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.

278 Results
Sort:
California Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year
Taft College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Taft, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,108 tuition

Taft College is a public community college known for undergraduate programs in dental hygiene and petroleum technology. The small campus sits in the oil-industry town of Taft in California's San Joaquin Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $5,025
Details Calculate my Chances
William Jessup University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Rocklin, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $37,150 tuition

Jessup is a private Christian university known for undergraduate business, psychology, and ministry programs. The suburban campus sits in Rocklin in the greater Sacramento area.

#26 Best Private Colleges in California 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1041-1228
  • Avg GPA 3.33
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $29,679
Details Calculate my Chances
American Jewish University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $31,394 tuition

American Jewish University is a private Jewish university known for undergraduate Jewish studies and education. The hillside Bel Air campus sits in Los Angeles.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price -
Details Calculate my Chances
Cuyamaca College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • El Cajon, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,346 tuition

Cuyamaca is a public community college known for undergraduate programs in ornamental horticulture and automotive technology. The suburban campus sits in East San Diego County near the foothills.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,752
Details Calculate my Chances
Folsom Lake College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Folsom, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,288 tuition

Folsom Lake College is a public community college with undergraduate programs leading to associate degrees and university transfer. The campus overlooks Folsom Lake in the foothills east of Sacramento.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $8,982
Details Calculate my Chances
Southern California Institute of Architecture Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $56,162 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

SCI-Arc is a private architecture school known for undergraduate architecture and design. The urban campus occupies a former freight depot in Los Angeles's Arts District.

7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1020-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $28,985
Details Calculate my Chances
Hope International University Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fullerton, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $38,050 tuition
  • Aug 20 application deadline

Hope International is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and education. The suburban campus sits in Fullerton in Orange County.

#31 Best Private Colleges in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 33%
  • Net Price $29,896
Details Calculate my Chances
Ventura College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Ventura, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,426 tuition

Ventura College is a public community college known for associate programs in nursing and liberal arts transfer preparation. The campus sits in the coastal city of Ventura.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $2,522
Details Calculate my Chances
Pacific States University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $10,159 tuition

Pacific States is a private university known for undergraduate business and computer science. The urban campus is located in central Los Angeles.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price -
Details Calculate my Chances
Shasta College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Redding, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,197 tuition

Shasta College is a public community college known for nursing and fire technology programs. The campus is in Redding in far northern California.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,289
Details Calculate my Chances
Copper Mountain Community College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Joshua Tree, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,390 tuition

Copper Mountain is a public community college offering associate degrees and career certificate programs. The high-desert campus is located in Joshua Tree near Joshua Tree National Park.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $9,827
Details Calculate my Chances
American University of Health Sciences Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Signal Hill, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $24,575 tuition
0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 2.5
  • Acceptance Rate 50%
  • Net Price $26,480
Details Calculate my Chances
The Master's University and Seminary Campus

credit : Chris Yarzab / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • Santa Clarita, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $39,020 tuition

The Master's University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, theology, and music. The suburban Santa Clarita campus sits north of Los Angeles.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 84%
  • Net Price $37,919
Details Calculate my Chances
West Coast University Los Angeles Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • North Hollywood, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $36,854 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $51,736
Details Calculate my Chances
Columbia College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Sonora, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,282 tuition

Columbia College is a public community college known for undergraduate forestry, natural resources, and fire technology. The campus sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Sonora and California Gold Country.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $12,358
Details Calculate my Chances
Yuba College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Marysville, CA
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • $1,128 tuition

Yuba College is a public community college with associate programs in nursing and agriculture. Most students commute to the small-city campus in Marysville in California's Sacramento Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $4,973
Details Calculate my Chances
Taft University System Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Denver, CO
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • $3,292 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price -
Details Calculate my Chances
Imperial Valley College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Imperial, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,148 tuition

Imperial Valley College is a public community college known for undergraduate nursing and agriculture programs. The campus sits in California's Imperial Valley, an agricultural region near the U.S.-Mexico border.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $1,890
Details Calculate my Chances