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.
California State University San Marcos
- Public 4 Year
- San Marcos, CA
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- $8,082 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
Cal State San Marcos is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban hillside campus is in North San Diego County.
- SAT Range 950-1130
- Avg GPA 3.32
- Acceptance Rate 95%
- Net Price $10,241
California State Polytechnic University Humboldt
- Public 4 Year
- Arcata, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $8,250 tuition
- Apr 30 application deadline
Cal Poly Humboldt is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate environmental science, forestry, and marine biology. The campus is set among coastal redwoods in far northern California.
- SAT Range 970-1190
- Avg GPA 3.33
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $14,090
California Institute of the Arts
- Private 4 Year
- Valencia, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $58,996 tuition
- Jan 5 application deadline
CalArts is a highly selective private arts college known for undergraduate animation, film, and the performing arts. The suburban campus is in Valencia, north of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 32%
- Net Price $56,239
California Baptist University
- Private 4 Year
- Riverside, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $41,228 tuition
California Baptist is a private Baptist university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and engineering. The suburban Riverside campus lies in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- SAT Range 960-1150
- Avg GPA 3.58
- Acceptance Rate 85%
- Net Price $27,862
California State Polytechnic University Pomona
- Public 4 Year
- Pomona, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $7,780 tuition
- Nov 30 application deadline
Cal Poly Pomona is a public polytechnic university known for undergraduate engineering, architecture, and agriculture. The hillside campus includes working farm facilities and an Arabian horse center.
- SAT Range 1010-1250
- Avg GPA 3.69
- Acceptance Rate 75%
- Net Price $11,940
Point Loma Nazarene University
- Private 4 Year
- San Diego, CA
-
4.0 | 1 reviews
- $46,250 tuition
- Feb 15 application deadline
Point Loma Nazarene is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, biology, and business. The campus sits on coastal bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
- SAT Range 1175-1365
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $39,696
University of Redlands
- Private 4 Year
- Redlands, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $60,878 tuition
- Jul 1 application deadline
University of Redlands is a private university known for undergraduate music, business, and the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. The residential campus sits in Redlands in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- SAT Range 1107-1350
- Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $28,482
Los Angeles City College
- Public 2 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $1,238 tuition
Los Angeles City College is a public community college known for undergraduate cinema, television, and theater. The urban campus sits in East Hollywood near the region's entertainment industry.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $11,836
Harvey Mudd College
- Private 4 Year
- Claremont, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $68,613 tuition
- Jan 5 application deadline
Harvey Mudd is a highly selective private college known for undergraduate engineering, computer science, and mathematics. It is one of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of adjoining campuses where students can cross-enroll.
- SAT Range 1500-1570
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.96
- Acceptance Rate 13%
- Net Price $43,966
Santa Barbara City College
- Public 2 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $1,240 tuition
- Aug 19 application deadline
Santa Barbara City College is a community college known for undergraduate marine diving technology and film programs. The campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $14,186
Fullerton College
- Public 2 Year
- Fullerton, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $1,150 tuition
Fullerton College is a public community college known for associate degrees and transfer pathways to UC and CSU campuses. The suburban Orange County campus is California's oldest continuously operating community college.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA NA
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $8,306
University of La Verne
- Private 4 Year
- La Verne, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $49,470 tuition
University of La Verne is a private university known for undergraduate education, business, and public administration. The suburban campus sits in the San Gabriel foothills east of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 986-1236
- Avg GPA 3.24
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $21,530
Claremont McKenna College
- Private 4 Year
- Claremont, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $67,980 tuition
- Jan 5 application deadline
Claremont McKenna is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, government, and international relations. Students live on a residential campus that shares classes and facilities with the neighboring Claremont Colleges.
- SAT Range 1470-1560
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.89
- Acceptance Rate 10%
- Net Price $33,895
Scripps College
- Private 4 Year
- Claremont, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- $65,950 tuition
- Jan 15 application deadline
Scripps is a private women's liberal arts college known for undergraduate arts, humanities, and its interdisciplinary Core Curriculum. Most students live on the residential campus and take classes across the Claremont Colleges consortium.
- SAT Range 1440-1540
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 38%
- Net Price $44,396
Whittier College
- Private 4 Year
- Whittier, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $51,350 tuition
Whittier is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, psychology, and education. The suburban Los Angeles County campus has historic Quaker roots.
- SAT Range 1140-1340
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 81%
- Net Price $28,101
California State University Dominguez Hills
- Public 4 Year
- Carson, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $7,449 tuition
- Dec 4 application deadline
Cal State Dominguez Hills is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and education. The suburban campus is in Carson in the Los Angeles area.
- SAT Range -
- Avg GPA 3.16
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $9,175
Westmont College
- Private 4 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- $53,584 tuition
Westmont is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in the sciences and humanities. The residential hillside campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean above Santa Barbara.
- SAT Range 1240-1450
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $32,172
Biola University
- Private 4 Year
- La Mirada, CA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- $48,984 tuition
Biola is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies, theology, and cinema and media arts. The suburban La Mirada campus requires Bible coursework of all undergraduates.
- SAT Range 1160-1370
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 74%
- Net Price $34,082