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Top 20 Affordable Colleges in California

Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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Posted: April 23rd, 2024

California is not known as a cheap state, but it has one of the strongest affordable public education systems in the nation. The California State University system offers accessible and affordable education to students across the state. Additionally, residents of the state can enjoy cheap tuition through in-state rates at world-class schools like UC-Berkeley and UCLA. Scroll down for our top 20 most affordable colleges in California.

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Rio Hondo College

Whittier, CA • Public, Suburb

Whittier, CA

Public, Suburb

--% acceptance rate
13,960 undergraduate students
24% graduation rate
$5,461 average per year after aid
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California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Public, City

Los Angeles, CA

Public, City

91% acceptance rate
23,506 undergraduate students
52% graduation rate
$2,037 average per year after aid
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California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA • Public, City

San Bernardino, CA

Public, City

91% acceptance rate
16,595 undergraduate students
57% graduation rate
$2,232 average per year after aid
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California State University-Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Public, City

Carson, CA

Public, City

90% acceptance rate
15,214 undergraduate students
53% graduation rate
$3,724 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

California State University-Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Public, Suburb

Fullerton, CA

Public, Suburb

59% acceptance rate
35,502 undergraduate students
71% graduation rate
$4,211 average per year after aid
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California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA • Public, Suburb

Seaside, CA

Public, Suburb

93% acceptance rate
6,588 undergraduate students
60% graduation rate
$5,553 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College: Affordability

Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

Stanford, CA

Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

4% acceptance rate
7,645 undergraduate students
96% graduation rate
$7,200 average per year after aid
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California State University-Stanislaus

Turlock, CA • Public, Suburb

Turlock, CA

Public, Suburb

95% acceptance rate
9,161 undergraduate students
58% graduation rate
$6,041 average per year after aid
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California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA • Public, City

Fresno, CA

Public, City

97% acceptance rate
21,826 undergraduate students
57% graduation rate
$5,640 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College: Affordability

Pomona College

Claremont, CA • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

Claremont, CA

Private, Non-Profit, Suburb, Need-Blind

7% acceptance rate
1,747 undergraduate students
93% graduation rate
$9,170 average per year after aid
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West Los Angeles College

Culver City, CA • Public, Suburb

Culver City, CA

Public, Suburb

--% acceptance rate
7,921 undergraduate students
26% graduation rate
$8,110 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College: Affordability

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Public, City

San Diego, CA

Public, City

38% acceptance rate
30,991 undergraduate students
76% graduation rate
$6,488 average per year after aid
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California State University-Northridge

Northridge, CA • Public, City

Northridge, CA

Public, City

88% acceptance rate
34,436 undergraduate students
54% graduation rate
$7,944 average per year after aid
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California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA • Public, City

Sacramento, CA

Public, City

94% acceptance rate
29,370 undergraduate students
57% graduation rate
$6,654 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College: Affordability

California State University-Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Public, City

Long Beach, CA

Public, City

47% acceptance rate
33,765 undergraduate students
75% graduation rate
$8,338 average per year after aid
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Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Public, Suburb

Rohnert Park, CA

Public, Suburb

94% acceptance rate
6,560 undergraduate students
60% graduation rate
$6,230 average per year after aid
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California State University-Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Public, City

Bakersfield, CA

Public, City

85% acceptance rate
8,870 undergraduate students
48% graduation rate
$6,821 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA • Public, City

Irvine, CA

Public, City

29% acceptance rate
29,438 undergraduate students
84% graduation rate
$9,691 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College: Affordability

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Public, City

Los Angeles, CA

Public, City

11% acceptance rate
32,122 undergraduate students
92% graduation rate
$11,627 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College: Affordability

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA • Public, Rural

Merced, CA

Public, Rural

87% acceptance rate
8,321 undergraduate students
72% graduation rate
$10,751 average per year after aid
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About the Data

We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

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