College Costs in California

The 2025 Directory of California Colleges and Prices

California Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2025

How much does it cost to attend college in California?   The average annual in-state college tuition in California was $14,430 for the 2021-2022 academic year. This is $1,200 lower than the U.S. average and ranks California in the middle of the pack as the 28th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $1,017 from the 2019-2020 average of $13,413 and represents a 7.58% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of California colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.

This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 311 colleges and universities in California, the most popular being University of Southern California with 41,648 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $66,640. University of Southern California is the most expensive in California with an in-state tuition of $66,640.

All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2023 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2022-2023 academic year.
California Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

311 results

Stanford University
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Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

$61,731 Tuition

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,446enrollment
  • $17,998net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1580SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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University of California Los Angeles
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Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#3 Best Public Universities in America

  • 46,678enrollment
  • $15,166net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Southern California
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Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

$66,640 Tuition

#5 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 47,147enrollment
  • $41,496net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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San Diego State University
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San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#10 Best Public Universities in California

  • 39,241enrollment
  • $19,500net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Irvine
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Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 36,582enrollment
  • $14,647net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Berkeley
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Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#5 Best Public Universities in America

  • 45,699enrollment
  • $16,997net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#18 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,068enrollment
  • $15,283net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Davis
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Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#12 Best Public Universities in America

  • 39,707enrollment
  • $17,315net price
  • 42%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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San Jose State University
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San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#13 Best Public Universities in California

  • 36,062enrollment
  • $13,833net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.35Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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Pepperdine University
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Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

$65,990 Tuition

#13 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,545enrollment
  • $52,216net price
  • 50%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1450SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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California State University Long Beach
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Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#11 Best Public Universities in California

  • 40,278enrollment
  • $9,731net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California San Diego
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La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#9 Best Public Universities in America

  • 42,376enrollment
  • $13,293net price
  • 25%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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San Francisco State University
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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#17 Best Public Universities in California

  • 23,908enrollment
  • $13,353net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of San Francisco
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San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$57,670 Tuition

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,212enrollment
  • $44,104net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Loyola Marymount University
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Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$57,602 Tuition

#8 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,256enrollment
  • $54,471net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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University of San Diego
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San Diego, CA

University of San Diego

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

$55,690 Tuition

 

  • 9,110enrollment
  • $37,675net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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California State University Los Angeles
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Los Angeles, CA

California State University Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#26 Best Public Universities in California

  • 25,080enrollment
  • $4,551net price
  • 92%acceptance rate
  • 870-1060SAT range
  • 15-20ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 19

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Santa Clara University
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Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

$58,587 Tuition

#7 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,340enrollment
  • $49,651net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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