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.

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California Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year
Smith Chason College Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $19,040 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $32,817
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San Joaquin Valley College Hesperia Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Hesperia, California
  • | 0 reviews
  • $0 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $25,140
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San Joaquin Valley College Bakersfield Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Bakersfield, California
  • | 0 reviews
  • $0 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $23,272
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Cerro Coso Community College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Ridgecrest, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,384 tuition
  • Aug 20 application deadline

Cerro Coso is a community college known for associate degrees, transfer preparation, and career technical programs. The main campus sits in California's high desert community of Ridgecrest.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $20,045
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Palo Verde College Campus
 

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

Palo Verde College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificate programs for transfer and career training. The Blythe campus sits near the Colorado River on California's border with Arizona.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $22,492
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Horizon University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Indianapolis, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $9,840 tuition
  • Aug 29 application deadline
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $22,285
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Community Christian College Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Quartzsite, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $9,675 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $22,280
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San Francisco Conservatory of Music Campus

credit : source / license

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Francisco, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $56,150 tuition
  • Dec 7 application deadline

A private music conservatory known for undergraduate classical performance and composition. The urban campus sits in San Francisco's Civic Center near major symphony, opera, and ballet venues.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $43,746
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World Mission University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $6,920 tuition

World Mission University is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, theology, and church music. The urban Los Angeles campus centers on training for ministry and global missions.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $15,785
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San Joaquin Valley College Modesto Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Salida, California
  • | 0 reviews
  • $0 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $25,950
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Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $16,900 tuition

Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad is a private Chabad Talmudical seminary known for undergraduate Talmud and Torah study. The urban Los Angeles campus serves as a West Coast center for Chabad rabbinical training.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $15,330
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Mendocino College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Ukiah, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,423 tuition

Mendocino College is a public community college with undergraduate programs in nursing, agriculture, and viticulture. The campus is in the rural city of Ukiah in Northern California wine country.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $9,798
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Epic Bible College & Graduate School Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Sacramento, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $15,072 tuition
  • Aug 27 application deadline

Epic is a private Bible college known for undergraduate biblical studies and ministry. The urban campus is located in Sacramento.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price -
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Design Institute of San Diego Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • San Diego, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $29,300 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $44,010
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Platt College Los Angeles Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Alhambra, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $14,922 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $27,195
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San Joaquin Valley College Ontario Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Ontario, California
  • | 0 reviews
  • $0 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $26,743
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Coalinga College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Coalinga, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,384 tuition
  • Jul 15 application deadline

Coalinga College is a public community college offering associate degrees and career technical programs. The campus is in the small Central Valley city of Coalinga.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $11,972
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San Joaquin Valley College Rancho Cordova Campus
 

  • Private 2 Year
  • Rancho Cordova, California
  • | 0 reviews
  • $0 tuition
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $29,774
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