College Costs in California

The 2025 Directory of California Colleges and Prices

California Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2025

How much does it cost to attend college in California?   The average annual in-state college tuition in California was $14,430 for the 2021-2022 academic year. This is $1,200 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 $1,017 from the 2019-2020 average of $13,413 and represents a 7.58% 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 306 colleges and universities in California, the most popular being University of Southern California with 41,648 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $66,640. University of Southern California is the most expensive in California with an in-state tuition of $66,640.

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.
California Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

306 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

  • 22,485enrollment
  • $16,888net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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California State University Fullerton
C
Fullerton, CA

California State University Fullerton

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#18 Best Public Universities in California

  • 41,962enrollment
  • $6,283net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1180SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.77Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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California State University Sacramento
C
Sacramento, CA

California State University Sacramento

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#22 Best Public Universities in California

  • 31,172enrollment
  • $11,183net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.42Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Riverside
C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#9 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,426enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Chapman University
C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

$62,400 Tuition

#10 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,961enrollment
  • $48,037net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$60,816 Tuition

#6 Best Colleges in America

  • 2,463enrollment
  • $23,397net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$61,906 Tuition

#20 Best Colleges in America

  • 1,664enrollment
  • $17,423net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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California State University East Bay
C
Hayward, CA

California State University East Bay

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

 

  • 13,333enrollment
  • $10,874net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.2Avg GPA

Applications Due Oct 1

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California State University Chico
C
Chico, CA

California State University Chico

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#16 Best Public Universities in California

  • 14,523enrollment
  • $15,187net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 970-1170SAT range
  • 18-24ACT range
  • 3.37Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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University of California Santa Cruz
C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#8 Best Public Universities in California

  • 19,764enrollment
  • $16,526net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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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

  • 23,986enrollment
  • $7,303net price
  • 96%acceptance rate
  • 890-1100SAT range
  • 16-21ACT range
  • 3.12Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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Azusa Pacific University
A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$42,900 Tuition

#16 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,487enrollment
  • $26,117net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 994-1314SAT range
  • 18-26ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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Occidental College
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

$62,850 Tuition

#9 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,854enrollment
  • $47,113net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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Sonoma State University
S
Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#15 Best Public Universities in California

  • 5,990enrollment
  • $15,113net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 950-1150SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.4Avg GPA

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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

  • 37,760enrollment
  • $8,222net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Merced
C
Merced, CA

University of California Merced

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$11,834 Tuition

#12 Best Public Universities in California

  • 9,147enrollment
  • $13,232net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 960-1140SAT range
  • 19-24ACT range
  • 3.55Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of the Pacific
T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

$54,506 Tuition

#14 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 6,755enrollment
  • $30,975net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1420SAT range
  • 23-31ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Santa Monica College
S
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College

Public 2 Year

1 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 23,164enrollment
  • $5,636net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Aug 30

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