College Costs in California

The 2024 Directory of California Colleges and Prices

California Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2024

How much does it cost to attend college in California?   The average annual in-state college tuition in California was $13,753 for the 2021-2022 academic year. This is $1,499 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 $340 from the 2019-2020 average of $13,413 and represents a 2.53% 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 312 colleges and universities in California, the most popular being University of Southern California with 42,969 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $63,468. University of Southern California is the most expensive in California with an in-state tuition of $63,468.

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.


312 results

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#7 Best Public Universities in California

  • 22,000enrollment
  • $19,184net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

California State University Fullerton
C
Fullerton, CA

California State University Fullerton

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#17 Best Public Universities in California

  • 40,386enrollment
  • $7,925net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

California State University Sacramento
C
Sacramento, CA

California State University Sacramento

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#21 Best Public Universities in California

  • 31,818enrollment
  • $11,596net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Riverside
C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#9 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,809enrollment
  • $14,487net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Chapman University
C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

$60,288 Tuition

#10 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,014enrollment
  • $45,033net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$58,479 Tuition

#5 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $20,755net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$58,818 Tuition

#21 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,716enrollment
  • $19,962net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

California State University East Bay
C
Hayward, CA

California State University East Bay

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

 

  • 13,673enrollment
  • $11,464net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Oct 1

California State University Chico
C
Chico, CA

California State University Chico

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#15 Best Public Universities in California

  • 14,183enrollment
  • $15,517net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

University of California Santa Cruz
C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,478enrollment
  • $17,975net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

California State University Fresno
C
Fresno, CA

California State University Fresno

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#23 Best Public Universities in California

  • 23,999enrollment
  • $7,507net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.12Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

Azusa Pacific University
A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$41,650 Tuition

#18 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 7,169enrollment
  • $26,666net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 980-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

Occidental College
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

$59,970 Tuition

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $44,853net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Sonoma State University
S
Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#16 Best Public Universities in California

  • 6,637enrollment
  • $15,507net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 950-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

California State University Northridge
C
Northridge, CA

California State University Northridge

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#24 Best Public Universities in California

  • 37,579enrollment
  • $8,936net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Merced
C
Merced, CA

University of California Merced

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#14 Best Public Universities in California

  • 9,103enrollment
  • $13,549net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 960-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of the Pacific
T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

$52,918 Tuition

#14 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,277enrollment
  • $28,164net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1423SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Santa Monica College
S
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College

Public 2 Year

1 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 22,375enrollment
  • $6,656net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Aug 30