by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. This list is proof that you shouldn't avoid normally high-priced schools, since the actual price may be very affordable if you qualify for financial aid.
In This Year's Value Report:
We analyzed 157 schools across California to determine which have the best value programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking is to look at the school's average net price - the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality 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.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
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:
Stanford University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (with aid) school in California for overall quality. Located in Stanford, California, the school is a fairly large private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Stanford University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of California. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $14,402.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Golden West College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. Located in Huntington Beach, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Golden West College has the honor of being ranked #27 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,433 a year.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list means University of California - Los Angeles is a great place for students working on their degree. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California.
University of California - Los Angeles has the honor of being ranked #6 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $13,393.
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list means California State University - Los Angeles is a great place for students working on their degree. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school located in Los Angeles, California.
Not only is California State University - Los Angeles a great value, but it is also ranked #76 in California for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,695.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, San Diego State University is ranked #21 for quality in the state of California. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $6,867 a year.
California State University - Fullerton came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking. This large public school is located in Fullerton, California.
California State University - Fullerton has the honor of being ranked #48 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,939.
Read full value report on California State University - Fullerton
Southwestern College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking, coming in at #7. SWC Chula Vista is a fairly large public school situated in Chula Vista, California.
Southwestern College has the honor of being ranked #36 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,789.
With a ranking of #8, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. Located in San Bernardino, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
California State University - San Bernardino has the honor of being ranked #97 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,254 a year.
Learn More About Value at California State University - San Bernardino
University of California - Irvine landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking. UC Irvine is located in Irvine, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Irvine is ranked #14 for quality in the state of California. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $11,633.
Foothill College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking. Los Altos Hills, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Foothill College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in California for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $9,820 a year.
University of California - Berkeley ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school located in Berkeley, California.
Not only is University of California - Berkeley a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in California for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $17,652.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Berkeley
Pasadena City College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Pasadena City College is ranked #59 for quality in the state of California. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,466.
With a ranking of #13, Saddleback College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. Saddleback College is located in Mission Viejo, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Saddleback College a great value, but it is also ranked #42 in California for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,918.
California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking, coming in at #14. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
California State University - Fresno has the honor of being ranked #71 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $6,336 a year.
Read full value report on California State University - Fresno
Moreno Valley College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. Moreno Valley College is a medium-sized public school situated in Moreno Valley, California.
Not only is Moreno Valley College a great value, but it is also ranked #95 in California for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,899.
National University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. Located in La Jolla, California, the school is a fairly large private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is National University a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in California for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $9,966 a year.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking. Located in Long Beach, California, the school is a large public institution.
California State University - Long Beach has the honor of being ranked #33 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $9,171.
California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking. California State University - Dominguez Hills is a fairly large public school located in Carson, California.
Not only is California State University - Dominguez Hills a great value, but it is also ranked #105 in California for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,500.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Dominguez Hills
Ventura College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large public school is located in Ventura, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ventura College is ranked #117 for quality in the state of California. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,971 a year.
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking, coming in at #20. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school located in Sacramento, California.
California State University - Sacramento has the honor of being ranked #54 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,778.
Fresno City College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking, coming in at #21. Fresno City College is located in Fresno, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Fresno City College a great value, but it is also ranked #81 in California for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $6,391 a year.
Mt. San Antonio College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking. Mt. SAC is located in Walnut, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Mt. San Antonio College a great value, but it is also ranked #93 in California for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,774 a year.
West Valley College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. Located in Saratoga, California, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
West Valley College has the honor of being ranked #77 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,890.
University of California - San Diego ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California list. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California.
Not only is University of California - San Diego a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in California for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $15,632 a year.
College of the Canyons came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking. Located in Santa Clarita, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
College of the Canyons has the honor of being ranked #88 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,400.
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These schools also performed well in our Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in California ranking:
| Rank | College | Location | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | Value Report |
| 27 | Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa, CA | Value Report |
| 28 | Imperial Valley College | Imperial, CA | Value Report |
| 29 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA | Value Report |
| 30 | Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa, CA | Value Report |
| 31 | Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park, CA | Value Report |
| 32 | Santa Ana College | Santa Ana, CA | Value Report |
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.