Colleges in California

At a Glance Admission, Tuition, Population, and more Updated: May 14, 2026 collegetuitioncompare

California has 704 colleges and universities. 643 schools offer undergraduate programs and 229 schools offer graduate programs. In California, there are 19 ABA-accredited law schools and 11 LCME-accredited medical schools.

By school type, 196 public and 508 private colleges are active for the academic year 2024-2025 in California. By school level, there are 312 4-Years Colleges, 182 Community Colleges, and 210 Technical Colleges in California. 4-Years Colleges Community Colleges Technical Colleges Total 312 182 210 Public 76 102 18 Private (not-for-profit) 160 4 15 Private (for-profit) 76 76 177 View Detailed Stats

Average Tuition & Fees

For 4-year colleges, the average undergraduate tuition & fees are $6,088 for California residents and $19,741 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, the average tuition & fees are $12,315 for California residents and $22,966 for out-of-state students. View Detailed Stats

4-Year Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, 4-year college tuition has increased 7.5% for in-state and 9.8% for out-of-state students at public schools. At private schools, the tuition has increased 18.1%. See the detailed tuition history below. California Colleges Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools CA Residents Out-of-State 2021 $5,662 $17,973 $28,365 2022 $5,682 $17,915 $28,500 2023 $5,668 $17,954 $30,031 2024 $5,777 $18,574 $31,981 2025 $6,088 $19,741 $33,497 View Detailed Stats

Community Colleges Tuition

Over the past 5 years, community college tuition has increased -1.4% for in-state and 24.8% for out-of-state students at public schools. At private community colleges, the tuition has increased 0.9%. California Community Colleges Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools CA Residents Out-of-State 2021 $1,404 $8,336 $17,712 2022 $1,352 $8,769 $17,743 2023 $1,348 $9,113 $18,166 2024 $1,363 $9,910 $18,916 2025 $1,384 $10,399 $17,864 View Detailed Stats

Graduate Schools Tuition

The graduate tuition has increased 5.5% for in-state and 1.2% for out-of-state students over the past 5 years At private graduate schools, the tuition has increased 15%. California Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees Public Schools Private Schools CA Residents Out-of-State 2021 $11,669 $22,692 $22,664 2022 $11,534 $21,822 $23,147 2023 $11,557 $21,846 $23,531 2024 $11,754 $22,043 $24,546 2025 $12,315 $22,966 $26,061 View Detailed Stats

Living Costs

The average living costs at California colleges are $20,751 when a student lives on-campus and $26,891 when living-off campus. On-campus living costs have increased 24.2% and off-campus costs have increased 36.2% over the past 5 years. Living Costs at California Colleges On-Campus Off-Campus 2021 $16,711 $19,751 2022 $16,946 $20,501 2023 $17,672 $21,618 2024 $19,167 $24,062 2025 $20,751 $26,891 View Detailed Stats

Admission & SAT Scores

On average, 66.8% of applicants are admitted to California colleges. The admission rate ranges from 2.6% to 100.0% across colleges in California. The average SAT score at California colleges is 1,329. SAT scores range from 1,020 to 1,550 across colleges in California.

Financial Aid

On average, 60.77% students have received grants and/or scholarships at California colleges. The average amount of aid received is $8,412 Check by School

Enrollment

A total of 2,750,978 students is attending California colleges - 2,429,776 undergraduate and 320,178 graduate students. Of them, 727,549 students enrolled in online programs exclusively. Total Number of Students 2,750,978 Undergraduate 2,429,776 Graduate 320,178 Online Students 727,549 Compare Schools

Faculty & Staff

A total of 165,272 faculties (instructional staffs) are working for colleges in California and the average faculty salary is $86,524. There are 708,082 non-instructional staffs and its average salary is $82,302. Number of Faculties 165,272 Average Faculty Salary $86,524 Number of Staffs 708,082 Average Staff Salary $82,302 Faculty/Staff Salary

Best California colleges

Stanford University is ranked #1 in the California college rankings, followed by California Institute of Technology in second place. #1. Stanford University #2. California Institute of Technology #3. Pomona College #4. University of Southern California #5. Claremont McKenna College Full Rankings

Highest Tuition & Fees

University of Southern California is the most expensive college in California with a tuition & fees of $71,647 and Pepperdine University has the second-highest tuition & fees of $69,918. #1. University of Southern California $71,647 #2. Pepperdine University $69,918 #3. Harvey Mudd College $68,613 #4. Claremont McKenna College $67,980 #5. Northeastern University Oakland $67,778 Full Rankings

Highest Graduate Tuition

For graduate programs, Claremont McKenna College requires the most expensive tuition & fees of $72,294 and University of Southern California has the second-highest graduate tuition & fees of $71,515. #1. Claremont McKenna College $72,294 #2. University of Southern California $71,515 #3. American Film Institute Conservatory $70,487 #4. Occidental College $66,274 #5. California Institute of Technology $65,706 Full Rankings

Highest SAT Scores

Stanford University has the highest SAT scores of 1,550 submitted by enrolled students and Harvey Mudd College has the second-highest SAT score of 1,540. #1. Stanford University SAT Score: 1550 #2. Harvey Mudd College SAT Score: 1540 #3. Pomona College SAT Score: 1540 #4. Claremont McKenna College SAT Score: 1530 #5. Scripps College SAT Score: 1500 Full Rankings

Largest California colleges

University of California-Los Angeles is the largest college with 47,335 students and University of Southern California has the second-most students of 46,566. #1. University of California-Los Angeles 47,335 students #2. University of Southern California 46,566 students #3. University of California-Berkeley 45,882 students #4. University of California-San Diego 44,256 students #5. California State University-Fullerton 43,662 students Full Rankings

Largest Online colleges

University of the People has the most online students of 41,961 students and National University has the second-most online students of 18,317. #1. University of the People 41,961 online enrollment #2. National University 18,317 online enrollment #3. American River College 13,443 online enrollment #4. East Los Angeles College 12,938 online enrollment #5. Chaffey College 11,911 online enrollment Full Rankings

	4-Years Colleges	Community Colleges	Technical Colleges
Total	312	182	210
Public	76	102	18
Private (not-for-profit)	160	4	15
Private (for-profit)	76	76	177

California Colleges Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$5,662	$17,973	$28,365
2022	$5,682	$17,915	$28,500
2023	$5,668	$17,954	$30,031
2024	$5,777	$18,574	$31,981
2025	$6,088	$19,741	$33,497

California Community Colleges Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$1,404	$8,336	$17,712
2022	$1,352	$8,769	$17,743
2023	$1,348	$9,113	$18,166
2024	$1,363	$9,910	$18,916
2025	$1,384	$10,399	$17,864

California Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees
	Public Schools	Private Schools
2021	$11,669	$22,692	$22,664
2022	$11,534	$21,822	$23,147
2023	$11,557	$21,846	$23,531
2024	$11,754	$22,043	$24,546
2025	$12,315	$22,966	$26,061

Living Costs at California Colleges

2021	$16,711	$19,751
2022	$16,946	$20,501
2023	$17,672	$21,618
2024	$19,167	$24,062
2025	$20,751	$26,891

	Public Schools		Private Schools
	CA Residents	Out-of-State	Private Schools
2021	$5,662	$17,973	$28,365
2022	$5,682	$17,915	$28,500
2023	$5,668	$17,954	$30,031
2024	$5,777	$18,574	$31,981
2025	$6,088	$19,741	$33,497

2025-26 Statistics