The Best Value California Colleges

Best Value Colleges in California for 2025

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 2025 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 2025 as the overall best value college in California is Stanford University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $17,998 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

57 results

University of Redlands
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Redlands, CA

University of Redlands

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Value in California

  • 3,192enrollment
  • $28,054net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1078-1323SAT range
  • 25-30ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 1

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Saint Marys College of California
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Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Value in California

  • 2,775enrollment
  • $31,615net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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California Lutheran University
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C
Thousand Oaks, CA

California Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Value in California

  • 3,413enrollment
  • $27,080net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1134-1320SAT range
  • 23-29ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of La Verne
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La Verne, CA

University of La Verne

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Value in California

  • 5,596enrollment
  • $27,216net price
  • 48%acceptance rate
  • 970-1303SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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Scripps College
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Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Value in California

  • 1,103enrollment
  • $45,505net price
  • 34%acceptance rate
  • 1420-1530SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Westmont College
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Santa Barbara, CA
 

Westmont College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Value in California

  • 1,310enrollment
  • $36,412net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1212-1418SAT range
  • 30-34ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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California State University Long Beach
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C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#25 Best Value in California

  • 40,278enrollment
  • $9,731net price
  • 47%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Biola University
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B
La Mirada, CA

Biola University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#26 Best Value in California

  • 5,296enrollment
  • $30,510net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1360SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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Mount St. Mary's College
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Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#27 Best Value in California

  • 2,308enrollment
  • $27,434net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Occidental College
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Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#28 Best Value in California

  • 1,854enrollment
  • $47,113net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1360-1500SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

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University of San Francisco
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San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Value in California

  • 9,212enrollment
  • $44,104net price
  • 51%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1390SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Chapman University
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C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#30 Best Value in California

  • 9,961enrollment
  • $48,037net price
  • 56%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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Santa Clara University
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Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#31 Best Value in California

  • 9,340enrollment
  • $49,651net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1340-1500SAT range
  • 30-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

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California State Polytechnic University Pomona
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C
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#32 Best Value in California

  • 26,848enrollment
  • $11,898net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

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Concordia University Irvine
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C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Value in California

  • 3,481enrollment
  • $29,413net price
  • 60%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

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William Jessup University
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W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Value in California

  • 1,484enrollment
  • $28,171net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

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San Jose State University
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S
San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#35 Best Value in California

  • 36,062enrollment
  • $13,833net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1240SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.35Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Dec 15

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Loyola Marymount University
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Los Angeles, CA

Loyola Marymount University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Value in California

  • 10,256enrollment
  • $54,471net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1300-1460SAT range
  • 29-32ACT range
  • 3.92Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

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