2024 Average Cost of colleges in California

Average Cost of Attendance (COA)

In addition to the tuition & fees, the cost of college includes cost for room & board, books & supplies, and other living expenses. This total costs of attendance (COA) is important when preparing for the college admission and checking student loans.

The 2024 average COA of the four-year colleges in California is $28,588 for residents and $42,635 for out-of-state students. At private four-year schools, average COA is $49,005. At community colleges (2-4 year school), the average COA is $17,807 for California residents and $26,532 for out-of-state students.

The following table summarizes the 2024 average COA by school types and levels. In addition, you can check the changes of COA by comparing to last year.

2024 Average Cost of Colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Public 4 Years Colleges	$28,588	$42,635
Public 2 Years Colleges (Community Colleges)	$17,807	$26,532
Private 4 Years Colleges	$49,005

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In California, 624 out of 697 colleges are offering undergraduate programs. By schools type, there are 177 public and 390 private colleges in California. The average undergraduate tuition & fees of colleges in California is $6,823 for California residents and $20,720 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the undergraduate tuition & fees is $27,541

At community colleges (2-4 years schools), the average tuition & fees is $1,286 for residents and $10,011 for out-of-state students.

2024 Average Tuition & fees of colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Public 4 Years Colleges	$6,823	$20,720
Private 4 Years Colleges	$27,541
Public 2 Years Colleges (Community Colleges)	$1,286	$10,011
Less than 2 Years Schools (Trade/Technical Colleges)	$21,292

Graduate Programs Tuition & Fees

In California, 235 colleges and universities offer graduate programs. The average graduate school tuition & fees of colleges in California is $8,766 for California residents and $20,118 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the graduate program tuition & fees is $23,798

2024 Average Graduate Tuition & fees of colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Public Schools	$8,766	$20,118
Private Schools	$23,798

Tuition per Credit Hour

The tuition per credit hour is used and charged to part-time students and/or full-time students who takes extra courses (credits). The average cost per credit hour of colleges in California is $45 for California residents and $384 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the average cost is $1,136

For graduate programs, the average tuition per credit hour is - for California residents and $460 for out-of-state students. At private graduate schools, the average cost per credit hour is $966

2024 Average Tuition per Credit Hour of colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Undergraduate
Public 4 Years Colleges	$45	$384
Private 4 Years Colleges	$1,136
Public 2 Years Colleges (Community Colleges)	$50	$410
Graduate
Public Schools	-	$460
Private Schools	$966

Average Living Costs at colleges in California

At colleges in California, the average living cost is $19,154 when a student lives on campus facility and $23,998 when living off campus. It includes the cost for room & board, and other living expenses.

2024 Average Living Cost of colleges in California
	On-Campus	Off-Campus
Public Schools	$19,394	$25,820
Private Schools	$18,997	$22,114

Most Searched California Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

University of California-Los Angeles Public, four-years | Los Angeles
National University Private, four-years | San Diego
Stanford University Private, four-years | Stanford
University of California-Berkeley Public, four-years | Berkeley
University of Southern California Private, four-years | Los Angeles
University of California-Irvine Public, four-years | Irvine
California State University-Long Beach Public, four-years | Long Beach
Fresno City College Public, 2-4 years | Fresno
University of San Diego Private, four-years | San Diego
Diablo Valley College Public, 2-4 years | Pleasant Hill

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Graduate

National University Private, four-years | San Diego
San Jose State University Public, four-years | San Jose
University of California-Berkeley Public, four-years | Berkeley
San Francisco State University Public, four-years | San Francisco
California Institute of Technology Private, four-years | Pasadena
University of Southern California Private, four-years | Los Angeles
Loma Linda University Private, four-years | Loma Linda
University of California-San Diego Public, four-years | La Jolla
University of California-Santa Barbara Public, four-years | Santa Barbara
California State University-San Bernardino Public, four-years | San Bernardino

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Online Schools

National University Private, four-years | San Diego
Ashford University Private, four-years | San Diego
University of California-Berkeley Public, four-years | Berkeley
California State University-Northridge Public, four-years | Northridge
California State University-Los Angeles Public, four-years | Los Angeles
Chaffey College Public, 2-4 years | Rancho Cucamonga
University of California-Los Angeles Public, four-years | Los Angeles
California State University-Long Beach Public, four-years | Long Beach
University of California-Irvine Public, four-years | Irvine
Touro University Worldwide Private, four-years | Los Alamitos

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Technical Colleges

Career Academy of Beauty Private, Less than 2-years | Garden Grove
UEI College-Bakersfield Private, Less than 2-years | Bakersfield
National Holistic Institute Private, Less than 2-years | Emeryville
Summit College Private, Less than 2-years | San Bernardino
Advanced Career Institute Private, Less than 2-years | Visalia
UEI College-Chula Vista Private, Less than 2-years | Chula Vista
Coba Academy Private, Less than 2-years | Anaheim
San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Private, four-years | Visalia
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood Private, 2-4 years | North Hollywood
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove Private, 2-4 years | Garden Grove

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2024 Average Tuition of colleges in California is $6,823 for Residents and $20,870 for Others

Average Cost of Attendance (COA)

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

Graduate Programs Tuition & Fees

Tuition per Credit Hour

Average Living Costs at colleges in California

Highest Undergraduate Tuition in California

Highest Graduate Tuition in California