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

University of La Verne
Connect Me
L
La Verne, CA

University of La Verne

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#19 Best Value in California

  • 5,662enrollment
  • $25,103net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 970-1303SAT range
  • 18-25ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Whittier College
Connect Me
W
Whittier, CA

Whittier College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Value in California

  • 1,192enrollment
  • $28,368net price
  • 75%acceptance rate
  • 1140-1340SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Saint Marys College of California
Connect Me
S
Moraga, CA

Saint Marys College of California

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Value in California

  • 2,765enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1253SAT range
  • 21-28ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Connect Me
C
San Luis Obispo, CA

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

#22 Best Value in California

  • 22,000enrollment
  • $19,184net price
  • 30%acceptance rate
  • 1220-1410SAT range
  • 26-32ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
Biola University
Connect Me
B
La Mirada, CA

Biola University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Value in California

  • 5,387enrollment
  • $31,522net price
  • 57%acceptance rate
  • 1105-1365SAT range
  • 23-30ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
California State University Long Beach
Connect Me
C
Long Beach, CA

California State University Long Beach

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#24 Best Value in California

  • 38,973enrollment
  • $9,346net price
  • 40%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1240SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
Occidental College
Connect Me
O
Los Angeles, CA

Occidental College

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#25 Best Value in California

  • 1,942enrollment
  • $44,853net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1370-1510SAT range
  • 31-34ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 10

Compare Calculate my chances 
California Lutheran University
Connect Me
C
Thousand Oaks, CA

California Lutheran University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#26 Best Value in California

  • 3,615enrollment
  • $30,416net price
  • 87%acceptance rate
  • 1150-1320SAT range
  • 26-30ACT range
  • 3.73Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

Compare Calculate my chances 
Chapman University
Connect Me
C
Orange, CA

Chapman University

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#27 Best Value in California

  • 10,014enrollment
  • $45,033net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 1200-1400SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.7Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
San Diego State University
Connect Me
S
San Diego, CA

San Diego State University

Public 4 Year

3 reviews

#28 Best Value in California

  • 37,402enrollment
  • $13,017net price
  • 39%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 22-29ACT range
  • 3.82Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
University of San Francisco
Connect Me
S
San Francisco, CA

University of San Francisco

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Value in California

  • 9,688enrollment
  • $42,953net price
  • 71%acceptance rate
  • 1210-1410SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.57Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Scripps College
Connect Me
S
Claremont, CA

Scripps College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#30 Best Value in California

  • 1,099enrollment
  • $43,923net price
  • 28%acceptance rate
  • 1390-1510SAT range
  • 32-34ACT range
  • 4.0Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Mount St. Mary's College
Connect Me
M
Los Angeles, CA

Mount St. Mary's College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Value in California

  • 2,440enrollment
  • $28,717net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 900-1110SAT range
  • 18-23ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
William Jessup University
Connect Me
W
Rocklin, CA
 

William Jessup University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Value in California

  • 1,624enrollment
  • $27,591net price
  • 66%acceptance rate
  • 1020-1230SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.33Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances 
Santa Clara University
Connect Me
S
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University

Private 4 Year

14 reviews

#33 Best Value in California

  • 9,178enrollment
  • $50,551net price
  • 52%acceptance rate
  • 1290-1480SAT range
  • 29-33ACT range
  • 3.67Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 7

Compare Calculate my chances 
California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Connect Me
C
Pomona, CA

California State Polytechnic University Pomona

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#34 Best Value in California

  • 27,503enrollment
  • $12,480net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1250SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.69Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 30

Compare Calculate my chances 
Pepperdine University
Connect Me
P
Malibu, CA

Pepperdine University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#35 Best Value in California

  • 10,030enrollment
  • $47,804net price
  • 49%acceptance rate
  • 1285-1480SAT range
  • 28-32ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 15

Compare Calculate my chances 
Concordia University Irvine
Connect Me
C
Irvine, CA

Concordia University Irvine

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Value in California

  • 3,744enrollment
  • $29,508net price
  • 69%acceptance rate
  • 1030-1260SAT range
  • 21-29ACT range
  • 3.61Avg GPA

Compare Calculate my chances