2022 California Best Colleges Tuition Comparison

This page compares the best colleges in California with tuition, admission, and more academic facts (Ranking data from College Evaluator). For the academic year 2021-2022, Stanford University rank first in the best California college ranking and California Institute of Technology is placed in second.

Admission Comparison Between Best Colleges in California

2 public and 8 private schools rank in the best California colleges. The schools' average acceptance rate is 18.60% where Stanford University has the tightest (lowest) acceptance rate of 5% and Soka University of America has the highest rate of 52%. Total 156,350 students are attending one of the best California schools where University of Southern California has the largest population with 46,287 students and Soka University of America has the smallest number of students (403 students). The average graduation rate is 91.60% and the average students to faculty ratio is 9.60:1 at those colleges.
The following table shows the academic information and key facts of the best California colleges including acceptance rate, graduation rate, student population, and students to faculty ratio.
Table. California Best Colleges Overview
RankName Acceptance RateSAT ScoreGraduation RatePopulationStudent-Faculty Ratio
1Stanford University
Stanford, CA
5%1,49595%15,9535:1 (20.00 %)
2California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
7%1,55592%2,2403:1 (33.33 %)
3Pomona College
Claremont, CA
9%1,46594%1,4757:1 (14.29 %)
4Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA
13%1,41592%1,2648:1 (12.50 %)
5University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
14%1,41591%44,58918:1 (5.56 %)
6University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
17%1,42092%42,32720:1 (5.00 %)
7University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
16%1,43592%46,2879:1 (11.11 %)
8Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA
18%1,53093%8548:1 (12.50 %)
9Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA
52%1,29587%4038:1 (12.50 %)
10Scripps College
Claremont, CA
35%1,40088%95810:1 (10.00 %)
Average18.60%1,44391.60%156,350 (Total)9.60:1 (10.42 %)

Best California Colleges 2022 Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimated Costs

The following table lists 2021-2022 tuition & fees and compares them between the best California colleges. The 2021-2022 costs are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. The estimated costs for the academic year 2022-2023 are calculated and estimated based on each school's rate of tuition change from 2021 to 2022.

For the undergraduate programs, the average tuition & fees of the best California colleges is $53,145 where University of Southern California has the most expensive costs at $61,503 and Soka University of America has the lowest amount of tuition at $34,166. The average graduate tuition & fees of the best California colleges is $47,185 where Claremont McKenna College has the highest tuition with $64,288 and University of California-Los Angeles has the lowest amount of graduate school tuition with $28,138.
UndergraduateGraduate
Table. Best California Colleges 2022 Undergraduate Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Stanford University $56,169$56,169
2California Institute of Technology $58,680$60,556
3Pomona College $56,686$58,665
4Claremont McKenna College $58,111$59,794
5University of California-Los Angeles $13,258$43,012 $13,267 $43,021
6University of California-Berkeley $14,226$43,980 $14,141 $43,894
7University of Southern California $61,503$62,756
8Harvey Mudd College $60,703$62,817
9Soka University of America $34,166$34,371
10Scripps College $58,442$59,723
Average$13,742$53,145$13,704$54,177
Table. Best California Colleges 2022 Graduate School Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation
RankSchool Name 2022 Tuition & Fees2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
1Stanford University $55,011$55,011
2California Institute of Technology $58,443$60,294
3Pomona College --
4Claremont McKenna College $64,288$64,288
5University of California-Los Angeles $13,036$28,138 $13,036$13,043
6University of California-Berkeley $14,160$29,262 $14,160$14,076
7University of Southern California $61,396$77,378
8Harvey Mudd College --
9Soka University of America $34,166$34,371
10Scripps College $46,774$46,774
Average$13,598$47,185$13,559$49,430