Date: 02-06-2025

Top Rated 19 University in Pasadena, CA - A Smart Choice for the Future

SchoolAddress
1University of the People595 E Colorado Blvd Suite 623, Pasadena, CA 91101
2California Institute of Technology1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125
3California Institute of Technology1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125
4Pasadena City College1570 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106
5ArtCenter College of Design1700 Lida St, Pasadena, CA 91103
6Pacific Oaks College45 W Eureka St, Pasadena, CA 91103
7Saybrook University55 W Eureka St, Pasadena, CA 91103
8LACM (Los Angeles College of Music)300 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
9ArtCenter College of Design South Campus1111 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105
10William Carey International University1010 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91106
11Beckman InstitutePasadena, CA 91125
12Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics1216 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125
13Pacific Oaks College Administration Office55 W Eureka St, Pasadena, CA 91103
14California College of Music42 S Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
15California College of Music42 S Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106
16Providence Christian College464 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101
17Page House274 Olive Walk, Pasadena, CA 91125
18ArtCenter South Campus 950 Building950 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105
19Avery House293 S Holliston Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

1.University of the People

Address: 595 E Colorado Blvd Suite 623, Pasadena, CA 91101

Review images University of the People

(3172) Reviews University of the People:

Fereshta Sediqi Im currently studying at the University of the People, and I am truly enjoying my experience! The tuition-free model has made higher education accessible for me, and the flexibility of the online courses allows me to balance my studies with work and family commitments seamlessly. The diverse student body from over 200 countries enriches my learning experience, and the curriculum is practical and well-designed, helping me develop valuable skills for my future career. I appreciate the supportive community and the resources available to students. Overall, UoPeople is making education accessible and transforming lives. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to further their education!
5 /5
Nobesotho Cecilia Nyati This institution truly stands out for its affordability, flexibility, and accessibility. Whats even more incredible is that you can start your academic journey from anywhere in the world! The diversity of students from different cultures and backgrounds is a unique strength of UoPeople, and I loved being exposed to so many different perspectives. The instructors are simply amazing, and their guidance and support made a huge difference in my learning experience. If youre looking for a quality education thats flexible, affordable, and globally-focused, look no further than the University of the People! Im so grateful for the opportunity to have studied here and would highly recommend it to anyone!
5 /5
mignon Bertrand Studying at University of the People has been a rewarding experience. The flexibility of online learning has allowed me to balance my studies with other commitments. The tuition-free model has made education affordable, easing financial worries. I’ve also appreciated the global community, which has broadened my perspectives. The support from faculty has been great, and the courses are well-structured, helping me succeed in my health sciences degree. Overall, UoPeople has been a great opportunity for both personal and academic growth.
5 /5

2.California Institute of Technology

Address: 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125

Review images California Institute of Technology

(744) Reviews California Institute of Technology:

Lei Li Serene and elegant. Campus is not that big, but it is incredibly beautiful. I lived in San Marino for two years. I took a lot of pictures then. Every time I look at these pictures my mind is immersed in a tranquil atmosphere.
5 /5
Lili Gao Some cool older and more modern buildings. The website has a walking tour map of you want to check out the main sites. Bring water if youre doing this in the summer as its hot and the campus is huge!
5 /5
Steph Couvrette Beautiful campus for a nice walk. We did a self guided tour based on a guide on their website and learned a bit about the institutes history and what is studied in each building.
5 /5

3.California Institute of Technology

Address: 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125

Review images California Institute of Technology

(744) Reviews California Institute of Technology:

Lei Li Serene and elegant. Campus is not that big, but it is incredibly beautiful. I lived in San Marino for two years. I took a lot of pictures then. Every time I look at these pictures my mind is immersed in a tranquil atmosphere.
5 /5
Lili Gao Some cool older and more modern buildings. The website has a walking tour map of you want to check out the main sites. Bring water if youre doing this in the summer as its hot and the campus is huge!
5 /5
Steph Couvrette Beautiful campus for a nice walk. We did a self guided tour based on a guide on their website and learned a bit about the institutes history and what is studied in each building.
5 /5

4.Pasadena City College

Address: 1570 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91106

Review images Pasadena City College

(437) Reviews Pasadena City College:

Izabel Howlet I love this school so much!!! I did online schooling and it’s just amazing one on one help if you need it and it’s so good to focus and go at your pace . The teachers are good , didn’t really like my anatomy teacher that was harddddd!! But overall I love my experience here and I love how organized how you can track your progress of your degree and classes to take . The counselors advisors are amazing and success coaches especially. They all really go above and beyond and help you every step of the way . Definitely go here I recommend it .
5 /5
燕吴民 Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena and a well-known city university in the United States and California. The teaching quality of this college is very good, and the scenery is also very good. Students here come from all countries and ethnicities, and the learning atmosphere is very good. The location of the university is on the side of the main road, and the traffic is very convenient. There are parking lots around the college. The parking is also very convenient and the parking spaces are abundant.
5 /5
K. Warner Big fan of the library, theres a Cafe de Leche coffee shop on campus nearby, good internet access, everything a freelancer needs! The website needs an update, its not intuitive to find available classes, especially as a non-degree student looking for fun activities. But the librarians are amazing and can hook you up!
5 /5

5.ArtCenter College of Design

Address: 1700 Lida St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Review images ArtCenter College of Design

(124) Reviews ArtCenter College of Design:

Wayne Salvatti The ArtCenter College of Design had a terrific classic car show that featured an eclectic variety of the areas best classics,vintage and collector cars,trucks and motorcycles! The cars were all excellent and the owners shared great "gear head" stories! Along with perfect blue skies and overlooking the scenic Rose Bowl Linda Vista area of Pasadena and beautiful Angeles National Forrest the event featured scrumptious food and drinks,vendors,music and a terrific group of car lovers,families and visitors ! The staff handling the event-known as "The Pit Crew"-Were all very friendly,helpful and courteous! We all had the very best time at the event! . . . . . #artcentercollegeofdesign #accod #accd #seetheusa #godisgood #carshows #lindavista #pasadena #rosebowl #pitcrew #cardesign #goodtimes #classiccars #insta360x3 #360photography #carphotography
5 /5
SérGio Silva ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, stands out as one of the premier art schools globally, consistently recognized for its rigorous and forward-thinking approach to creative education. The institution offers an array of undergraduate and graduate programs that cover disciplines from fine arts and graphic design to transportation and entertainment design, making it a powerhouse in shaping the future of creative industries. One of the hallmarks of ArtCenter is its commitment to blending traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology. Students are not only encouraged to master the fundamentals but are also pushed to innovate and experiment. The faculty, composed of industry professionals and renowned artists, brings real-world experience into the classroom, providing invaluable insights and mentorship. The campus itself is a hub of creativity, featuring state-of-the-art facilities that include professional-grade studios, workshops, and galleries. This environment fosters a culture of collaboration, where students from diverse disciplines work together, often producing groundbreaking work that garners international recognition. ArtCenters alumni network is another testament to its excellence, with graduates who are leaders in their fields, from Oscar-winning filmmakers to influential designers. For anyone serious about a career in the arts or design, ArtCenter College of Design is undeniably one of the best places to hone your craft.
5 /5
Hyunje Jo ACCD is one of the finest colleage in the world for art and design. It is one of the best colleage that my son would like to study in the future. It is a university located in a quiet, idyllic surroundings with the beautiful sound of birds. ACCD offers a curriculum that emphasizes practicality, commerciality. Its major of dustrial design awards Bachelor of Science rather than B.A. The undergraduate program consists of Creative Direction Entertainment Design, Spatial Experience Design, Film, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interaction Design, Photography & imaging, Product Design, Transportation Design, Humanities & Design Science Integrated Studies, etc.
5 /5

6.Pacific Oaks College

Address: 45 W Eureka St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Review images Pacific Oaks College

(36) Reviews Pacific Oaks College:

Tori Kronmann This has been the most frustrating and disappointing experience I’ve ever had with a school. Communication is virtually nonexistent—they don’t respond to emails or phone calls, leaving students completely in the dark. Despite my efforts to get answers, I was met with silence at every turn. After a disastrous first term, I decided to withdraw, but even that process was a nightmare. It required escalating my concerns to the dean just to make any progress. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this school to anyone. Save yourself the headache and look elsewhere.
1 /5
boris heller After I’m just kicking me out of the college for no reason except for the professor Dr. Davis was allowed to bully me. I was denying my rights to have any legal advocate to stand up to me. I would never recommend this college. Let along the social work program if you wanna be like me and spend a lot of money and get zero results then go to this college and attend the social work program to top it all off. They decided that it was acceptable for me to pay for the class. they kicked me out of here proof there’s a lot of other colleges. They’re actually friendly professors. They actually work with the students not Pacific college.
1 /5
Bridgette The IRB process at Pacific Oaks College is an absolute nightmare. It is filled with bureaucratic red tape, delays, and incompetence. The staff are unhelpful and unresponsive, making it nearly impossible to get your research project approved in a timely manner. The process is convoluted and confusing, leading to frustration and wasted time. Save yourself the headache and avoid Pacific Oaks Colleges at all costs. It is a complete joke and a disgrace to academic research.
1 /5

7.Saybrook University

Address: 55 W Eureka St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Review images Saybrook University

(32) Reviews Saybrook University:

Josh Michaels A most disorganized program that changes requirements constantly. The rotating band of adjunct instructors cause chaos, changing class requirements mid stream, with little regard to the impact on students. The financial aid office extends offers of scholarships, then fails to fulfill terms. The only positive, the full time professors are caring humans… just utterly disorganized. Save 100,000$ to go to a better school.
1 /5
Patricia Martucci Best decision I made for myself. I graduated with an MA in Psychology specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy and I have have a thriving career for the past 15 years and have been able to do everything Ive wanted to in the field and more, included teach at a community college, be a clinical director, work in a thriving private practice and supervise other professionals in the field. Im currently writing a book and looking to expand my work even further. I highly recommend. It is what you put into it and there were some of the very best professors that Ive engaged with ever.
5 /5
sivie suckerman I’m sure each department is unique, but I found the counseling program to be significantly lacking in mentorship opportunities, accountability by leadership and support to students navigating both the masters and PhD programs. The school is all about checking boxes and not about actually learning anything. In fact, I had faculty literally tell me to just check boxes and I refused to accept that a PhD program should be about checking boxes. Maybe I expect too much, but it was my assumption that PhD programs were about advancing a field not asking you to just regurgitate talking points like you’re in a cult. Also, if you try to have a meaning with leadership about concerns and feeling like you aren’t getting what you need from the program, nothing changes and you are labeled a troublemaker. For a program that prides itself on being social justice oriented and “humanistic”, it’s approach is very colonialist, and it feels very arrogant.
2 /5

8.LACM (Los Angeles College of Music)

Address: 300 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

Review images LACM (Los Angeles College of Music)

(31) Reviews LACM (Los Angeles College of Music):

Jeff N A lot of top notch players in the industry teach here. Many of them teach at other schools in the area. I attended for the jazz program; one of LACMs newer degrees. If you are considering attending here, the best advice I could give you is to drop by the school and learn more about the program(s) you are interested in, if you can. That way you will know what youre signing up for before you sign up to attend. The school, at this point, is slightly pressed for space and some classes are forced to meet at 9pm or 10pm. The school only has a small number of practice rooms. About 8 rooms, total. Thats slightly problematic when youre sharing with multiple ensembles. A big band can have, on average, about 20 players. If many of them are practicing at the same time, you may not be able to find a practice room. A lot of students have to have their private lessons in practice rooms because of the lack of facilities. That makes finding a practice room harder. I had a couple of classes in the “Garage”, or the north building. It was frustrating to me because that building is also full of administration offices and has the schools visitor center. I had an ensemble class in there, and it was distracting to hear teachers talking and walking through to other rooms, administrators making business calls, etc. Definitely come by and see if the school would be a good fit before you attend.
3 /5
Till Richter Great drum program, teachers, staff and interesting and talented students from all over the world..fantastic masterclasses with the best of the best and overall a top school for music. Graduated in 2014 and couldnt be happier I decided to go there.
5 /5
Eve Langdon I attended the Drummers Reality Camp last summer and it was AWESOME . We toured the DW facility and the teachers were amongst some of the best drummers in the land.
4 /5

9.ArtCenter College of Design South Campus

Address: 1111 S Arroyo Pkwy, Pasadena, CA 91105

Review images ArtCenter College of Design South Campus

(24) Reviews ArtCenter College of Design South Campus:

Kathleen Tang Very nice campus, excellent program that offer young kids an opportunity to learn art, must better deal than private run art school.
5 /5
Behnia Easy Access, there is parking structure beneath the building, B1 is reserved for ArtCenter students parking and other visitors can park on B2. There is an amazing Café at the building call foodies café. And FedEx post box in the basement.
5 /5
COSMIC CATLORD The place is old with outdated infrastructure the prices are crazy for a semester of school and the food was mid and overpriced all in all kinda a typical pasadena experience. Ps. The south campus is just repurchased buildings that were repurposed from their old uses 870 was a postal office, 950 was a wind tunnel testing facility and 1111 was all lawyer and business offices. The only new building built so far was 908 that kinda lacks things even after its opening truly world class private education. Nothing has changed in the past 6 months
1 /5

10.William Carey International University

Address: 1010 Union St, Pasadena, CA 91106

Review images William Carey International University

(23) Reviews William Carey International University:

Truls Busch-Christensen This was taken at Graduation Day at WCIU 2019 where we met studied in early eighties. Great place to study in an international Christian environment. My critical views of Christianity was put to shame. 5 Years later we got married in Sweden
4 /5
Paul Cornelius William Carey International University is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (recognized by the US Department of Education). It currently offers two MA Level programs - A MA in Transformational Urban Leadership and a MA in Development Studies. The approach is to train women and men serving among communities in need so that they find solutions to the roots of human problems around the world. I continue to be attracted by the relevance of its training programs.
5 /5
Admissions Counselor One of the great things about William Carey International University (WCIU) is our programs are 100% online, so you can study with us from anywhere in the world! If you are interested and/or involved in missionary work, our programs will benefit you and your work immensely!
5 /5

11.Beckman Institute

Address: Pasadena, CA 91125

Review images Beckman Institute

(19) Reviews Beckman Institute:

Enakshi Kaul Truly a gem in the campus. Named after Beckman who had a long-term relationship with Caltech as a student, teacher and trustee. Built in Spanish style with a pool and a central courtyard. Beckman was inventor of the pH meter.
5 /5
Keith Beadle One of the nicer buildings on the Caltech campus. Nice sickish design with fragrant flowers in spring. Has a very nice gene pool in back.
4 /5
Rita Lim-Wilby A jewel of a campus surrounded by residential buildings. Very walkable with good restaurants close by. If visiting here, consider also a stop at the Huntington Library that is a short drive away.
5 /5

12.Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Address: 1216 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125

Review images Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics

(18) Reviews Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics:

Chien-Chang Chen Very cool building! The shape of building look irregular from outside. Go inside you will admire its design
5 /5
Ricardo Melgoza A very interesting modern architectural landmark with irregular straight angles like cubism.
5 /5
Linda Goldstein Wi-Fi only requires a phone number to use. Good venue for talks
5 /5

13.Pacific Oaks College Administration Office

Address: 55 W Eureka St, Pasadena, CA 91103

Review images Pacific Oaks College Administration Office

(17) Reviews Pacific Oaks College Administration Office:

Jessie Young I was accepted into this school and I was so happy. I always heard great things about this school. I was told my BA would be covered by financial aid. I repeatedly told Martha from admissions that I was not going to take out any loans. Well I was mislead. I was also told that tuition deposit was going to be returned back to me and again I was mislead. Now that I dont want to go to this school nobody calls me back. I look on the website and it states that the tuition is non refundable. My question is why was Martha lying and why does she not call back? How dare you lie and take peoples hard earned money especially in a pandemic and not return it and lie about everything. This school is just about money. You should be shut down. I hope your donors know what is going on. I want my refund!!! You dont even deserve this one star.
1 /5
Derek Walker We were establishing a partnership with the College to work with Marshall students identified as needing assistance. Great staff interaction and hope to get it going
5 /5
Ms. M I wanted to take some time before I posted my remarks about this college. I once believed in this school, its mission, value, core belief in education and educating the future educators of our youth. My grandmother graduated from this school and at one time I was proud to work here. As I continued to pour myself into this organization building partnerships and relationships and enrolling students into programs that at one time had some credibility, seems the executive team and cabinet members decided to make changes that didnt benefit the students. They placed people in positions who had no experience and had lacked management skills. Power trips and egos weighed heavy down every hall. A school where money in their pocket meant more than the education of the student. Where we promoted work life balance to our student, community, family, equality, and diversity. Yet somehow that was never promoted to our staff and was not allowed to be practiced by staff, we were yelled at, degraded, and belittled for having a voice, but yet voices is our magazine and we wanted our students to have a voice. As a form of constructive criticism I can only hope that they work on really utilizing the training sessions they used to make us directors sit, because they would waste a lot of money on those for nothing. I can only hope they can clean house and revamp and stop trying to fix a method of education that is not broken. Stop trying to change things when we really need to teach our children values and community which is what our new and up coming teachers are looking for and if you keep changing your core value someone else will take what you had and roll with it. Because that is what the market is looking for and that is what your graduates are teaching in their classrooms. Instead of asking your alumni for money ask them for help.
1 /5

14.California College of Music

Address: 42 S Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Review images California College of Music

(15) Reviews California College of Music:

Nepping Nepper Love this place, the teachers are really great. The girl in the office was a little bit dismissive and had a bad attitude but otherwise my time here was good. Edit: the essential oils woman left
5 /5
cam I went here about 14 years ago, close to when this school started… looking back it’s hard not to get emotional about this place. Though I was only there a couple semesters, I made connections and friends that I have to this day. All the teachers were very skilled and their range was incredible. They could go from mainstream pop to complex metal or jazz. Their drum teacher was on countless mo-town records, as was the engineer teacher who was also on Michael Jackson records, among many others. He took us to a private event at the Beverly Hills hotel with legends like Quincy jones, and Barry Gordy in attendance. The other engineer teacher was a talented drummer and had roots very deep in LA underground hip hop. The class settings are intimate and sometimes intense. you will be pushed. you will get better. This school was overall a surreal and invaluable time of my life and absolutely unforgettable.
5 /5
David Aranda This school is a great opportunity to take your musical abilities to the next abilities. The faculty is well experienced and incredibly talented
5 /5

15.California College of Music

Address: 42 S Catalina Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Review images California College of Music

(15) Reviews California College of Music:

Nepping Nepper Love this place, the teachers are really great. The girl in the office was a little bit dismissive and had a bad attitude but otherwise my time here was good. Edit: the essential oils woman left
5 /5
cam I went here about 14 years ago, close to when this school started… looking back it’s hard not to get emotional about this place. Though I was only there a couple semesters, I made connections and friends that I have to this day. All the teachers were very skilled and their range was incredible. They could go from mainstream pop to complex metal or jazz. Their drum teacher was on countless mo-town records, as was the engineer teacher who was also on Michael Jackson records, among many others. He took us to a private event at the Beverly Hills hotel with legends like Quincy jones, and Barry Gordy in attendance. The other engineer teacher was a talented drummer and had roots very deep in LA underground hip hop. The class settings are intimate and sometimes intense. you will be pushed. you will get better. This school was overall a surreal and invaluable time of my life and absolutely unforgettable.
5 /5
David Aranda This school is a great opportunity to take your musical abilities to the next abilities. The faculty is well experienced and incredibly talented
5 /5

16.Providence Christian College

Address: 464 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101

Review images Providence Christian College

(14) Reviews Providence Christian College:

Zoé Dianne Vernier Love the professors. I have really grown my faith here.
5 /5
Elijah Vanderveen Love the school, very positive friendly environment!
5 /5
Cara Lane My son loves the small classes and the great baseball program
5 /5

17.Page House

Address: 274 Olive Walk, Pasadena, CA 91125

Review images Page House

(14) Reviews Page House:

Cristobal Ramon Fun place for Caltech students to hang out and socialize, nice location
5 /5
Luke Juusola Page House -- decent wine and home to one tasty beefcake
5 /5
Ricardo Melgoza This the Page House at the California Institute of Technology. There is a very impressive historical cannon at this location.
5 /5

18.ArtCenter South Campus 950 Building

Address: 950 S Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

Review images ArtCenter South Campus 950 Building

(12) Reviews ArtCenter South Campus 950 Building:

Jorge Flor Came here for my sons art classes on Sundays. Parking is good. There are areas with tables to do work and eat while you wait for your childs class to end. The teacher is very friendly and approachable. Metro station is next to campus. Coffee shops and restaurants are walking distance. There is security that walks around and feels very safe.
5 /5
Lord The worst decision Ive ever made in my life is to choose to come here.
1 /5
michael hillman Beautiful
5 /5

19.Avery House

Address: 293 S Holliston Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Review images Avery House

(12) Reviews Avery House:

Ricardo Melgoza Avery House with nice arches throughout the front and inside courtyard.
5 /5
Jay Xu Avery House is great, I love Avery House
5 /5
Umran Koca This house is very nice to live in. The kitchens can get nasty every once in a while, but it is what it is.
4 /5