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
Napa Valley College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Napa, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $1,156 tuition

Napa Valley College is a public community college known for programs in viticulture and winery technology. The campus is set in California's Napa Valley wine region.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $19,587
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California State University Maritime Academy Campus

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  • Public 4 Year
  • Vallejo, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $9,944 tuition
  • Dec 15 application deadline

Cal Maritime is a small public maritime academy known for undergraduate marine transportation, marine engineering, and international business and logistics. The waterfront campus sits on San Pablo Bay in Vallejo.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.43
  • Acceptance Rate 95%
  • Net Price $19,040
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Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $23,000 tuition
  • Jul 30 application deadline

Charles Drew University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and biomedical sciences. The urban campus in South Los Angeles is a historically Black health sciences institution.

  • SAT Range -
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.26
  • Acceptance Rate 39%
  • Net Price $35,558
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Compton College Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Compton, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,142 tuition

Compton College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates with programs in nursing, business, and administration of justice. The urban campus is located in the city of Compton in Los Angeles County.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $14,449
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Solano Community College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Fairfield, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,172 tuition

Solano is a public community college offering associate degrees, transfer preparation, and career technical programs. The main campus is in Fairfield on the I-80 corridor between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,102
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El Camino Community College District Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Torrance, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,144 tuition
  • Aug 27 application deadline

El Camino is a public community college known for undergraduate transfer preparation and nursing. The suburban campus is in Torrance in Los Angeles County's South Bay.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $8,837
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College of Marin Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Kentfield, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,558 tuition

College of Marin is a public community college known for nursing, performing arts, and transfer preparation. The suburban Kentfield campus sits in Marin County north of San Francisco.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $14,662
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San Jose City College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • San Jose, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,366 tuition

San Jose City College is a public community college known for transfer pathways and career technical programs. Most students commute to its urban campus in Silicon Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $19,585
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West Valley College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Saratoga, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,490 tuition

West Valley is a public community college known for associate degrees and university transfer preparation. The suburban campus sits in Saratoga in Silicon Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $7,270
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Hartnell College Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Salinas, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,404 tuition

Hartnell is a public community college known for undergraduate agriculture and nursing programs. The campus is located in California's agricultural Salinas Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $5,246
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Bethesda University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Anaheim, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $7,220 tuition
  • Aug 11 application deadline

Bethesda is a private Christian university known for undergraduate biblical studies and business. The campus is in Anaheim in Orange County.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $20,099
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Coastline Community College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Fountain Valley, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,364 tuition

Coastline is a community college known for distance education and undergraduate transfer programs. The college serves Orange County through online courses and learning sites based in Fountain Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $16,972
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Los Angeles Harbor College Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Wilmington, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,238 tuition

LA Harbor College is a public community college known for maritime technology and nursing programs. The campus sits near the Port of Los Angeles in Wilmington.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 2.5
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $14,632
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Musicians Institute Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hollywood, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $34,322 tuition
0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $49,657
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Santa Rosa Junior College Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Santa Rosa, CA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $1,318 tuition

A public community college known for undergraduate viticulture, wine studies, and nursing. The main campus sits in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County wine country.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $8,690
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Merced College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • Merced, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,200 tuition

A public community college known for associate programs in agriculture and nursing. The campus sits in California's Central Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $6,854
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Fresno City College Campus

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  • Public 2 Year
  • Fresno, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,334 tuition

Fresno City College is a public community college known for associate-degree nursing and public safety programs. The urban campus serves commuting students in California's Central Valley.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $9,618
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Evergreen Valley College Campus
 

  • Public 2 Year
  • San Jose, CA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $1,366 tuition

Evergreen Valley is a public community college offering associate degrees and transfer preparation for four-year universities. The campus is in the Evergreen area of southeast San Jose.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $15,186
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