Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in California. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.
California’s higher education institutes span across the entire state, allowing students to study by the beach, in the forest, in small towns, and in large cities. There are over 30 high quality online programs that would allow you to earn a degree from literally anywhere in California, or the world.
The state’s largest university is the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). UCLA serves nearly 44,000 students and offers a tuition rate around $13,000. This isn’t the only school with a large student body though. California is home to 23 colleges and universities with student populations of over 20,000 students.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
However, more than half of the state’s schools serve smaller student populations, offering plenty of options for students who crave a more intimate campus experience. Additionally, California boasts 50 religiously affiliated schools. Many of these schools have high graduation rates. However, tuition costs can range greatly, from $8,000 at Bethesda University up to $54,000 at Pepperdine University.
Additionally, many of California’s colleges and universities boast influential faculty and alumni, including Neil Armstrong, Jerry Lewis, and Weird Al
Yankovic. In addition to famous alumni and professors, California’s schools are also home to some of the country’s top degree programs, including nursing, business, religious studies, education, literature, and law. Many of these schools offer online courses and complete online programs in these same disciplines.
Though Hollywood has given us an inside look into California’s most popular landmarks and attractions, these one-of-a-kind places aren’t the only reason people flock to The Golden State. With hundreds of colleges and universities, as well as community and junior colleges, to choose from, students have countless opportunities to further their education in California.
Many of these opportunities are also accessible through online courses and online colleges. A growing number of online programs in California have received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools, which means online students have a higher level of quality assurance than ever before. It’s also worth noting that students who live in California can still get an in-state discount on their associate degree or bachelor’s degree even when completing online courses or online programs.
To learn more about earning your degree in California, check out some of the state’s top programs and career paths.
There are 59 colleges and universities in California with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in California is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.
These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
93%
Student body
43K
Median SAT/ACT
1420/32
University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
92%
Student body
46K
University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
34%
Graduation
89%
Student body
41K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/31
University of California, San Diego’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
85%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1345/31
University of California, Santa Barbara’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
84%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1330/29
University of California, Irvine’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
87%
Student body
38K
Median SAT/ACT
1280/29
University of California, Davis’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
78%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1260/29
University of California, Santa Cruz’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
65%
Graduation
76%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/26
University of California, Riverside’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
38%
Graduation
76%
Student body
34K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/25
San Diego State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
54%
Student body
24K
Median SAT/ACT
1030/19
San Francisco State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
69%
Student body
31K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/22
San Jose State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
88%
Graduation
54%
Student body
34K
Median SAT/ACT
1005/19
California State University, Northridge’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
59%
Graduation
71%
Student body
36K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/20
California State University, Fullerton’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
52%
Student body
23K
Median SAT/ACT
965/17
California State University, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
47%
Graduation
75%
Student body
34K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/23
California State University, Long Beach’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
57%
Student body
22K
Median SAT/ACT
995/18
California State University, Fresno’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
65%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/21
California State University, Chico’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Student body
2K
Golden Gate University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
57%
Student body
28K
Median SAT/ACT
1030/20
California State University, Sacramento’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
33%
Graduation
85%
Student body
22K
Median SAT/ACT
1315/29
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
70%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/23
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
48%
Student body
15K
California State University, East Bay’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
60%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/20
Sonoma State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
72%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/21
University of California, Merced’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$1K
Graduation
32%
Student body
18K
Santa Monica College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in: