by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 95 schools in California, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To determine the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking, we first add average tuition, fees, and room and board costs (without aid) together. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Foothill College the best value (no aid) school in California for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Los Altos Hills, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Foothill College is ranked #7 for quality in the state of California. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,227 a year.
The quality degree programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California.
Not only is University of California - Los Angeles a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $30,021 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Los Angeles
Out of the 95 bachelor’s degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #3 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
University of California - Berkeley has the honor of being ranked #3 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $34,462 a year for undergraduates.
Read full value report on University of California - Berkeley
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list means University of Phoenix - California is a great place for students working on their degree. UOPX - California is a small private for-profit school situated in Ontario, California.
Not only is University of Phoenix - California a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,552 a year for undergraduates.
Out of the 95 bachelor’s degree schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Golden Gate University - San Francisco landed the #5 spot on the list. Golden Gate University - San Francisco is a small private not-for-profit school located in San Francisco, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Golden Gate University - San Francisco is ranked #20 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,343 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at Golden Gate University - San Francisco
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school located in Long Beach, California.
California State University - Long Beach has the honor of being ranked #28 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,784 a year.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Long Beach
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the school is a large public institution.
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo has the honor of being ranked #15 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $26,527 a year for undergraduates.
Read full value report on California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
University of California - San Diego landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Located in La Jolla, California, the school is a large public institution.
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. The average cost without aid for the school is $30,845 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at University of California - San Diego
University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California.
Not only is University of California - Santa Barbara a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in California for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $31,116 a year.
California State University - Northridge landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
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 cost without aid for the school is $18,545 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #11, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California.
California State University - Fresno has the honor of being ranked #49 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $17,411 a year.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Fresno
University of California - Davis ranked #12 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California.
Not only is University of California - Davis a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in California for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $31,663 a year.
University of California - Irvine came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. UC Irvine is a large public school situated in Irvine, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Irvine is ranked #13 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $30,644 a year for undergraduates.
San Jose State University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, San Jose State University is ranked #26 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,212 a year for undergraduates.
The University of Arizona Global Campus came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. UAGC is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, The University of Arizona Global Campus is ranked #34 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $23,002 a year for undergraduates.
Read full value report on The University of Arizona Global Campus
San Francisco State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. San Francisco State University is a large public school located in San Francisco, California.
San Francisco State University has the honor of being ranked #32 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,254 a year.
With a ranking of #17, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California.
Not only is California State University - East Bay a great value, but it is also ranked #41 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,368 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at California State University - East Bay
California State University - Fullerton ranked #18 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is California State University - Fullerton a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in California for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,679 a year.
San Diego State University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. San Diego State University is a large public school located in San Diego, California.
Not only is San Diego State University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $27,466 a year for undergraduates.
With a ranking of #20, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. Sac State is a public institution 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 cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,336 a year.
California State University - San Marcos ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. Located in San Marcos, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
California State University - San Marcos has the honor of being ranked #51 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,877 a year.
United States University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California list. This small private for-profit school is located in San Diego, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, United States University is ranked #83 for quality in the state of California. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,019 a year.
California State University - Chico landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Located in Chico, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is California State University - Chico a great value, but it is also ranked #50 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,702 a year for undergraduates.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Chico
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
University of California - Santa Cruz has the honor of being ranked #16 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $31,499 a year.
California State University - San Bernardino came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money 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. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,035 a year.
Full California State University - San Bernardino Value Report
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.