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What 4 years of college costs in California before aid
Across 203 four-year colleges in California, the projected 4-year in-state total runs from ~$4,300 to ~$327,800, with a median of ~$73,200. That median sits above the national median of ~$69,200. Every figure is an estimate from published rates before aid. Totals cover tuition and fees for 2026 entry; housing, meals, and books are extra.
| School | Sector | Projected 4-year total | Growth / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solano Community College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,300 | -2.1% |
| Antelope Valley Community College District (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,500 | 0.2% |
| Cypress College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,600 | 0.1% |
| MiraCosta College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,600 | 0.0% |
| San Diego Mesa College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,600 | 0.1% |
| Santa Monica College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,700 | 0.2% |
| Santa Ana College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,800 | 0.4% |
| Shasta College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$4,800 | 0.1% |
| West Los Angeles College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$5,000 | 0.2% |
| Skyline College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$5,100 | -0.9% |
| Modesto Junior College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$5,300 | 1.1% |
| Rio Hondo College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$5,600 | 0.3% |
| Feather River Community College District (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$5,900 | 0.1% |
| Bakersfield College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$5,900 | 0.9% |
| Foothill College (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$6,300 | 0.1% |
| University of the People (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$10,800 | 2.6% |
| Berkeley School of Theology (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$12,800 | national est. |
| Grace Mission University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$16,000 | 3.0% |
| United States University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$23,700 | -3.9% |
| Bethesda University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$25,700 | -2.6% |
| Southern California University of Health Sciences (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$26,400 | -3.5% |
| Claremont Lincoln University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$26,900 | national est. |
| Pathways College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$27,700 | national est. |
| America Evangelical University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$27,800 | national est. |
| California State University-Channel Islands (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$27,900 | 0.5% |
| Teachers College of San Joaquin (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$28,100 | national est. |
| California State University-Los Angeles (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$28,300 | 0.8% |
| California State University-East Bay (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$29,300 | 0.8% |
| California State University-Fresno (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$29,400 | 1.1% |
| California State University-Northridge (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$29,500 | 0.9% |
| California State University-Fullerton (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$29,900 | 1.3% |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$30,300 | 1.6% |
| Pacific States University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$30,700 | -5.3% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$30,900 | 0.8% |
| San Francisco State University (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$31,800 | 1.5% |
| Haven University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$31,900 | national est. |
| California State University-San Marcos (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$32,100 | 0.8% |
| World Mission University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$32,100 | 3.4% |
| California State University-Sacramento (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$32,500 | 1.5% |
| California State University-Bakersfield (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$32,800 | 1.4% |
| California State University-Monterey Bay (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$33,200 | 2.5% |
| California State University-San Bernardino (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$33,200 | 1.8% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$33,300 | 1.1% |
| California State University Maritime Academy (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$33,300 | 1.8% |
| California State University-Stanislaus (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$33,900 | 1.8% |
| Southern States University (projected from 2022 data) | private | ~$34,200 | national est. |
| California State University-Chico (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$34,600 | 1.6% |
| Sonoma State University (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$34,800 | 1.3% |
| University of Phoenix-California (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$34,900 | -2.0% |
| University of West Los Angeles (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$35,000 | national est. |
| California Intercontinental University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$36,100 | -0.1% |
| California State University-Long Beach (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$36,500 | 2.8% |
| San Francisco Bay University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$37,300 | 1.4% |
| San Jose State University (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$39,600 | 2.4% |
| Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$39,700 | national est. |
| The University of America (projected from 2019 data) | private | ~$39,700 | national est. |
| Golden Gate University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$40,000 | -2.8% |
| Abraham Lincoln University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$40,900 | national est. |
| San Diego State University (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$41,000 | 3.1% |
| Bergin University of Canine Studies (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$42,900 | 0.6% |
| SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$44,300 | 1.3% |
| California Miramar University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$44,600 | 2.4% |
| Notre Dame de Namur University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$44,700 | -7.5% |
| California Arts University (projected from 2021 data) | private | ~$44,800 | national est. |
| Platt College-San Diego (projected from 2022 data) | private | ~$45,300 | -5.4% |
| Santa Barbara Business College-Bakersfield (projected from 2021 data) | private | ~$45,600 | -0.3% |
| American Jewish University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$47,500 | national est. |
| Agape College of Business and Science (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$47,600 | national est. |
| Pacific College of Health and Science (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$48,100 | 2.6% |
| Los Angeles Pacific University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$49,500 | 0.7% |
| Epic Bible College & Graduate School (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$50,000 | 1.9% |
| University of Massachusetts Global (projected from 2023 data) | public | ~$50,700 | 0.3% |
| Antioch University-Los Angeles (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$51,200 | -5.3% |
| California Christian College (projected from 2022 data) | private | ~$51,500 | 3.1% |
| Lincoln University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$52,000 | 2.0% |
| National University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$55,300 | 0.8% |
| Latin American Bible Institute (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$55,300 | national est. |
| Reach University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$55,500 | national est. |
| Northcentral University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$55,900 | 2.3% |
| DeVry University-California (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$56,300 | -1.4% |
| Smith Chason College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$58,300 | -5.9% |
| Touro University Worldwide (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$58,600 | 0.0% |
| Ashford University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$59,000 | 2.6% |
| Platt College-Los Angeles (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$59,200 | 0.0% |
| Platt College-Ontario (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$59,200 | 0.0% |
| Platt College-Riverside (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$59,200 | 0.0% |
| San Diego Global Knowledge University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$61,800 | national est. |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$62,900 | 4.5% |
| Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$64,300 | 1.9% |
| Shasta Bible College and Graduate School (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$66,400 | 3.0% |
| Platt College-Anaheim (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$66,400 | national est. |
| University of California-Los Angeles (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$66,600 | 2.1% |
| University of California-Merced (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$68,200 | 2.1% |
| University of California-Irvine (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$68,500 | 2.1% |
| University of California-Riverside (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$69,000 | 2.0% |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$69,000 | national est. |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology-National City (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$69,000 | national est. |
| University of California-Santa Cruz (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$71,300 | 2.3% |
| University of the West (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$71,600 | 4.4% |
| Oak Valley College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$72,200 | national est. |
| University of California-Santa Barbara (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$73,000 | 2.2% |
| University of California-San Diego (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$73,200 | 2.4% |
| Alliant International University-San Diego (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$73,500 | 0.5% |
| University of California-Davis (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$74,900 | 2.4% |
| West Coast University-Orange County (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$75,800 | -3.9% |
| University of California-Berkeley (2026-27 announced rate) | public | ~$76,000 | 2.8% |
| Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$76,200 | 2.7% |
| California Institute of Integral Studies (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$81,000 | -2.2% |
| Antioch University-Santa Barbara (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$82,900 | 1.3% |
| Sofia University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$83,300 | national est. |
| Lionel University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$85,200 | 7.6% |
| Interior Designers Institute (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$85,800 | 1.3% |
| Southern California Seminary (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$85,900 | 3.1% |
| Southern California Institute of Technology (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$89,800 | 2.0% |
| Chamberlain University-California (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$92,300 | 1.5% |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at San Diego (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$93,500 | national est. |
| Westcliff University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$94,200 | national est. |
| Beverly Hills Design Institute (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$94,700 | 0.4% |
| Minerva University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$95,800 | 5.6% |
| San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia (projected from 2013 data) | private | ~$96,000 | national est. |
| Dharma Realm Buddhist University (projected from 2022 data) | private | ~$96,600 | national est. |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$97,300 | 5.7% |
| Palo Alto University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$98,200 | 1.4% |
| American University of Health Sciences (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$101,300 | 0.7% |
| Life Pacific University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$103,400 | 5.3% |
| San Diego Christian College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$103,700 | -0.3% |
| Loma Linda University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$104,600 | -1.4% |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$105,000 | 5.2% |
| University of Silicon Valley (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$106,100 | 3.7% |
| Los Angeles College of Music (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$108,700 | 1.3% |
| California Jazz Conservatory (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$110,900 | 3.5% |
| Musicians Institute (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$115,800 | 1.4% |
| Columbia College Hollywood (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$123,100 | 3.6% |
| Thomas Aquinas College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$124,300 | 1.8% |
| John Paul the Great Catholic University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$128,500 | 1.9% |
| University of Saint Katherine (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$129,200 | national est. |
| Academy of Art University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$133,700 | 4.0% |
| Arizona College-Ontario (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$135,200 | national est. |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$140,900 | 3.4% |
| Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$141,800 | national est. |
| Design Institute of San Diego (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$144,800 | 4.7% |
| FIDM-Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$147,100 | 1.5% |
| Gnomon (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$154,400 | 2.7% |
| La Sierra University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$157,500 | 2.1% |
| Pacific Union College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$157,700 | 2.5% |
| West Coast University-Los Angeles (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$159,000 | 1.5% |
| West Coast University-Ontario (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$159,000 | 1.5% |
| California Aeronautical University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$159,100 | national est. |
| Laguna College of Art and Design (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$163,000 | 3.0% |
| The Master's University and Seminary (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$164,300 | 2.4% |
| Fresno Pacific University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$164,400 | 3.3% |
| Providence Christian College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$164,800 | 3.6% |
| Marymount California University (projected from 2022 data) | private | ~$165,700 | 2.1% |
| Soka University of America (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$166,800 | 2.4% |
| Hope International University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$167,700 | 3.3% |
| New York Film Academy (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$171,300 | 3.5% |
| Pacific Oaks College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$172,700 | 5.9% |
| Hussian College-Los Angeles (projected from 2022 data) | private | ~$172,900 | 0.7% |
| William Jessup University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$181,400 | 4.5% |
| Vanguard University of Southern California (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$184,400 | 3.2% |
| California Baptist University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$184,700 | 3.4% |
| Unitek College (projected from 2020 data) | private | ~$192,200 | 4.2% |
| Concordia University-Irvine (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$192,600 | 3.4% |
| Simpson University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$194,300 | 5.3% |
| Samuel Merritt University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$194,800 | -1.0% |
| Holy Names University (projected from 2022 data) | private | ~$195,600 | 2.7% |
| Azusa Pacific University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$200,300 | 3.1% |
| Woodbury University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$203,300 | 2.8% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$205,300 | 3.7% |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$214,700 | 3.0% |
| Whittier College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$218,300 | 2.0% |
| Biola University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$221,400 | 3.8% |
| Dominican University of California (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$223,400 | 2.2% |
| Mount Saint Mary's University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$226,500 | 3.7% |
| University of La Verne (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$229,600 | 3.4% |
| Westmont College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$235,900 | 2.9% |
| California Lutheran University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$236,900 | 3.5% |
| Menlo College (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$238,500 | 3.5% |
| Otis College of Art and Design (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$239,000 | 2.9% |
| Art Center College of Design (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$241,500 | 3.5% |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$247,300 | 3.2% |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$251,900 | 3.2% |
| University of the Pacific (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$256,300 | 3.3% |
| Saint Mary's College of California (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$261,700 | 3.4% |
| California Institute of the Arts (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$263,000 | 3.3% |
| California Northstate University (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$265,800 | national est. |
| University of Redlands (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$266,400 | 3.3% |
| California College of the Arts (projected from 2023 data) | private | ~$272,700 | 3.7% |
| University of San Francisco (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$272,900 | 3.8% |
| University of San Diego (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$273,200 | 3.5% |
| Santa Clara University (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$276,200 | 3.4% |
| Stanford University (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$289,200 | 3.6% |
| Loyola Marymount University (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$294,800 | 4.5% |
| Pitzer College (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$296,800 | 3.4% |
| Chapman University (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$297,400 | 3.7% |
| Scripps College (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$298,500 | 3.4% |
| Occidental College (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$299,200 | 3.4% |
| California Institute of Technology (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$303,300 | 4.2% |
| Pomona College (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$305,400 | 3.8% |
| Pepperdine University (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$319,800 | 4.1% |
| Claremont McKenna College (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$321,700 | 4.0% |
| University of Southern California (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$326,600 | 3.9% |
| Harvey Mudd College (2026-27 announced rate) | private | ~$327,800 | 3.9% |
The 203 projected totals above for California are estimates: published in-state tuition and fees before aid, compounded at each school's own historical growth rate where one exists and a conservative national rate otherwise, bridged forward from each school's latest reported year. Housing, meals, and books are not included. See the methodology.