Cheapest Colleges in California 2024

Living the dream in California can come at a cost, but you can still get an affordable education in the Golden State. California, which has the second-highest cost of living in the country, also offers some of the most diverse higher education offerings.

The state hosts two large public university systems and boasts an undergraduate student population of 2.3 million. California spent over $21 billion in state funds in 2022-23 to support its higher education institutions and financial aid system, accounting for about 7% of the state’s budget.

There are more than 300 four-year public and private universities in California, many with tuition falling just below the national average. Check out what schools made our list of the cheapest colleges in California. Our guide features the average “net price” which takes into account school fees and scholarships available.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Here are the five cheapest colleges in California based on average annual net price data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

First up on our list is California State University, Dominguez Hills, or CSUDH. The university offers an affordable education in a park-like setting, located on 346 acres in the South Bay region of Los Angeles.

CSUDH awards more than $102 million in scholarships and grants annually. It prioritizes helping students feel like they belong and providing them with opportunities for upward social mobility.

The school boasts a commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion. There are degree programs in business, public policy, science, health, education, and arts and humanities.

Located on the eastern edge of LA, number two on our list is California State University, Los Angeles. CSULA is a school of nearly 26,500 students — 25% of whom are enrolled in graduate or doctoral programs.

There are 50 degree offerings at CSULA with an institutional focus on student engagement, community service, and contributions to the public good. CSULA has over 400 scholarship opportunities.

Near the San Gabriel Valley, CSULA is located in one of the most diverse regions of the country. The 200-acre urban campus is on a hilltop with views of mountains to the north, the valley to the east, Los Angeles to the west, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south.

The California State University (CSU) system continues to dominate our list of cheap colleges in California. Cal State Fullerton, or CSUF, is no exception. CSUF is located in picturesque northern Orange County and sits on the site of a former citrus grove. Fullerton is a suburb of Los Angeles with a population of 142,280.

This school offers more than 110 degree programs to its nearly 40,400 students. The College of Business and Economics boasts the highest enrollment.

Sixty percent of students at CSUF received financial aid last year. Students saw some $337 million in loans, grants, and scholarships.

California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) is also known for its affordability and educational value. Located 110 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, this campus sits on a 375-acre site off Stockdale Highway in Kern County.

CSUB offers undergraduate and graduate options in arts and humanities, business and public administration, natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, and social science education.

Enrollment is small for a CSU school, at just over 9,600 students last year. Some 82% of students receive financial aid at CSUB. Grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study options are available.

Nestled in the mountains, California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is committed to helping students pursue careers and economic advancement. Of the nearly 20,000 students enrolled, some 81% are first-generation college students.

The university offers more than 70 traditional baccalaureate and master’s degree programs. Eighty-three percent of students on campus are receiving financial aid.

East of Los Angeles, San Bernardino is an outdoor lover’s dream, with a national forest and other large recreational areas nearby. The city is rich in cultural diversity and is an emerging economic power in aerospace and electronics.

Here’s a list of the 20 cheapest colleges in California based on the latest NCES data. All schools are nonprofit four-year institutions that enroll at least 500 undergraduates. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, and acceptance rate.

The average tuition in the U.S. for a student studying in-state at a public, four-year university was $9,750 in 2022-23. In California, it was slightly below that at $8,640.

While the cost of tuition in California tends to fall below the national average, the cost of living in the Golden State keeps overall college fees higher. MIT estimates the “living wage,” or the amount needed to provide basic necessities, for a family of four in California at $49 an hour. Nationally, this number is closer to $25 an hour.

When room and board are factored into the equation, the cost of higher education in California jumps to around $24,920 a year, compared to the national average of $22,390.