College Costs in California
California Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2027
How much does it cost to attend college in California? The average annual in-state college tuition in California was $15,539 for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is $2,271 lower than the U.S. average and ranks California in the middle of the pack as the 29th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $1,916 from the 2022-2023 average of $13,623 and represents a 14.06% 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 278 colleges and universities in California, the most popular being University of California Los Angeles with 45,444 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $15,203. University of Southern California is the most expensive in California with an in-state tuition of $72,097.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey and reflect reported costs for academic year 2024/2025.
Stanford University
- Private 4 Year
- Stanford, CA
-
4.8 | 6 reviews
- $65,910 tuition
- Jan 2 application deadline
Stanford is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and entrepreneurship. The suburban campus sits in the heart of Silicon Valley.
- SAT Range 1510-1580
- Avg GPA 3.96
- Acceptance Rate 4%
- Net Price $25,078
University of California Los Angeles
- Public 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- $15,203 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
UCLA is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate film, television, and theater. The urban Westwood campus also has a nationally known basketball program.
- SAT Range 1300-1530
- Avg GPA 3.92
- Acceptance Rate 9%
- Net Price $14,512
University of Southern California
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
4.2 | 5 reviews
- $72,097 tuition
USC is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate film, communications, and business. The urban Los Angeles campus has a large Greek presence and longstanding ties to the entertainment industry.
- SAT Range 1450-1550
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 10%
- Net Price $43,412
San Diego State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Diego, CA
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- $8,728 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
SDSU is a large public university known for undergraduate international business, hospitality management, and communications. The urban campus sits in San Diego's College Area with Spanish Colonial Revival buildings.
- SAT Range 1090-1300
- Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 36%
- Net Price $14,704
University of California Irvine
- Public 4 Year
- Irvine, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- $15,722 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC Irvine is a large public university known for undergraduate computer science, biological sciences, and engineering. The suburban campus centers on Aldrich Park in the planned city of Irvine.
- SAT Range 1230-1430
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 29%
- Net Price $15,889
University of California Berkeley
- Public 4 Year
- Berkeley, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- $16,347 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
Berkeley is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and chemistry. The hillside campus overlooks San Francisco Bay in the East Bay city of Berkeley.
- SAT Range 1310-1530
- Avg GPA 3.87
- Acceptance Rate 11%
- Net Price $16,538
University of California Santa Barbara
- Public 4 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- $16,414 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
UCSB is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate physics, marine science, and environmental studies. The oceanfront campus sits directly on the Pacific coast near Santa Barbara.
- SAT Range 1230-1460
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 33%
- Net Price $17,658
University of California Davis
- Public 4 Year
- Davis, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $16,774 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC Davis is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, environmental science, and biological sciences. The campus sits in the bike-friendly college town of Davis.
- SAT Range 1160-1400
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 42%
- Net Price $17,270
San Jose State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Jose, CA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- $8,410 tuition
- Dec 15 application deadline
San Jose State is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and business. The urban campus sits in downtown San Jose in the heart of Silicon Valley.
- SAT Range 1010-1240
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.35
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $13,892
Pepperdine University
- Private 4 Year
- Malibu, CA
-
3.8 | 4 reviews
- $69,918 tuition
- Jan 15 application deadline
Pepperdine is a private Christian university known for undergraduate business, communication, and international studies. The Malibu campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean from hillsides above the coast.
- SAT Range 1290-1450
- Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 63%
- Net Price $66,585
California State University Long Beach
- Public 4 Year
- Long Beach, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $7,350 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
Cal State Long Beach is a large public university known for undergraduate art and design, nursing, and business. The campus sits near the Pacific coast in the Los Angeles metro area.
- SAT Range 1020-1240
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 46%
- Net Price $10,607
University of California San Diego
- Public 4 Year
- La Jolla, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $16,758 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC San Diego is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate biological sciences, engineering, and oceanography. The coastal La Jolla campus sits on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
- SAT Range 1270-1480
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 27%
- Net Price $14,047
San Francisco State University
- Public 4 Year
- San Francisco, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $7,950 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
SF State is a large public university known for undergraduate ethnic studies, cinema, and creative writing. The urban campus borders Lake Merced in southwestern San Francisco.
- SAT Range 930-1130
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 96%
- Net Price $13,168
University of San Francisco
- Private 4 Year
- San Francisco, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $60,492 tuition
- Jan 15 application deadline
USF is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and international studies. The urban campus sits beside Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
- SAT Range 1190-1390
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $45,443
Loyola Marymount University
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $62,357 tuition
- Jan 15 application deadline
Loyola Marymount is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and communications. The bluff-top Los Angeles campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
- SAT Range 1260-1430
- Avg GPA 3.92
- Acceptance Rate 45%
- Net Price $59,926
University of San Diego
- Private 4 Year
- San Diego, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- $59,486 tuition
- Dec 15 application deadline
USD is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business and international relations. The hilltop campus features Spanish Renaissance architecture with views of Mission Bay and the Pacific.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.95
- Acceptance Rate 52%
- Net Price $37,918
California State University Los Angeles
- Public 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $7,160 tuition
- Jan 19 application deadline
Cal State LA is a large public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and criminal justice. The urban campus sits in the hills east of downtown Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 870-1060
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 91%
- Net Price $4,460
Santa Clara University
- Private 4 Year
- Santa Clara, CA
-
4.9 | 14 reviews
- $61,293 tuition
- Jan 7 application deadline
Santa Clara is a private Jesuit university known for undergraduate business and engineering. The historic campus sits in the heart of Silicon Valley.
- SAT Range 1350-1490
- Avg GPA 3.67
- Acceptance Rate 48%
- Net Price $53,883