Most Affordable Universities in California
Rankings based on government-verified data for qualifying institutions in California.
| # | Institution | Tuition | Avg Earnings | Grad Rate | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Grace Mission University
Private Non-Profit |
$3,480 | $0 | 63% | CA |
| 2 |
America Evangelical University
Private Non-Profit |
$6,200 | $0 | N/A | CA |
| 3 |
United States University
Private For-Profit |
$6,600 | $34,909 | N/A | CA |
| 4 |
California State University-Los Angeles
Public |
$6,813 | $45,702 | 52% | CA |
| 5 |
California State University-Channel Islands
Public |
$6,817 | $46,785 | 55% | CA |
| 6 |
World Mission University
Private Non-Profit |
$6,920 | $0 | N/A | CA |
| 7 |
California State University-Fresno
Public |
$6,980 | $44,012 | 56% | CA |
| 8 |
California State University-Long Beach
Public |
$7,008 | $50,062 | 71% | CA |
| 9 |
California State University-East Bay
Public |
$7,055 | $55,546 | 46% | CA |
| 10 |
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Public |
$7,064 | $46,827 | 47% | CA |
| 11 |
California State University-Fullerton
Public |
$7,073 | $48,558 | 69% | CA |
| 12 |
California State University-Northridge
Public |
$7,095 | $44,372 | 56% | CA |
| 13 |
Bethesda University
Private Non-Profit |
$7,220 | $37,397 | 12% | CA |
| 14 |
San Francisco State University
Public |
$7,424 | $52,650 | 52% | CA |
| 15 |
California State University-Monterey Bay
Public |
$7,437 | $48,648 | 62% | CA |
| 16 |
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Public |
$7,439 | $54,466 | 67% | CA |
| 17 |
California State University-Sacramento
Public |
$7,602 | $51,074 | 55% | CA |
| 18 |
California State University Maritime Academy
Public |
$7,672 | $84,676 | 65% | CA |
| 19 |
California State University-San Bernardino
Public |
$7,675 | $43,149 | 55% | CA |
| 20 |
California State University-Bakersfield
Public |
$7,696 | $44,282 | 50% | CA |
| 21 |
California State University-San Marcos
Public |
$7,739 | $48,673 | 55% | CA |
| 22 |
California State University-Stanislaus
Public |
$7,826 | $47,793 | 57% | CA |
| 23 |
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Public |
$7,913 | $37,382 | 46% | CA |
| 24 |
San Jose State University
Public |
$7,992 | $62,448 | 66% | CA |
| 25 |
California State University-Chico
Public |
$8,064 | $50,493 | 64% | CA |
| 26 |
Sonoma State University
Public |
$8,190 | $52,179 | 60% | CA |
| 27 |
San Diego State University
Public |
$8,290 | $52,620 | 78% | CA |
| 28 |
San Francisco Bay University
Private Non-Profit |
$8,775 | $0 | N/A | CA |
| 29 |
Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America
Private Non-Profit |
$8,839 | $0 | N/A | CA |
| 30 |
California Miramar University
Private For-Profit |
$9,994 | $0 | 44% | CA |
| 31 |
Abraham Lincoln University
Private For-Profit |
$10,440 | $0 | N/A | CA |
| 32 |
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
Private Non-Profit |
$10,460 | $30,871 | 45% | CA |
| 33 |
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Public |
$11,075 | $72,358 | 85% | CA |
| 34 |
Los Angeles Pacific University
Private Non-Profit |
$11,976 | $0 | 32% | CA |
| 35 |
Reach University
Private Non-Profit |
$12,374 | $0 | N/A | CA |
| 36 |
University of Massachusetts Global
Public |
$12,520 | $55,438 | N/A | CA |
| 37 |
Ashford University
Private For-Profit |
$13,160 | $33,397 | 9% | CA |
| 38 |
National University
Private Non-Profit |
$13,320 | $64,331 | 44% | CA |
| 39 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Public |
$13,747 | $59,063 | 93% | CA |
| 40 |
University of California-Merced
Public |
$14,167 | $48,475 | 68% | CA |
| 41 |
University of California-Riverside
Public |
$14,170 | $48,593 | 76% | CA |
| 42 |
University of California-Irvine
Public |
$14,237 | $56,210 | 86% | CA |
| 43 |
Shasta Bible College and Graduate School
Private Non-Profit |
$14,535 | $32,327 | N/A | CA |
| 44 |
University of California-Santa Cruz
Public |
$14,560 | $49,716 | 76% | CA |
| 45 |
Touro University Worldwide
Private Non-Profit |
$14,600 | $48,057 | 48% | CA |
| 46 |
University of the West
Private Non-Profit |
$14,718 | $33,856 | 28% | CA |
| 47 |
Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses
Private Non-Profit |
$14,760 | $40,569 | 63% | CA |
| 48 |
University of California-Berkeley
Public |
$14,850 | $74,919 | 94% | CA |
| 49 |
University of California-Santa Barbara
Public |
$14,965 | $56,852 | 86% | CA |
| 50 |
Epic Bible College & Graduate School
Private Non-Profit |
$15,072 | $33,779 | N/A | CA |
About This Ranking
This ranking is based on data from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which provides comprehensive information about colleges and universities across the country.
Institutions are ranked by most affordable metrics using the most recently available data. Only institutions with complete data for the ranking criteria are included.