The Best Value California Colleges

Best Value Colleges in California for 2023

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in California based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2023 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking but additionally factors in the typical price paid by students to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2023 as the overall best value college in California is Stanford University. The highest value public state college is University of California Irvine. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.


57 results

Stanford University
S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Value in California

  • 17,680enrollment
  • $20,023net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

Claremont McKenna College
C
Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#2 Best Value in California

  • 1,422enrollment
  • $22,004net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

California Institute of Technology
C
Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#3 Best Value in California

  • 2,397enrollment
  • $26,591net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

Pomona College
P
Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#4 Best Value in California

  • 1,764enrollment
  • $30,392net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1470-1570SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

University of California Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#5 Best Value in California

  • 36,505enrollment
  • $13,106net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California San Diego
C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Value in California

  • 41,885enrollment
  • $15,222net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Davis
C
Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#7 Best Value in California

  • 40,050enrollment
  • $17,026net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Berkeley
C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Value in California

  • 45,036enrollment
  • $19,329net price
  • 14%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Los Angeles
C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Value in California

  • 46,116enrollment
  • $16,474net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#10 Best Value in California

  • 26,124enrollment
  • $17,223net price
  • 29%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Riverside
C
Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Value in California

  • 26,847enrollment
  • $11,948net price
  • 65%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Southern California
S
Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#12 Best Value in California

  • 49,318enrollment
  • $39,759net price
  • 13%acceptance rate
  • 1410-1540SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

Scripps College
S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#13 Best Value in California

  • 1,116enrollment
  • $40,259net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1380-1520SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of California Santa Cruz
C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#14 Best Value in California

  • 19,841enrollment
  • $17,842net price
  • 59%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of the Pacific
T
Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#15 Best Value in California

  • 6,066enrollment
  • $32,780net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1380SAT range
  • 24-32ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Westmont College
W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Value in California

  • 1,238enrollment
  • $32,418net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1460SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Occidental College
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#17 Best Value in California

  • 1,964enrollment
  • $41,102net price
  • 38%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1490SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

University of Redlands
R
Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#18 Best Value in California

  • 4,059enrollment
  • $30,240net price
  • 83%acceptance rate
  • 1110-1280SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1