College Costs in California

The 2024 Directory of California Colleges and Prices

California Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2024

How much does it cost to attend college in California?   The average annual in-state college tuition in California was $13,753 for the 2021-2022 academic year. This is $1,499 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 $340 from the 2019-2020 average of $13,413 and represents a 2.53% 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 312 colleges and universities in California, the most popular being University of Southern California with 42,969 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $63,468. University of Southern California is the most expensive in California with an in-state tuition of $63,468.

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.


312 results

Stanford University
S
Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

$57,693 Tuition

#2 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,283enrollment
  • $18,279net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

University of California Los Angeles
C
Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#2 Best Public Universities in America

  • 46,430enrollment
  • $16,999net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of Southern California
S
Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

$63,468 Tuition

#5 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 48,945enrollment
  • $36,808net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

San Diego State University
S
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#10 Best Public Universities in California

  • 37,402enrollment
  • $13,017net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Irvine
C
Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#10 Best Public Universities in America

  • 35,937enrollment
  • $14,033net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Berkeley
C
Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#5 Best Public Universities in America

  • 45,307enrollment
  • $19,257net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California Santa Barbara
C
Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#19 Best Public Universities in America

  • 26,420enrollment
  • $16,874net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT 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

$11,564 Tuition

#11 Best Public Universities in America

  • 39,679enrollment
  • $17,385net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

San Jose State University
S
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#13 Best Public Universities in California

  • 35,751enrollment
  • $14,219net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.35Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

Pepperdine University
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

$62,390 Tuition

#11 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,030enrollment
  • $47,804net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1285-1480SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

California State University Long Beach
C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#11 Best Public Universities in California

  • 38,973enrollment
  • $9,346net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of California San Diego
C
La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$11,564 Tuition

#9 Best Public Universities in America

  • 42,006enrollment
  • $16,111net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

San Francisco State University
S
San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#18 Best Public Universities in California

  • 25,282enrollment
  • $13,267net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 930-1130SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

University of San Francisco
S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$54,980 Tuition

#12 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,688enrollment
  • $42,953net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Loyola Marymount University
L
Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$54,630 Tuition

#8 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 10,165enrollment
  • $52,815net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

University of San Diego
S
San Diego, CA

University of San Diego

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

$53,810 Tuition

 

  • 8,815enrollment
  • $36,008net price
  • 53%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.95Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

California State University Los Angeles
C
Los Angeles, CA

California State University Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$5,742 Tuition

#26 Best Public Universities in California

  • 26,460enrollment
  • $5,801net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 870-1060SAT range
  • 15-20ACT range
  • 3.31Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 19

Santa Clara University
S
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

$56,880 Tuition

#7 Best Private Colleges in California

  • 9,178enrollment
  • $50,551net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7