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

Saddleback College
S
Mission Viejo, CA

Saddleback College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,380 Tuition

 

  • 18,370enrollment
  • $6,387net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Sacramento City College
S
Sacramento, CA

Sacramento City College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$0 Tuition

 

  • 19,031enrollment
  • $6,556net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Orange Coast College
O
Costa Mesa, CA
 

Orange Coast College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 17,085enrollment
  • $7,557net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Cypress College
C
Cypress, CA

Cypress College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 13,992enrollment
  • $7,730net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Aug 25

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Vanguard University of Southern California
V
Costa Mesa, CA
 

Vanguard University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

4 reviews

$39,250 Tuition

#28 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,219enrollment
  • $20,273net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 980-1200SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Berkeley City College
B
Berkeley, CA

Berkeley City College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 6,547enrollment
  • $13,658net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Pasadena City College
P
Pasadena, CA

Pasadena City College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 23,592enrollment
  • $5,492net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Soka University of America
S
Aliso Viejo, CA

Soka University of America

Private 4 Year

18 reviews

$34,382 Tuition

 

  • 476enrollment
  • $18,807net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1460SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Fresno Pacific University
F
Fresno, CA

Fresno Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$34,960 Tuition

#27 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 2,921enrollment
  • $15,668net price
  • 58%acceptance rate
  • 970-1240SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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La Sierra University
L
Riverside, CA
 

La Sierra University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$34,920 Tuition

#29 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 1,611enrollment
  • $28,076net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 880-1140SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

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Irvine Valley College
I
Irvine, CA
 

Irvine Valley College

Public 2 Year

3 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 11,994enrollment
  • $5,189net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Woodbury University
W
Burbank, CA
 

Woodbury University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$43,392 Tuition

 

  • 898enrollment
  • $31,257net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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Allan Hancock College
A
Santa Maria, CA
 

Allan Hancock College

Public 2 Year

1 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 11,104enrollment
  • $6,701net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Palomar College
P
San Marcos, CA

Palomar College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,288 Tuition

 

  • 18,815enrollment
  • $7,951net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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City College of San Francisco
C
San Francisco, CA

City College of San Francisco

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$0 Tuition

 

  • 17,808enrollment
  • $12,130net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Los Angeles Pierce College
L
Woodland Hills, CA

Los Angeles Pierce College

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,196 Tuition

 

  • 16,186enrollment
  • $12,822net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Applications Due Aug 20

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California College of the Arts
C
Oakland, CA

California College of the Arts

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$57,096 Tuition

 

  • 1,333enrollment
  • $49,945net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.34Avg GPA

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College of the Canyons
C
Santa Clarita, CA

College of the Canyons

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$1,104 Tuition

 

  • 17,439enrollment
  • $4,652net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

Compare