by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 88 schools in California, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a good education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Stanford University to be the best value (income $0-$30k) school for bachelor’s degrees in California in this year’s ranking. Stanford is located in Stanford, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Stanford University has the honor of being ranked #1 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value.
Out of the 88 bachelor’s degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Claremont McKenna College landed the #2 spot on the list. Claremont, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Claremont McKenna College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $249.
Out of the 88 bachelor’s degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Pomona College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Claremont, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Pomona College is ranked #14 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,285.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Los Angeles is ranked #6 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,772.
Read full value report on University of California - Los Angeles
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list means San Diego State University is a great place for students working on their degree. SDSU is a large public school situated in San Diego, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, San Diego State University is ranked #18 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,133.
University of California - Berkeley landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of California - Berkeley a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,594.
Read full value report on University of California - Berkeley
Foothill College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #7. Foothill College is a fairly large public school situated in Los Altos Hills, California.
Foothill College has the honor of being ranked #7 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,458.
California State University - Fullerton ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. California State University - Fullerton is a large public school located in Fullerton, California.
Not only is California State University - Fullerton a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $705.
Read full value report on California State University - Fullerton
California Institute of Technology landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. Located in Pasadena, California, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
California Institute of Technology has the honor of being ranked #4 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,755.
Learn More About Value at California Institute of Technology
With a ranking of #10, University of California - Irvine did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. UC Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California.
University of California - Irvine has the honor of being ranked #13 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,924.
With a ranking of #11, Pitzer College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Located in Claremont, California, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Pitzer College has the honor of being ranked #36 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $985.
With a ranking of #12, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - San Diego is ranked #9 for quality in the state of California. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,954.
California State University - Los Angeles ranked #13 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California.
Not only is California State University - Los Angeles a great value, but it is also ranked #52 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $577.
Read full value report on California State University - Los Angeles
University of Southern California came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Los Angeles, California.
University of Southern California has the honor of being ranked #2 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,404.
California State University - San Bernardino came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. California State University - San Bernardino is a fairly large public school located in San Bernardino, California.
Not only is California State University - San Bernardino a great value, but it is also ranked #63 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $428.
Learn More About Value at California State University - San Bernardino
University of California - Davis came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California.
University of California - Davis has the honor of being ranked #10 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,739.
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #17. This large public school is located in Sacramento, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - Sacramento is ranked #37 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,878.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Sacramento
Sonoma State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Rohnert Park, California, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Sonoma State University is ranked #59 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $1,831.
With a ranking of #19, California State University - Long Beach did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - Long Beach is ranked #28 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,399.
Read full value report on California State University - Long Beach
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking. Located in Santa Barbara, California, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Santa Barbara is ranked #8 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,022.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Santa Barbara
Soka University of America did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #21. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Aliso Viejo, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Soka University of America is ranked #58 for quality in the state of California. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,532.
With a ranking of #22, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Located in Fresno, California, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is California State University - Fresno a great value, but it is also ranked #49 in California for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,762.
Read full value report on California State University - Fresno
California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California ranking, coming in at #23. CSUMB is located in Seaside, California and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
California State University - Monterey Bay has the honor of being ranked #73 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,510.
Read full value report on California State University - Monterey Bay
California State University - Dominguez Hills ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. Located in Carson, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is California State University - Dominguez Hills a great value, but it is also ranked #68 in California for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,603.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Dominguez Hills
With a ranking of #25, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in California list. California State University - Northridge is a large public school located in Northridge, California.
California State University - Northridge has the honor of being ranked #40 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,873.
Read full value report on California State University - Northridge
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.