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

Rank	Name	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Graduation Rate	Population	Student-Faculty Ratio
1	Stanford University Stanford, CA	5%	1,495	95%	15,953	5:1 (20.00 %)
2	California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA	7%	1,555	92%	2,240	3:1 (33.33 %)
3	Pomona College Claremont, CA	9%	1,465	94%	1,475	7:1 (14.29 %)
4	Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA	13%	1,415	92%	1,264	8:1 (12.50 %)
5	University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	14%	1,415	91%	44,589	18:1 (5.56 %)
6	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA	17%	1,420	92%	42,327	20:1 (5.00 %)
7	University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA	16%	1,435	92%	46,287	9:1 (11.11 %)
8	Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA	18%	1,530	93%	854	8:1 (12.50 %)
9	Soka University of America Aliso Viejo, CA	52%	1,295	87%	403	8:1 (12.50 %)
10	Scripps College Claremont, CA	35%	1,400	88%	958	10:1 (10.00 %)
	Average	18.60%	1,443	91.60%	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 Living Costs

Table. Best California Colleges 2022 Undergraduate Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimation

Rank	School Name	2022 Tuition & Fees		2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
		In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
1	Stanford University	$56,169		$56,169
2	California Institute of Technology	$58,680		$60,556
3	Pomona College	$56,686		$58,665
4	Claremont McKenna College	$58,111		$59,794
5	University of California-Los Angeles	$13,258	$43,012	$13,267	$43,021
6	University of California-Berkeley	$14,226	$43,980	$14,141	$43,894
7	University of Southern California	$61,503		$62,756
8	Harvey Mudd College	$60,703		$62,817
9	Soka University of America	$34,166		$34,371
10	Scripps 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

Rank	School Name	2022 Tuition & Fees		2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees
		In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
1	Stanford University	$55,011		$55,011
2	California Institute of Technology	$58,443		$60,294
3	Pomona College	-		-
4	Claremont McKenna College	$64,288		$64,288
5	University of California-Los Angeles	$13,036	$28,138	$13,036	$13,043
6	University of California-Berkeley	$14,160	$29,262	$14,160	$14,076
7	University of Southern California	$61,396		$77,378
8	Harvey Mudd College	-		-
9	Soka University of America	$34,166		$34,371
10	Scripps College	$46,774		$46,774
	Average	$13,598	$47,185	$13,559	$49,430

Read More

California Colleges Tuition Trends Over The Current Decade(The 2010s)

There are 784 colleges in California State - 183 public and 601 private schools. The average tuition & fees of public schools are $3,008 for California residents and $10,851 for others in 2017. It increase 4.72% from last year and 20.64% from 2010 cumulatively. For private schools, the average tuition & fees are $24,622 which are increased 5.01% from last year and 16.07% from 2010 cumulatively.

Tuition & Fees Trends of California Colleges from 2010 to 2017

Next table and charts illustrates the tuition changes from 2010 to 2017 for California colleges and universities. The costs officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education and due to the data availability, the avarage amount mainly based on 2-4 years and 4 years colleges and universities.

Undergraduate (Public) Undergraduate (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)

For California public schools, the 2017 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $3,008 which has increased by 91.97% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $10,851 which has risen by 20.64%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.95% while last year increase rate was 4.72%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2010 to 2017 for California Colleges

	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
In-State Costs	$1,567	$2,713	$2,928	$2,940	$2,970	$2,988	$3,008
Year-to-Year Rates	0.00%	73.09%	7.92%	0.43%	1.03%	0.58%	0.70%
Cumulative Rates	0.00%	73.09%	86.80%	87.61%	89.54%	90.64%	91.97%
Out-of-State Costs	$8,994	$9,548	$10,035	$9,980	$10,230	$10,361	$10,851
Year-to-Year Rates	0.00%	6.16%	5.10%	-0.55%	2.51%	1.28%	4.72%
Cumulative Rates	0.00%	6.16%	11.57%	10.96%	13.74%	15.20%	20.64%

For private schools in California state, the 2017 undergraduate tuition & fees are $24,622 which has increased by 16.07% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.30% while last year increase rate was 5.01%.

Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2010 to 2017 for California Colleges

	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Tuition & Fees	$21,213	$21,022	$21,677	$21,814	$21,986	$23,448	$24,622
Year-to-Year Rates	0.00%	-0.90%	3.12%	0.63%	0.79%	6.65%	5.01%
Cumulative Rates	0.00%	-0.90%	2.19%	2.83%	3.64%	10.54%	16.07%

The average graduate school tuition & fees of California public schools are $10,830 which has increased by -20.22% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $21,311 which has risen by 10.84%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 1.55% while last year increase rate was -0.30%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2010 to 2017 for California Colleges

	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
In-State Costs	$13,574	$10,422	$10,495	$10,526	$10,657	$10,846	$10,830
Year-to-Year Rates	0.00%	-23.22%	0.71%	0.29%	1.24%	1.77%	-0.15%
Cumulative Rates	0.00%	-23.22%	-22.68%	-22.45%	-21.49%	-20.10%	-20.22%
Out-of-State Costs	$19,227	$20,950	$21,436	$22,543	$22,768	$21,374	$21,311
Year-to-Year Rates	0.00%	8.96%	2.32%	5.16%	1.00%	-6.12%	-0.30%
Cumulative Rates	0.00%	8.96%	11.49%	17.25%	18.42%	11.17%	10.84%

For private graduate schools in California state, the 2017 tuition & fees are $21,509 which has increased by 14.73% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.10368% while last year increase rate was 5.60%.

Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2010 to 2017 for California Colleges

	2010-2011	2011-2012	2012-2013	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Tuition & Fees	$18,748	$18,892	$19,416	$19,971	$19,899	$20,369	$21,509
Year-to-Year Rates	0.00%	0.77%	2.78%	2.86%	-0.36%	2.36%	5.60%
Cumulative Rates	0.00%	0.77%	3.56%	6.52%	6.14%	8.64%	14.73%

You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at California college cost trends.

Read More