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
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • San Luis Obispo, CA
  • 4.7 | 3 reviews
  • $13,596 tuition
  • Nov 30 application deadline

Cal Poly is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and agriculture. Students study on a Central Coast campus in the college town of San Luis Obispo.

#7 Best Public Universities in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1220-1410
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 31%
  • Net Price $17,453
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California State University Fullerton Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fullerton, CA
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews
  • $7,470 tuition
  • Nov 30 application deadline

Cal State Fullerton is a large public university known for undergraduate business, communications, and education. The suburban campus sits in northern Orange County.

#19 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1000-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.77
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $7,064
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California State University Sacramento Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Sacramento, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $8,018 tuition
  • Nov 30 application deadline

Sacramento State is a large public university known for undergraduate government, criminal justice, and business. The urban campus sits along the American River in California's capital city.

#21 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1130
  • Avg GPA 3.42
  • Acceptance Rate 94%
  • Net Price $10,110
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University of California Riverside Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Riverside, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $15,606 tuition
  • Nov 30 application deadline

UC Riverside is a large public university known for undergraduate entomology, plant sciences, and business. The suburban campus lies in California's Inland Empire east of Los Angeles.

#9 Best Public Universities in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1080-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.84
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $14,562
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Chapman University Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Orange, CA
  • 4.3 | 6 reviews
  • $64,984 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Chapman is a private university known for undergraduate film, media arts, and performing arts. The suburban campus is in the city of Orange in Southern California's Orange County.

#10 Best Private Colleges in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1260-1440
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $47,902
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California Institute of Technology Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Pasadena, CA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • $65,898 tuition
  • Jan 3 application deadline

Caltech is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate physics, engineering, and chemistry. Most undergrads live on the compact residential campus in Pasadena.

#7 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1530-1580
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 3%
  • Net Price $14,513
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Pomona College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Claremont, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $65,420 tuition
  • Jan 8 application deadline

Pomona is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, biology, and politics. Students live on a residential campus and can cross-enroll across the adjoining Claremont Colleges.

#20 Best Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1490-1560
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 7%
  • Net Price $19,938
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California State University East Bay Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Hayward, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $7,583 tuition
  • Oct 1 application deadline

Cal State East Bay is a public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. The hillside campus in Hayward overlooks the San Francisco Bay.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Acceptance Rate 97%
  • Net Price $9,850
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California State University Chico Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Chico, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $8,472 tuition
  • Dec 15 application deadline

Chico State is a public university known for undergraduate agriculture, nursing, and business. The campus sits in the college town of Chico in Northern California.

#16 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.37
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $14,630
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University of California Santa Cruz Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Santa Cruz, CA
  • 4.3 | 6 reviews
  • $16,005 tuition
  • Nov 30 application deadline

UC Santa Cruz is a public university known for undergraduate marine science, environmental studies, and astronomy. The residential-college campus sits among redwood forests overlooking Monterey Bay.

#8 Best Public Universities in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 66%
  • Net Price $18,059
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California State University Fresno Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Fresno, CA
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • $7,350 tuition
  • Dec 15 application deadline

Fresno State is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, viticulture, and business. Students attend classes on a large campus in California's Central Valley.

#23 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 890-1100
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.12
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $7,834
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Azusa Pacific University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Azusa, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $44,458 tuition
  • Jun 1 application deadline

Azusa Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry programs. The suburban campus sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles.

#16 Best Private Colleges in California 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 983-1238
  • Avg GPA 3.74
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $26,143
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Occidental College Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • $66,274 tuition
  • Jan 10 application deadline

Occidental is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate politics, international relations, and the sciences. The residential campus sits in Los Angeles's Eagle Rock neighborhood.

#9 Best Private Colleges in California 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1380-1520
  • Avg GPA 3.63
  • Acceptance Rate 44%
  • Net Price $48,400
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Sonoma State University Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Rohnert Park, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $8,624 tuition

Sonoma State is a public university known for undergraduate wine business and environmental studies. The campus sits in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County wine country.

#14 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1150
  • Avg GPA 3.4
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $14,614
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California State University Northridge Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Northridge, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $7,458 tuition
  • Nov 30 application deadline

CSUN is a large public university known for undergraduate film and television, business, and education. The suburban campus lies in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley.

#25 Best Public Universities in California 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 900-1110
  • Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $7,536
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University of California Merced Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Merced, CA
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • $15,623 tuition
  • Nov 30 application deadline

UC Merced is a public university known for undergraduate engineering, biology, and psychology. The newest University of California campus is located in California's Central Valley.

#15 Best Public Universities in California 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1140
  • Avg GPA 3.55
  • Acceptance Rate 91%
  • Net Price $13,690
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University of the Pacific Campus

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  • Private 4 Year
  • Stockton, CA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • $57,080 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Pacific is a private university known for its Conservatory of Music and undergraduate programs in business and health sciences. Most undergrads live on the residential Stockton campus in California's Central Valley.

#12 Best Private Colleges in California 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1183-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.58
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $31,670
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Santa Monica College Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Santa Monica, CA
  • 0.0 | 1 reviews
  • $1,156 tuition
  • Aug 30 application deadline

Santa Monica College is a public community college known for transfer preparation and undergraduate film and media programs. The urban campus sits a short distance from the Santa Monica beach and pier.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $5,685
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