The Best Value California Colleges

Best Value Colleges in California for 2024

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in California based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2024 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2024 as the overall best value college in California is Stanford University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $18,279 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of California Los Angeles. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
California Public Private 4 year

58 results

Stanford University
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Stanford, CA

Stanford University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#1 Best Value in California

  • 18,283enrollment
  • $18,279net price
  • 4%acceptance rate
  • 1500-1580SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.96Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 2

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California Institute of Technology
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Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#2 Best Value in California

  • 2,401enrollment
  • $20,755net price
  • 3%acceptance rate
  • 1530-1580SAT range
  • 35-36ACT range
  • 3.97Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 3

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Pomona College
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Claremont, CA

Pomona College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#3 Best Value in California

  • 1,716enrollment
  • $19,962net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1480-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 8

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University of California Los Angeles
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Los Angeles, CA

University of California Los Angeles

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#4 Best Value in California

  • 46,430enrollment
  • $16,999net price
  • 9%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1530SAT range
  • 29-35ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Claremont McKenna College
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Claremont, CA

Claremont McKenna College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#5 Best Value in California

  • 1,389enrollment
  • $28,701net price
  • 10%acceptance rate
  • 1440-1550SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.89Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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University of California San Diego
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La Jolla, CA

University of California San Diego

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#6 Best Value in California

  • 42,006enrollment
  • $16,111net price
  • 24%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1480SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Berkeley
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Berkeley, CA

University of California Berkeley

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#7 Best Value in California

  • 45,307enrollment
  • $19,257net price
  • 11%acceptance rate
  • 1310-1530SAT range
  • 30-35ACT range
  • 3.87Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Davis
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Davis, CA

University of California Davis

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#8 Best Value in California

  • 39,679enrollment
  • $17,385net price
  • 37%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1400SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara, CA

University of California Santa Barbara

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#9 Best Value in California

  • 26,420enrollment
  • $16,874net price
  • 26%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1460SAT range
  • 28-34ACT range
  • 3.82Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Irvine
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Irvine, CA

University of California Irvine

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#10 Best Value in California

  • 35,937enrollment
  • $14,033net price
  • 21%acceptance rate
  • 1230-1430SAT range
  • 26-33ACT range
  • 3.75Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of California Riverside
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Riverside, CA

University of California Riverside

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#11 Best Value in California

  • 26,809enrollment
  • $14,487net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1080-1280SAT range
  • 22-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of Southern California
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Los Angeles, CA

University of Southern California

Private 4 Year

5 reviews

#12 Best Value in California

  • 48,945enrollment
  • $36,808net price
  • 12%acceptance rate
  • 1450-1550SAT range
  • 32-35ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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University of California Santa Cruz
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C
Santa Cruz, CA

University of California Santa Cruz

Public 4 Year

6 reviews

#13 Best Value in California

  • 19,478enrollment
  • $17,975net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1360SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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University of the Pacific
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Stockton, CA

University of the Pacific

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#14 Best Value in California

  • 6,277enrollment
  • $28,164net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1423SAT range
  • 25-33ACT range
  • 3.58Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Fresno Pacific University
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Fresno, CA

Fresno Pacific University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#15 Best Value in California

  • 3,032enrollment
  • $15,255net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 970-1240SAT range
  • 17-24ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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University of Redlands
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Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#16 Best Value in California

  • 3,460enrollment
  • $28,157net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1113-1278SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Westmont College
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W
Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#17 Best Value in California

  • 1,284enrollment
  • $33,112net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 1280-1458SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Azusa Pacific University
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A
Azusa, CA
 

Azusa Pacific University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#18 Best Value in California

  • 7,169enrollment
  • $26,666net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 980-1240SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jun 1

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