Top 10 Cheapest Colleges in California

California is home to beautiful beaches, warm weather, and amazing academic opportunities.

Many schools in the area offer top-notch education opportunities at low prices. But which are the cheapest colleges in California?

Keep reading to discover the schools charging the lowest tuition rates in the state.

Top Cheap Colleges in California

Find great degree programs in your state at the right price by exploring this list of the cheapest colleges in California.

1. California State University, Bakersfield

Undergraduate tuition for California residents attending California State University, Bakersfield is just $2,871 per semester when taking 6.1 or more units.

Individuals not from California taking the same number of undergraduate units per semester pay this tuition plus an extra $396 per unit.

Mandatory per-semester fees like the Health Service Fee ($186.40) and Student Association Fee ($220.65) are added to students' tuition costs.

Undergraduate programs at CSU, Bakersfield include Accounting, Economics, Management, Pre-Engineering, and Kinesiology.

2. California State University, Channel Islands

California residents taking 6.1 or more units can pay just $3,401 per semester in tuition and mandatory fees to earn a bachelor's degree from California State University, Channel Islands.

Non-residents must pay an additional $396 per unit when taking the same number of units.

Undergraduate programs are available in areas like English, Spanish, history, nursing, business, computer science, and mechatronics engineering.

On-campus scholarships like the Jeff T. Green Family Foundation Scholarship help reduce the cost of attending the university.

3. California State University, Los Angeles

The cost of earning an undergraduate degree from California State University, Los Angeles depends on factors like whether you're a California resident or non-resident.

California learners taking 6.1 or more units pay $3,406.12 per semester in undergraduate tuition and fees.

Individuals not from California pay $396 per unit in addition to the above tuition and fees.

Students can take advantage of scholarships, grants, and more to cover the cost of the university's dozens of degree programs.

4. California State University, Fresno

Residents of California who attend California State University, Fresno pay $3,490.50 per semester in tuition and fees when taking seven or more units.

Individuals who don't live in California pay the above tuition and fees plus an extra $396 per unit.

The university awards 80% of students more than $250 million in scholarships.

These affordable rates can help undergraduates pay less for the school's more than 100 bachelor's degree programs.

5. California State University, East Bay

California State University, East Bay undergraduates pay $3,502.50 per semester in tuition and campus fees as residents. Non-residents add an extra $396 per unit.

These rates are based on students taking 6.1 or more units.

The university offers several ways to reduce the cost of tuition for undergraduate programs ranging from biochemistry and civil engineering to music and nursing.

Students can take advantage of various grants as well as Pioneer Scholarships.

6. California State University, Dominguez Hill

California State University, Dominguez Hills delivers multiple bachelor's degrees in areas like biochemistry, anthropology, chemistry, journalism, and political science.

The cost of earning a bachelor's degree as a California resident is about $3,526 per semester including tuition costs and campus fees.

Non-California residents pay this per-semester rate plus an extra $396 per unit.

On average, students receive more than $9,000 in grants and scholarships to help pay tuition and fees.

7. California State University, Northridge

California State University, Northridge offers numerous undergraduate programs covering areas of study like business analytics, civil engineering, finance, philosophy, and tourism.

The cost of earning an undergraduate degree is just $3,545 per semester. This rate is for residents taking 6.1 or more units and includes tuition and campus fees.

Non-resident undergraduates pay this rate plus an extra $396 per unit.

Students who want to save on tuition costs can earn scholarships of up to $17,000 from the CSU Foundation.

8. California State University, Maritime Academy

California State University, Maritime Academy is one of only seven degree-granting maritime academies in the United States.

Undergraduate programs focus on maritime transportation, mechanical engineering, oceanology, international strategy and security, and more.

California undergraduates pay $3,686 per semester for combined tuition and campus fees. Non-residents add $396 per unit to these fees.

Eligible students who want to reduce their school costs can take advantage of scholarships like Cal Maritime Presidential Scholarships and the Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship (WUE).

9. California State University, San Bernardino

California State University, San Bernardino's undergraduate California residents who take 6.1 or more units pay slightly more than $3,830 per semester.

Full-time non-resident undergraduates pay these fees plus an additional $396 per unit.

The university offers scholarships and other financial aid for all students as well as financial assistance for active military, veterans, reservists, and dependents.

Low tuition costs and financial assistance can help students pay for the university's dozens of on-campus and online degrees.

10. California State University, San Marcos

At California State University, San Marcos, resident-based undergraduates taking 6.1 units or more pay $2,871 in tuition plus $1,001 in mandatory campus fees for a total of $3,872 per semester.

Non-resident undergraduates taking the same number of units pay this total cost plus an extra $396 per unit.

Undergraduates have access to a wide range of bachelor's degree programs.

Whether students are interested in accounting, mathematics, anthropology, film studies, or psychology, they can earn their degrees at a lower cost.

How Much Will a College Degree Cost?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of tuition and fees for public institutions in 2021-22 was $9,700.

The costs jumped by more than $8,000 for private for-profit institutions and by nearly $20,000 for private nonprofit institutions.

However, as you can see, some of the cheapest colleges in California charge much lower rates.

Several institutions in the state charge less than $7,000 for the entire year to take advantage of these great rates, research schools to find ones with low costs that match your academic needs.

How To Make College Affordable

Even after finding the cheapest colleges in California, it's good to lower tuition costs in as many ways as possible. Here are some options to consider.

Scholarships

A great way to lower tuition and fees is to apply for scholarships at your school and from businesses and organizations in your community.

Grants

By filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you could receive federal grants like the Pell Grant, FSEOG, and TEACH Grant, which can reduce school costs.

Student Loans

Federal and private student loans can provide students in financial need with funds to pay for school, but keep in mind that loans must be repaid.

Military Aid

The GI Bill along with school military tuition reduction programs, scholarships, and grants can help active servicemembers and veterans pay for school.

Tuition Reimbursement

Companies often provide a tuition reimbursement program through which they reimburse employees for some or all tuition costs paid each semester.

Do Cheap Colleges in California Offer High-Quality Education?

Yes. It's easy to assume that enrolling in one of the cheapest colleges in California means giving up a quality academic experience, but this just isn't the case.

For example, California State University, San Bernardino is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among Best Value Schools, indicating it offers a high-quality education at a low cost.

California State University, Los Angeles is also highly ranked among Best Value Schools in the nation along with Top Public Schools and Regional Universities West.

California State University, Maritime Academy is ranked the highest among Top Public Schools and second best among Regional Colleges West.

As you can see, it's easy to earn a top-notch education without racking up tons of debt.

In-State Vs. Out-of-State Tuition Rates

In-state tuition is typically reserved for students who reside in the same state as the location of the school they're attending.

Since residents support state schools through taxes, they receive discounts when attending schools in-state.

Generally, students attending an out-of-state school pay higher costs than in-state students; however, there are exceptions.

Some schools charge out-of-state students in-state fees if they live in bordering states.

Out-of-state online learners sometimes avoid out-of-state tuition rates since some schools choose not to base their online tuition on student residency.

Find an Affordable College in California Today

Don't wait any longer to enroll in one of the cheapest colleges in California. There are plenty of low-cost, high-quality schools to choose from.

There are also many affordable online colleges in the U.S. to consider.

Research and find a great school today.