2023 Average Tuition of colleges in California is $6,690 for Residents and $20,356 for Others

For the academic year 2022-2023, the average tuition of public colleges in California is $6,690 for California residents and $20,356 for out-of-state students. For private colleges in California, the average tuition & fees are $28,605 regardless of residency. For graduate schools, the average tuition of public colleges in California is $10,389 for California residents and $20,818 for out-of-state students. For private schools in California, the average graduate tuition is $23,574.

The average living expenses other than tuition & fees are $17,736 when a student lives on-campus facilities such as dormitory and college-operated/owned apartment. The average off-campus living cost is $21,604. It includes costs for room & board, books & supplies, and other living expenses.

The average amounts are based on the cost of 4-years college which offer BS degree (or higher). You can check the average cost of 2-years college (community college) and less than 2 years colleges (trade schools / technical colleges). In addition, you can check the average cost of college by school type, level, and offered degree below.

Average Cost of College - 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 2023 average COA of the four-year colleges in California is $27,288 for residents and $40,954 for out-of-state students. At private four-year schools, average COA is $47,557. At community colleges (2-4 year school), the average COA is $15,792 for California residents and $23,723 for out-of-state students.

The following table summarizes the 2023 average COA by school types and levels. In addition, you can check the changes of COA by comparing to last year.

2023 Average Cost of Colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Public 4 Years Colleges	$27,288	$40,954
Public 2 Years Colleges (Community Colleges)	$15,792	$23,723
Private 4 Years Colleges	$47,557

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In California, 608 schools out of 658 are offering undergraduate programs. By schools type, there are 171 public and 394 private colleges in California. The average undergraduate tuition & fees of colleges in California is $6,690 for California residents and $20,206 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the undergraduate tuition & fees is $27,368

At community colleges (2-4 years schools), the average tuition & fees is $1,272 for residents and $9,203 for out-of-state students.

2023 Average Tuition & fees of colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Public 4 Years Colleges	$6,690	$20,206
Private 4 Years Colleges	$27,368
Public 2 Years Colleges (Community Colleges)	$1,272	$9,203
Less than 2 Years Schools (Trade/Technical Colleges)	$20,628

Graduate Programs Tuition & Fees

In California, 202 schools out of 658 are offering graduate programs. The average graduate school tuition & fees of colleges in California is $8,489 for California residents and $19,003 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the graduate program tuition & fees is $22,740

2023 Average Graduate Tuition & fees of colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Public Schools	$8,489	$19,003
Private Schools	$22,740

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 $369 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the average cost is $1,089

For graduate programs, the average tuition per credit hour is - for California residents and $397 for out-of-state students. At private graduate schools, the average cost per credit hour is $978

2023 Average Tuition per Credit Hour of colleges in California
	California Residents	Out-of-State
Undergraduate
Public 4 Years Colleges	$45	$369
Private 4 Years Colleges	$1,089
Public 2 Years Colleges (Community Colleges)	$46	$343
Graduate
Public Schools	-	$397
Private Schools	$978

Average Living Costs at colleges in California

At colleges in California, the average living cost is $17,736 when a student lives on campus facility and $21,604 when living off campus. It includes the cost for room & board, and other living expenses.

2023 Average Living Cost of colleges in California
	On-Campus	Off-Campus
Public Schools	$17,952	$22,902
Private Schools	$17,597	$20,306

Most Searched California Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

University of California-Los Angeles Public, four-years | Los Angeles
University of California-Berkeley Public, four-years | Berkeley
Stanford University Private, four-years | Stanford
University of California-Santa Barbara Public, four-years | Santa Barbara
University of Southern California Private, four-years | Los Angeles
Ashford University Public, four-years | San Diego
California Institute of Technology Private, four-years | Pasadena
Santa Clara University Private, four-years | Santa Clara
University of San Diego Private, four-years | San Diego
Minerva University Private, four-years | San Francisco

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Graduate

San Jose State University Public, four-years | San Jose
Northcentral University Private, four-years | La Jolla
Ashford University Public, four-years | San Diego
Santa Clara University Private, four-years | Santa Clara
Saybrook University Private, four-years | Pasadena
California State University-Fresno Public, four-years | Fresno
San Francisco State University Public, four-years | San Francisco
University of California-Berkeley Public, four-years | Berkeley
Westcliff University Private, four-years | Irvine
Occidental College Private, four-years | Los Angeles

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Online Schools

Ashford University Public, four-years | San Diego
Academy of Art University Private, four-years | San Francisco
National University Private, four-years | La Jolla
Northcentral University Private, four-years | La Jolla
University of California-Berkeley Public, four-years | Berkeley
Pepperdine University Private, four-years | Malibu
University of California-Santa Barbara Public, four-years | Santa Barbara
Mills College Private, four-years | Oakland
San Jose State University Public, four-years | San Jose
Sacramento City College Public, 2-4 years | Sacramento

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Technical Colleges

California College of Barbering and Cosmetology Private, Less than 2-years | Stockton
North-West College-Riverside Private, 2-4 years | Riverside
Unitek College Private, Less than 2-years | Hayward
UEI College-Riverside Private, Less than 2-years | Riverside
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc Private, 2-4 years | Rancho Cucamonga
CBD College Private, 2-4 years | Los Angeles
Paul Mitchell the School-San Diego Private, 2-4 years | San Diego
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove Private, 2-4 years | Garden Grove
UEI College-Bakersfield Private, Less than 2-years | Bakersfield
Stanbridge University Private, four-years | Irvine

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2023 Average Tuition of colleges in California is $6,690 for Residents and $20,356 for Others

Average Cost of College - COA

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

Graduate Programs Tuition & Fees

Tuition per Credit Hour

Average Living Costs at colleges in California

Most Searched California Colleges (last 30 days)

Undergraduate

Graduate

Online Schools

Technical Colleges

Highest Undergraduate Tuition in California

Highest Graduate Tuition in California

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