through the university's four schools:

• School of Dentistry
• School of Medicine
• School of Pharmacy
• School of Nursing

The university was originally established in 1864 as a medical college. It currently enrolls over 3,000 students.

10. University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco is a private Catholic university in San Francisco. It offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Degrees are available through five colleges and schools:

• College of Arts and Sciences
• School of Education
• School of Law
• School of Management
• School of Nursing and Health Professions

The University of San Francisco was founded in 1855. Today, it enrolls nearly 10,000 students.

What Is the Biggest School Near Santa Rosa, California?

The largest college near Santa Rosa, California is UC Berkeley. It's the second-largest in the University of California system with over 45,000 students.

How To Choose the Right College Near Santa Rosa, California

There are many things to consider when choosing the right college. These include:

• Your intended program of study
• Location
• Extracurricular and on-campus activities
• Your budget
• Your financial aid options

Paying for Your Degree Near Santa Rosa, California

College can be expensive, so most students use financial aid to help pay for their degree.

To find out what you qualify for, start by filling out your Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students often use a combination of financial aid types, like federal grants, scholarships, student loans, and work-study programs.

Start Your Degree Near Santa Rosa, California Today

Students can find many excellent colleges near Santa Rosa, California. Check out the featured colleges above and find your perfect match today!