The Cheapest Colleges in California by In State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university and you are a resident of California these are the least expensive in state colleges to consider.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published in state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published in state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in California list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our California tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in California are listed by one year's in state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in California? Leading the colleges list is Trident University International in Cypress with an in state total cost of $15,785.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | In State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#21 California State University San BernardinoSan Bernardino, Public Not For Profit |
$21,180 | 33 | 39 |
#22 Humboldt State UniversityArcata, Public Not For Profit |
$21,474 | 39 | 26 |
#23 California State University BakersfieldBakersfield, Public Not For Profit |
$21,745 | NA | NA |
#24 California State University Long BeachLong Beach, Public Not For Profit |
$21,854 | 53 | 60 |
#25 California State University San MarcosSan Marcos, Public Not For Profit |
$21,995 | 37 | 23 |
#26 California State University East BayHayward, Public Not For Profit |
$22,402 | NA | NA |
#27 Taft University SystemSanta Ana, Private For Profit |
$22,660 | NA | NA |
#28 Epic Bible CollegeSacramento, Private Not For Profit |
$22,715 | NA | NA |
#29 California State University Dominguez HillsCarson, Public Not For Profit |
$23,280 | NA | NA |
#30 Santa Barbara Business College BakersfieldBakersfield, Private For Profit |
$23,390 | NA | NA |
#31 Santa Barbara Business College Santa MariaSanta Maria, Private For Profit |
$23,390 | NA | NA |
#32 Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, Public Not For Profit |
$23,520 | 44 | 21 |
#33 Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical SeminaryLos Angeles, Private Not For Profit |
$23,800 | NA | NA |
#34 University of the WestRosemead, Private Not For Profit |
$23,838 | NA | NA |
#35 California State University ChicoChico, Public Not For Profit |
$23,886 | 46 | 28 |
#36 Dell'Arte International School of Physical TheatreBlue Lake, Private Not For Profit |
$24,007 | NA | NA |
#37 California State University Channel IslandsCamarillo, Public Not For Profit |
$24,221 | NA | NA |
#38 San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, Public Not For Profit |
$24,330 | 40 | 22 |
#39 DeVry University CaliforniaPomona, Private For Profit |
$24,345 | NA | NA |
#40 California State University SacramentoSacramento, Public Not For Profit |
$24,446 | 36 | 27 |