3 Best Northern California Cities for Colleges and Job Opportunities
Northern California Cities to Consider
While other areas might have economies based on natural resources or manufactured goods, the opportunities in many Northern California cities are based on innovation. That’s just one reason why colleges in Northern California are great places to earn a college degree.
California is one of the wealthiest states in the United States. It’s also the most diverse. People from all over the world come to California to study, start businesses, and make a future. New ideas, new technology, and new people are encouraged and celebrated.
International students who want to study in the United States should consider choosing a college in one of these Northern California cities.
Top 3 “Opportunity” Cities in Northern California
1. San Francisco is among the largest and best-known cities in Northern California. Known for the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and its famously welcoming atmosphere, San Francisco is popular with tourists, business travelers, and students alike.
From coastal scenery to Silicon Valley, San Francisco has a lot to offer a curious student. It’s also the home of Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as the San Francisco campus of University of the Pacific (UOP). UOP’s San Francisco campus hosts programs in analytics, audiology, dentistry, food studies and music therapy, as well as dental and audiology clinics to support community health.
2. Sacramento, the capital of California, is also its fastest growing city, due to a booming real estate economy, and the array of start-up businesses in the area. Sacramento also hosts the Sacramento Campus of University of the Pacific. UOP’s interdisciplinary center offers programs at the intersection of law, policy, business, education, and health.
If you’re looking for a program in international law, you’re in the right place. University of the Pacific was named #20 among the Best International Law Schools in the United States.
3. Stockton, another growing but lesser known city in northern California, is poised for greatness. With a job growth rate well above the national average and a low unemployment rate, Stockton offers opportunities for new graduates and interns looking for work. The industries of health services, leisure and hospitality, and professional scientific and technical services will likely see the biggest growth. It’s also the home of the University of the Pacific.
The cost of living in Stockton is lower than many Northern California cities, which is one of the many reasons U.S. News and World Report named it among the Top 125 Best Places to live.
Around and between these cities in Northern California, you’ll find beautiful natural wonders preserved on state and federal park land such as the Redwood Forest, Point Reyes National Seashore, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, and many more.
Ready to make a future in Northern California? Explore international-friendly universities or connect with a counselor.