Cheapest Colleges & Universities in California by In State Tuition

Cheapest Colleges in California by In State Tuition

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 tuition. 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 tuition 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.

The most affordable four year colleges in California are listed by one year's in state tuition list price for the 2020/2021 school year.

What is the cheapest college in California? Leading the colleges list is Taft University System in Santa Ana with an in state tuition of $3,292.

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 2020/2021 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2020/2021 academic year.

California's Cheapest Colleges by In State Tuition
College	In State Tuition	Rating	Value
#1 Taft University System Santa Ana, Private For Profit	$3,292	NA	NA
#2 San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus Calexico, Public Not For Profit	$5,472	NA	NA
#3 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	76	52
#4 California State University Bakersfield Bakersfield, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	NA	NA
#5 California State University Stanislaus Turlock, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	NA	NA
#6 California State University San Bernardino San Bernardino, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	34	45
#7 California State Polytechnic University Pomona Pomona, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	53	32
#8 California State University Chico Chico, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	47	29
#9 California State University Dominguez Hills Carson, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	NA	NA
#10 California State University Fresno Fresno, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	36	63
#11 California State University Fullerton Fullerton, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	46	46
#12 California State University East Bay Hayward, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	NA	NA
#13 California State University Long Beach Long Beach, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	56	66
#14 California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	32	55
#15 California State University Northridge Northridge, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	39	57
#16 California State University Sacramento Sacramento, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	40	31
#17 California Maritime Academy Vallejo, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	NA	NA
#18 Humboldt State University Arcata, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	39	23
#19 San Diego State University San Diego, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	64	57
#20 San Francisco State University San Francisco, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	42	25
#21 San Jose State University San Jose, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	54	37
#22 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	45	23
#23 California State University San Marcos San Marcos, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	41	30
#24 California State University Monterey Bay Seaside, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	38	23
#25 California State University Channel Islands Camarillo, Public Not For Profit	$5,742	NA	NA
#26 World Mission University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$6,240	NA	NA
#27 Bethesda University of California Anaheim, Private Not For Profit	$6,360	NA	NA
#28 The National Hispanic University San Jose, Private For Profit	$7,896	NA	NA
#29 Patten University Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$8,036	NA	NA
#30 Epic Bible College Sacramento, Private Not For Profit	$8,964	NA	NA
#31 Horizon College San Diego San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$9,000	NA	NA
#32 Trident University International Cypress, Private For Profit	$9,240	NA	NA
#33 California Christian College Fresno, Private Not For Profit	$9,360	NA	NA
#34 Pacific College of Oriental Medicine LLC San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$9,571	NA	NA
#35 SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$9,600	NA	NA
#36 University of Phoenix San Diego Campus San Diego, Private For Profit	$10,515	NA	NA
#37 University of Phoenix Sacramento Valley Campus Sacramento, Private For Profit	$10,543	NA	NA
#38 University of Phoenix Bay Area Campus San Jose, Private For Profit	$10,548	NA	NA
#39 University of Phoenix Central Valley Campus Fresno, Private For Profit	$10,549	NA	NA
#40 University of Phoenix Southern California Campus Costa Mesa, Private For Profit	$10,560	NA	NA
#41 Azusa Pacific Online University Glendora, Private Not For Profit	$10,800	NA	NA
#42 Lincoln University Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$10,920	NA	NA
#43 University of California Berkeley Berkeley, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	86	94
#44 University of California Davis Davis, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	81	94
#45 University of California Irvine Irvine, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	81	95
#46 University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	NA	NA
#47 University of California Riverside Riverside, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	67	88
#48 University of California San Diego La Jolla, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	82	95
#49 University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	79	94
#50 University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, Public Not For Profit	$11,442	67	76
#51 Santa Barbara Business College Bakersfield Bakersfield, Private For Profit	$11,558	NA	NA
#52 Santa Barbara Business College Santa Maria Santa Maria, Private For Profit	$11,558	NA	NA
#53 Shasta Bible College and Graduate School Redding, Private Not For Profit	$12,000	NA	NA
#54 Pacific States University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$12,420	NA	NA
#55 University of the West Rosemead, Private Not For Profit	$12,528	NA	NA
#56 University of California Merced Merced, Public Not For Profit	$12,570	49	89
#57 Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre Blue Lake, Private Not For Profit	$12,600	NA	NA
#58 National University La Jolla, Private Not For Profit	$13,320	NA	NA
#59 Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$13,872	NA	NA
#60 King's University Van Nuys, Private Not For Profit	$14,100	39	5
#61 Mt Sierra College Monrovia, Private For Profit	$14,220	NA	NA
#62 Platt College Los Angeles Alhambra, Private For Profit	$14,279	NA	NA
#63 Platt College Ontario Ontario, Private For Profit	$14,279	NA	NA
#64 Touro College Los Angeles Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$14,400	NA	NA
#65 Humphreys College Stockton and Modesto Campuses Stockton, Private Not For Profit	$14,580	NA	NA
#66 Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$15,000	NA	NA
#67 Southern California Seminary El Cajon, Private Not For Profit	$15,588	NA	NA
#68 Southern California Institute of Technology Anaheim, Private For Profit	$15,790	NA	NA
#69 DeVry University California Pomona, Private For Profit	$15,835	NA	NA
#70 Life Pacific College San Dimas, Private Not For Profit	$16,584	33	5
#71 Platt College San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$17,125	NA	NA
#72 Santa Barbara Business College Ventura Ventura, Private For Profit	$17,640	NA	NA
#73 California College San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$18,480	NA	NA
#74 Coleman University San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$20,700	NA	NA
#75 Cogswell College Sunnyvale, Private For Profit	$20,784	NA	NA
#76 American University of Health Sciences Signal Hill, Private For Profit	$21,420	NA	NA
#77 Expression College for Digital Arts Emeryville, Private For Profit	$22,000	NA	NA
#78 West Coast University Orange County Anaheim, Private For Profit	$23,186	NA	NA
#79 Musicians Institute Hollywood, Private For Profit	$24,525	NA	NA
#80 Design Institute of San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$25,500	NA	NA
#81 Columbia College Hollywood Tarzana, Private Not For Profit	$25,680	NA	NA
#82 Thomas Aquinas College Santa Paula, Private Not For Profit	$26,000	67	47
#83 John Paul the Great Catholic University San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$26,100	53	12
#84 The Master's College and Seminary Santa Clarita, Private Not For Profit	$27,950	NA	NA
#85 Newschool of Architecture and Design San Diego, Private For Profit	$28,827	NA	NA
#86 Mills College Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$29,340	70	74
#87 American Conservatory Theater San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$30,235	NA	NA
#88 Pacific Union College Angwin, Private Not For Profit	$31,101	54	63
#89 FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles Los Angeles, Private For Profit	$31,275	NA	NA
#90 FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising San Francisco San Francisco, Private For Profit	$31,275	NA	NA
#91 American Jewish University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$31,394	NA	NA
#92 San Diego Christian College El Cajon, Private Not For Profit	$31,680	39	8
#93 Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, Private Not For Profit	$32,250	90	99
#94 Providence Christian College Pasadena, Private Not For Profit	$32,546	NA	NA
#95 Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach, Private Not For Profit	$32,600	NA	NA
#96 Simpson University Redding, Private Not For Profit	$32,700	56	65
#97 Fresno Pacific University Fresno, Private Not For Profit	$32,954	41	50
#98 Hope International University Fullerton, Private Not For Profit	$33,250	32	17
#99 California Baptist University Riverside, Private Not For Profit	$33,930	43	15
#100 West Coast University Los Angeles North Hollywood, Private For Profit	$34,060	NA	NA
#101 West Coast University Ontario Ontario, Private For Profit	$34,060	NA	NA
#102 La Sierra University Riverside, Private Not For Profit	$34,218	39	15
#103 Marymount California University Rancho Palos Verdes, Private Not For Profit	$35,158	NA	NA
#104 Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, Private Not For Profit	$35,850	46	52
#105 William Jessup University Rocklin, Private Not For Profit	$36,000	NA	NA
#106 Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont, Private Not For Profit	$36,306	NA	NA
#107 Concordia University Irvine Irvine, Private Not For Profit	$37,250	47	22
#108 Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$37,600	61	29
#109 Holy Names University Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$40,368	NA	NA
#110 Azusa Pacific University Azusa, Private Not For Profit	$40,830	NA	NA
#111 Woodbury University Burbank, Private Not For Profit	$41,102	NA	NA
#112 Mount St. Mary's College Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$43,224	53	49
#113 Biola University La Mirada, Private Not For Profit	$43,512	66	48
#114 University of La Verne La Verne, Private Not For Profit	$44,700	52	37
#115 Menlo College Atherton, Private Not For Profit	$45,050	NA	NA
#116 California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, Private Not For Profit	$45,500	61	62
#117 San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$45,664	NA	NA
#118 Art Center College of Design Pasadena, Private Not For Profit	$45,776	NA	NA
#119 Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$46,500	NA	NA
#120 Westmont College Santa Barbara, Private Not For Profit	$46,980	74	82
#121 Dominican University of California San Rafael, Private Not For Profit	$47,190	63	42
#122 San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$47,800	NA	NA
#123 Southern California Institute of Architecture Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$48,078	63	4
#124 Whittier College Whittier, Private Not For Profit	$48,924	NA	NA
#125 University of the Pacific Stockton, Private Not For Profit	$50,370	75	81
#126 Saint Marys College of California Moraga, Private Not For Profit	$50,460	71	50
#127 California College of the Arts Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$50,592	NA	NA
#128 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$51,820	86	51
#129 University of San Francisco San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$51,930	76	49
#130 University of San Diego San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$52,120	NA	NA
#131 University of Redlands Redlands, Private Not For Profit	$52,150	67	79
#132 California Institute of the Arts Valencia, Private Not For Profit	$52,850	NA	NA
#133 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, Private Not For Profit	$52,998	87	56
#134 Pomona College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$54,380	NA	NA
#135 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Private Not For Profit	$54,570	98	98
#136 Stanford University Stanford, Private Not For Profit	$55,473	99	99
#137 Pitzer College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$55,734	NA	NA
#138 Occidental College Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$55,980	85	80
#139 Claremont McKenna College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$56,190	95	98
#140 Chapman University Orange, Private Not For Profit	$56,830	80	57
#141 Scripps College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$56,970	90	85
#142 Pepperdine University Malibu, Private Not For Profit	$57,750	77	46
#143 Harvey Mudd College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$58,359	90	92
#144 University of Southern California Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$59,260	92	89

California In State Tuition Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in California by In State Tuition