Cheapest colleges in California
50 colleges ranked by net price after aid
The 50 most affordable four-year colleges in California have an average net price of $12,901 per year — the typical amount families actually pay after grants and scholarships. Costs run from $3,659 at California State University-Dominguez Hills up to $22,343 at Life Pacific University. 32 are public institutions and 18 are private.
| # | College | Type | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Median earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA | Public | $3,659 | 91% | $57,162 |
| 2 | California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Public | $4,113 | 92% | $59,211 |
| 3 | California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA | Public | $5,646 | 87% | $62,951 |
| 4 | California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, CA | Public | $5,671 | 97% | $63,188 |
| 5 | Oak Valley College Rialto, CA | Private | $5,805 | — | — |
| 6 | California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | Public | $5,825 | 88% | $59,009 |
| 7 | California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA | Public | $5,918 | 98% | $59,977 |
| 8 | California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA | Public | $6,480 | 96% | $61,244 |
| 9 | California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA | Public | $7,599 | 93% | $59,115 |
| 10 | San Diego Christian College Santee, CA | Private | $7,871 | 63% | $49,766 |
| 11 | Bethesda University Anaheim, CA | Private | $8,388 | — | — |
| 12 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA | Public | $8,931 | 47% | $64,403 |
| 13 | California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo, CA | Public | $9,792 | 93% | $62,152 |
| 14 | California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA | Public | $10,512 | 94% | $64,876 |
| 15 | California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, CA | Public | $10,550 | 96% | $62,908 |
| 16 | California Miramar University San Diego, CA | Private | $11,007 | 66% | — |
| 17 | University of the West Rosemead, CA | Private | $11,137 | 100% | — |
| 18 | California State University-East Bay Hayward, CA | Public | $11,276 | 97% | $71,401 |
| 19 | Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses Stockton, CA | Private | $11,410 | — | $39,248 |
| 20 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA | Public | $11,580 | 74% | $71,902 |
| 21 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | Public | $11,750 | 25% | $84,943 |
| 22 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | Private | $12,136 | 4% | $124,080 |
| 23 | University of California-Merced Merced, CA | Public | $12,744 | 39% | $64,368 |
| 24 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | Public | $12,840 | 26% | $80,735 |
| 25 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA | Public | $12,882 | 96% | $68,077 |
| 26 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA | Public | $13,167 | 99% | $47,626 |
| 27 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA | Public | $13,707 | 63% | $67,699 |
| 28 | San Jose State University San Jose, CA | Public | $13,741 | 80% | $78,988 |
| 29 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA | Public | $13,801 | 95% | $65,986 |
| 30 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Public | $13,825 | 28% | $74,915 |
| 31 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Public | $14,013 | 9% | $82,511 |
| 32 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA | Private | $14,317 | 58% | $58,896 |
| 33 | California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, CA | Public | $14,487 | 95% | $59,247 |
| 34 | California State University-Chico Chico, CA | Public | $14,838 | 94% | $64,172 |
| 35 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Public | $14,979 | 12% | $92,446 |
| 36 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | Public | $15,288 | 42% | $80,838 |
| 37 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | Public | $15,624 | 30% | $90,768 |
| 38 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA | Public | $16,174 | 34% | $64,909 |
| 39 | World Mission University Los Angeles, CA | Private | $16,598 | — | — |
| 40 | Touro University Worldwide Los Alamitos, CA | Private | $16,599 | — | $40,803 |
| 41 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Public | $16,607 | 63% | $68,396 |
| 42 | California State University Maritime Academy Vallejo, CA | Public | $17,555 | 99% | $94,784 |
| 43 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA | Private | $18,902 | 3% | $128,566 |
| 44 | Pomona College Claremont, CA | Private | $19,424 | 7% | $77,779 |
| 45 | Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CA | Private | $19,761 | 65% | $59,541 |
| 46 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA | Private | $19,798 | 79% | $66,677 |
| 47 | Pacific Union College Angwin, CA | Private | $20,979 | 42% | $70,484 |
| 48 | Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA | Private | $21,446 | 70% | $55,017 |
| 49 | United States University San Diego, CA | Private | $21,557 | — | $80,980 |
| 50 | Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA | Private | $22,343 | 94% | $43,299 |
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