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

Long Beach City College
L
Long Beach, CA

Long Beach City College

Public 2 Year

2 reviews

$1,472 Tuition

 

  • 24,425enrollment
  • $6,215net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Aug 17

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Concordia University Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$40,510 Tuition

#24 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,481enrollment
  • $29,413net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Notre Dame de Namur University
N
Belmont, CA

Notre Dame de Namur University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$36,306 Tuition

 

  • 237enrollment
  • -net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.1Estimated Avg GPA

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California Lutheran University
C
Thousand Oaks, CA

California Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$49,880 Tuition

#21 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 3,413enrollment
  • $27,080net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1134-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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American River College
A
Sacramento, CA

American River College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$0 Tuition

 

  • 29,908enrollment
  • $6,896net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Chaffey College
C
Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Chaffey College

Public 2 Year

3 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 20,632enrollment
  • $7,901net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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California State University Monterey Bay
C
Seaside, CA

California State University Monterey Bay

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#21 Best Public Universities in California

  • 6,742enrollment
  • $15,222net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 960-1160SAT range
  • 17-23ACT range
  • 3.45Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Mount St. Mary's College
M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$46,726 Tuition

#26 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,308enrollment
  • $27,434net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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De Anza College
D
Cupertino, CA

De Anza College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,395 Tuition

 

  • 16,990enrollment
  • $8,421net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Life Pacific College
L
San Dimas, CA

Life Pacific College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$19,512 Tuition

 

  • 504enrollment
  • $23,311net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 930-1085SAT range
  • 16-25ACT range
  • 2.91Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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California State University Bakersfield
C
Bakersfield, CA

California State University Bakersfield

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

 

  • 9,787enrollment
  • $6,567net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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Riverside City College
R
Riverside, CA

Riverside City College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,380 Tuition

 

  • 20,437enrollment
  • $5,974net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Oct 20

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California State University Channel Islands
C
Camarillo, CA

California State University Channel Islands

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

 

  • 5,688enrollment
  • $10,931net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.22Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 30

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California State University Stanislaus
C
Turlock, CA

California State University Stanislaus

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

 

  • 9,841enrollment
  • $7,316net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.47Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Mt. San Antonio College
M
Walnut, CA

Mt. San Antonio College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,288 Tuition

 

  • 28,742enrollment
  • $5,186net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Saint Marys College of California
S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$55,634 Tuition

#19 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,775enrollment
  • $31,615net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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California State University San Bernardino
C
San Bernardino, CA

California State University San Bernardino

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#25 Best Public Universities in California

  • 18,925enrollment
  • $6,645net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 910-1080SAT range
  • 15-20ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Menlo College
M
Atherton, CA
 

Menlo College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$50,190 Tuition

 

  • 840enrollment
  • $28,158net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.3Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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