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Most affordable colleges in California
California has 249 schools with usable net price coverage across the main college types families compare most often. Start with the type of school you are considering, then click into an individual Worth-It Score when you want the deeper affordability and outcome read.
Most affordable public universities in California
48 public universities in California report net price data, ranging from $3,175 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $10,940. California's public universities cost about the same as the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.
California State University-Dominguez Hills
$4,438 net price
94% receive grant aid
Most affordable private colleges in California
71 private colleges in California report net price data, ranging from $5,351 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $28,158. California's private colleges run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
$7,108 net price
67% receive grant aid
Most affordable for-profit colleges in California
30 for-profit colleges in California report net price data, ranging from $9,298 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $33,807. California's for-profit colleges run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.
California Institute of Arts & Technology-National City
$18,936 net price
83% receive grant aid
Most affordable community colleges in California
100 community colleges in California report net price data, ranging from $1,398 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $7,926. California's community colleges run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.
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Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. Rankings include only institutions that report net price data.