Home / Affordable colleges / California / public universities
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.
Median net price in California
$10,940
National median for public universities
$10,692
public universities reporting in California
48
The most affordable public universities in California, ranked by net price
Net price
$4,438
Receive grant aid
94%
Net price
$6,645
Receive grant aid
85%
Net price
$8,294
Receive grant aid
45%
Net price
$10,931
Receive grant aid
80%
What makes a school affordable here
In California, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At San Diego Mesa College, the most affordable on this list, 79% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.
Affordable colleges in California, other types
Affordable public universities in other states
Find your personalized cost
National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.
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. See full methodology →