Cheapest Colleges & Universities in California by Out of State Tuition

Cheapest Colleges in California by Out of State Tuition

If you're looking for an affordable university in California but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in California for international students.

Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of 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 out of 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 out of state tuition list price for the 2021/2022 school year.

What is the cheapest college in California? Leading the colleges list is Taft University System in Santa Ana with an out of 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 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.

California's Cheapest Colleges by Out of State Tuition
College	Out of State Tuition	Rating	Value
#1 Taft University System Santa Ana, Private For Profit	$3,292	NA	NA
#2 World Mission University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$6,240	NA	NA
#3 Bethesda University of California Anaheim, Private Not For Profit	$6,360	NA	NA
#4 Pacific States University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$6,840	NA	NA
#5 The National Hispanic University San Jose, Private For Profit	$7,896	NA	NA
#6 Epic Bible College Sacramento, Private Not For Profit	$8,964	NA	NA
#7 Horizon College San Diego San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$9,000	NA	NA
#8 Trident University International Cypress, Private For Profit	$9,240	NA	NA
#9 California Christian College Fresno, Private Not For Profit	$9,600	NA	NA
#10 SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$9,600	NA	NA
#11 Pacific College of Oriental Medicine LLC San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$9,606	NA	NA
#12 University of Phoenix San Diego Campus San Diego, Private For Profit	$10,515	NA	NA
#13 University of Phoenix Sacramento Valley Campus Sacramento, Private For Profit	$10,543	NA	NA
#14 University of Phoenix Bay Area Campus San Jose, Private For Profit	$10,548	NA	NA
#15 University of Phoenix Central Valley Campus Fresno, Private For Profit	$10,549	NA	NA
#16 University of Phoenix Southern California Campus Costa Mesa, Private For Profit	$10,560	NA	NA
#17 Azusa Pacific Online University Glendora, Private Not For Profit	$10,800	NA	NA
#18 Lincoln University Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$10,920	NA	NA
#19 Santa Barbara Business College Bakersfield Bakersfield, Private For Profit	$11,558	NA	NA
#20 Santa Barbara Business College Santa Maria Santa Maria, Private For Profit	$11,558	NA	NA
#21 Shasta Bible College and Graduate School Redding, Private Not For Profit	$12,000	NA	NA
#22 University of the West Rosemead, Private Not For Profit	$12,528	NA	NA
#23 National University La Jolla, Private Not For Profit	$13,320	NA	NA
#24 Mt Sierra College Monrovia, Private For Profit	$14,220	NA	NA
#25 Touro College Los Angeles Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$14,400	NA	NA
#26 Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$14,424	NA	NA
#27 King's University Van Nuys, Private Not For Profit	$14,550	NA	NA
#28 Humphreys College Stockton and Modesto Campuses Stockton, Private Not For Profit	$14,580	NA	NA
#29 Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre Blue Lake, Private Not For Profit	$14,600	NA	NA
#30 Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$15,000	NA	NA
#31 Platt College Los Angeles Alhambra, Private For Profit	$15,014	NA	NA
#32 Platt College Ontario Ontario, Private For Profit	$15,014	NA	NA
#33 Santa Barbara Business College Ventura Ventura, Private For Profit	$15,030	NA	NA
#34 DeVry University California Pomona, Private For Profit	$15,835	NA	NA
#35 Platt College San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$16,250	NA	NA
#36 Southern California Seminary El Cajon, Private Not For Profit	$16,380	NA	NA
#37 Southern California Institute of Technology Anaheim, Private For Profit	$16,590	NA	NA
#38 San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus Calexico, Public Not For Profit	$16,632	NA	NA
#39 Life Pacific College San Dimas, Private Not For Profit	$17,400	35	5
#40 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	74	48
#41 California State University Bakersfield Bakersfield, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	NA	NA
#42 California State University Stanislaus Turlock, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	NA	NA
#43 California State University San Bernardino San Bernardino, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	33	39
#44 California State Polytechnic University Pomona Pomona, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	51	30
#45 California State University Chico Chico, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	46	28
#46 California State University Dominguez Hills Carson, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	NA	NA
#47 California State University Fresno Fresno, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	33	57
#48 California State University Fullerton Fullerton, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	45	44
#49 California State University East Bay Hayward, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	NA	NA
#50 California State University Long Beach Long Beach, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	53	60
#51 California State University Los Angeles Los Angeles, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	29	49
#52 California State University Northridge Northridge, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	34	47
#53 California State University Sacramento Sacramento, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	36	27
#54 California Maritime Academy Vallejo, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	NA	NA
#55 Humboldt State University Arcata, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	39	26
#56 San Diego State University San Diego, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	62	52
#57 San Francisco State University San Francisco, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	40	22
#58 San Jose State University San Jose, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	49	29
#59 Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	44	21
#60 California State University San Marcos San Marcos, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	37	23
#61 California State University Monterey Bay Seaside, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	35	26
#62 California State University Channel Islands Camarillo, Public Not For Profit	$17,622	NA	NA
#63 California College San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$18,480	NA	NA
#64 Coleman University San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$20,700	NA	NA
#65 Cogswell College Sunnyvale, Private For Profit	$20,784	NA	NA
#66 American University of Health Sciences Signal Hill, Private For Profit	$21,420	NA	NA
#67 West Coast University Orange County Anaheim, Private For Profit	$21,451	NA	NA
#68 Expression College for Digital Arts Emeryville, Private For Profit	$22,200	NA	NA
#69 Musicians Institute Hollywood, Private For Profit	$24,525	NA	NA
#70 Design Institute of San Diego San Diego, Private For Profit	$25,500	NA	NA
#71 Columbia College Hollywood Tarzana, Private Not For Profit	$25,680	NA	NA
#72 Thomas Aquinas College Santa Paula, Private Not For Profit	$26,000	67	46
#73 John Paul the Great Catholic University San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$27,000	55	13
#74 The Master's College and Seminary Santa Clarita, Private Not For Profit	$27,950	NA	NA
#75 Newschool of Architecture and Design San Diego, Private For Profit	$28,827	NA	NA
#76 Mills College Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$29,340	74	80
#77 American Conservatory Theater San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$30,235	NA	NA
#78 Pacific Union College Angwin, Private Not For Profit	$31,101	54	63
#79 FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising Los Angeles Los Angeles, Private For Profit	$31,275	NA	NA
#80 FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising San Francisco San Francisco, Private For Profit	$31,275	NA	NA
#81 American Jewish University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$31,394	NA	NA
#82 Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, Private Not For Profit	$32,250	89	99
#83 Providence Christian College Pasadena, Private Not For Profit	$32,546	NA	NA
#84 San Diego Christian College El Cajon, Private Not For Profit	$32,630	37	5
#85 Fresno Pacific University Fresno, Private Not For Profit	$32,954	49	71
#86 La Sierra University Riverside, Private Not For Profit	$33,228	44	28
#87 Laguna College of Art and Design Laguna Beach, Private Not For Profit	$33,600	NA	NA
#88 West Coast University Los Angeles North Hollywood, Private For Profit	$34,060	NA	NA
#89 West Coast University Ontario Ontario, Private For Profit	$34,060	NA	NA
#90 Hope International University Fullerton, Private Not For Profit	$34,250	31	14
#91 Simpson University Redding, Private Not For Profit	$34,400	57	63
#92 California Baptist University Riverside, Private Not For Profit	$34,918	46	18
#93 Marymount California University Rancho Palos Verdes, Private Not For Profit	$35,158	NA	NA
#94 William Jessup University Rocklin, Private Not For Profit	$36,000	NA	NA
#95 Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont, Private Not For Profit	$36,306	NA	NA
#96 Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, Private Not For Profit	$37,000	47	52
#97 Concordia University Irvine Irvine, Private Not For Profit	$37,990	52	33
#98 Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$38,800	62	31
#99 Holy Names University Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$40,368	NA	NA
#100 Azusa Pacific University Azusa, Private Not For Profit	$40,830	64	62
#101 University of California Berkeley Berkeley, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	85	94
#102 University of California Davis Davis, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	80	94
#103 University of California Irvine Irvine, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	81	95
#104 University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	86	94
#105 University of California Riverside Riverside, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	66	89
#106 University of California San Diego La Jolla, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	82	94
#107 University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	79	94
#108 University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	68	81
#109 University of California Merced Merced, Public Not For Profit	$41,196	49	87
#110 Woodbury University Burbank, Private Not For Profit	$41,924	NA	NA
#111 Mount St. Mary's College Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$44,088	49	38
#112 Biola University La Mirada, Private Not For Profit	$44,382	66	50
#113 University of La Verne La Verne, Private Not For Profit	$44,700	53	40
#114 California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, Private Not For Profit	$45,500	60	60
#115 San Francisco Art Institute San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$45,664	NA	NA
#116 Menlo College Atherton, Private Not For Profit	$46,625	NA	NA
#117 Dominican University of California San Rafael, Private Not For Profit	$47,190	61	37
#118 Art Center College of Design Pasadena, Private Not For Profit	$47,334	NA	NA
#119 Westmont College Santa Barbara, Private Not For Profit	$47,450	74	82
#120 Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$47,700	62	9
#121 Southern California Institute of Architecture Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$47,816	65	5
#122 Whittier College Whittier, Private Not For Profit	$48,924	62	67
#123 San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$49,300	NA	NA
#124 Saint Marys College of California Moraga, Private Not For Profit	$51,568	71	49
#125 University of the Pacific Stockton, Private Not For Profit	$51,628	76	82
#126 California College of the Arts Oakland, Private Not For Profit	$51,792	NA	NA
#127 University of San Diego San Diego, Private Not For Profit	$52,120	NA	NA
#128 Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$52,310	84	48
#129 California Institute of the Arts Valencia, Private Not For Profit	$52,850	NA	NA
#130 University of San Francisco San Francisco, Private Not For Profit	$52,920	75	47
#131 University of Redlands Redlands, Private Not For Profit	$53,716	66	77
#132 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, Private Not For Profit	$55,224	86	54
#133 Stanford University Stanford, Private Not For Profit	$55,473	99	99
#134 Pomona College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$56,284	96	96
#135 California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Private Not For Profit	$56,364	98	97
#136 Pitzer College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$57,686	NA	NA
#137 Occidental College Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$57,830	84	77
#138 Claremont McKenna College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$57,876	96	99
#139 Scripps College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$58,224	89	84
#140 Chapman University Orange, Private Not For Profit	$58,250	80	57
#141 Pepperdine University Malibu, Private Not For Profit	$59,450	75	41
#142 Harvey Mudd College Claremont, Private Not For Profit	$60,402	89	91
#143 University of Southern California Los Angeles, Private Not For Profit	$60,446	92	90

California Out of State Tuition Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in California by Out of State Tuition