Best Value California Colleges
California has 57 colleges ranked by value, part of our national best value ranking. We weigh academic quality against average net price so you find schools that deliver strong results without overpaying.
California Institute of Technology offers the best value in California for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $14,513. The top value public university is University of California Los Angeles. Also high value: Pomona College, Stanford University and University of California Los Angeles.
Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by net price, acceptance rate, or academic rating to find the best deal for your budget.
California Institute of Technology
- Private 4 Year
- Pasadena, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Jan 3 application deadline
Caltech is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate physics, engineering, and chemistry. Most undergrads live on the compact residential campus in Pasadena.
- SAT Range 1530-1580
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.97
- Acceptance Rate 3%
- Net Price $14,513
Pomona College
- Private 4 Year
- Claremont, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 8 application deadline
Pomona is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, biology, and politics. Students live on a residential campus and can cross-enroll across the adjoining Claremont Colleges.
- SAT Range 1490-1560
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.89
- Acceptance Rate 7%
- Net Price $19,938
Stanford University
- Private 4 Year
- Stanford, CA
-
4.8 | 6 reviews
- Jan 2 application deadline
Stanford is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and entrepreneurship. The suburban campus sits in the heart of Silicon Valley.
- SAT Range 1510-1580
- Avg GPA 3.96
- Acceptance Rate 4%
- Net Price $25,078
University of California Los Angeles
- Public 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
UCLA is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate film, television, and theater. The urban Westwood campus also has a nationally known basketball program.
- SAT Range 1300-1530
- Avg GPA 3.92
- Acceptance Rate 9%
- Net Price $14,512
University of California Berkeley
- Public 4 Year
- Berkeley, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
Berkeley is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate computer science, engineering, and chemistry. The hillside campus overlooks San Francisco Bay in the East Bay city of Berkeley.
- SAT Range 1310-1530
- Avg GPA 3.87
- Acceptance Rate 11%
- Net Price $16,538
University of California San Diego
- Public 4 Year
- La Jolla, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC San Diego is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate biological sciences, engineering, and oceanography. The coastal La Jolla campus sits on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
- SAT Range 1270-1480
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 27%
- Net Price $14,047
University of California Davis
- Public 4 Year
- Davis, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC Davis is a large public university known for undergraduate agriculture, environmental science, and biological sciences. The campus sits in the bike-friendly college town of Davis.
- SAT Range 1160-1400
- Avg GPA 4.0
- Acceptance Rate 42%
- Net Price $17,270
University of California Irvine
- Public 4 Year
- Irvine, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC Irvine is a large public university known for undergraduate computer science, biological sciences, and engineering. The suburban campus centers on Aldrich Park in the planned city of Irvine.
- SAT Range 1230-1430
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 29%
- Net Price $15,889
University of California Santa Barbara
- Public 4 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
-
4.7 | 3 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
UCSB is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate physics, marine science, and environmental studies. The oceanfront campus sits directly on the Pacific coast near Santa Barbara.
- SAT Range 1230-1460
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.82
- Acceptance Rate 33%
- Net Price $17,658
Claremont McKenna College
- Private 4 Year
- Claremont, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jan 5 application deadline
Claremont McKenna is a highly selective private liberal arts college known for undergraduate economics, government, and international relations. Students live on a residential campus that shares classes and facilities with the neighboring Claremont Colleges.
- SAT Range 1470-1560
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.89
- Acceptance Rate 10%
- Net Price $33,895
University of California Riverside
- Public 4 Year
- Riverside, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC Riverside is a large public university known for undergraduate entomology, plant sciences, and business. The suburban campus lies in California's Inland Empire east of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 1080-1280
- Avg GPA 3.84
- Acceptance Rate 76%
- Net Price $14,562
University of California Santa Cruz
- Public 4 Year
- Santa Cruz, CA
-
4.3 | 6 reviews
- Nov 30 application deadline
UC Santa Cruz is a public university known for undergraduate marine science, environmental studies, and astronomy. The residential-college campus sits among redwood forests overlooking Monterey Bay.
- SAT Range 1160-1360
- Avg GPA 3.63
- Acceptance Rate 66%
- Net Price $18,059
University of the Pacific
- Private 4 Year
- Stockton, CA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- Jan 15 application deadline
Pacific is a private university known for its Conservatory of Music and undergraduate programs in business and health sciences. Most undergrads live on the residential Stockton campus in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range 1183-1480
- Avg GPA 3.58
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $31,670
University of Southern California
- Private 4 Year
- Los Angeles, CA
-
4.2 | 5 reviews
USC is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate film, communications, and business. The urban Los Angeles campus has a large Greek presence and longstanding ties to the entertainment industry.
- SAT Range 1450-1550
- Avg GPA 3.83
- Acceptance Rate 10%
- Net Price $43,412
Fresno Pacific University
- Private 4 Year
- Fresno, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Fresno Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate teacher education and nursing. The campus is located in Fresno in California's Central Valley.
- SAT Range 970-1240
- Avg GPA 3.54
- Acceptance Rate 64%
- Net Price $15,261
University of Redlands
- Private 4 Year
- Redlands, CA
-
| 0 reviews
- Jul 1 application deadline
University of Redlands is a private university known for undergraduate music, business, and the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies. The residential campus sits in Redlands in Southern California's Inland Empire.
- SAT Range 1107-1350
- Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $28,482
Westmont College
- Private 4 Year
- Santa Barbara, CA
-
| 0 reviews
Westmont is a private Christian liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in the sciences and humanities. The residential hillside campus overlooks the Pacific Ocean above Santa Barbara.
- SAT Range 1240-1450
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $32,172
Azusa Pacific University
- Private 4 Year
- Azusa, CA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Jun 1 application deadline
Azusa Pacific is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and ministry programs. The suburban campus sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles.
- SAT Range 983-1238
- Avg GPA 3.74
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $26,143