2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in California
165
Colleges
$5,582
Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$15,412
Avg Room & Board*
It's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Finding Your Best College Match
We analyzed 165 schools across California to determine which have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Our Methodology
To determine the value of a school in our Best 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 account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various 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.
More Rankings to View
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
Want to see the list of best value schools for families with specific income levels or whether or not aid is being applied? Click on one of the tiles above. You may also want to
narrow this list by location to find the best value schools nearest you. Also, you may want to check out our other
college rankings.
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.
Best Value Schools (No Aid) in California
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found United States University to be the best value (no aid) school in California in this year’s ranking. This small private for-profit school is located in San Diego, California.
United States University has the honor of being ranked #46 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 $12,019 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $11,969 a year.
Full United States University Value Report
The quality degree programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in California. Los Angeles, 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 - Los Angeles is ranked #6 for quality in the state of California. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $30,021 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $29,799 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on University of California - Los Angeles
The quality degree programs at Golden West College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in California. Located in Huntington Beach, California, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Golden West College a great value, but it is also ranked #27 in California for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,439 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,253 a year.
Full Golden West College Value Report
Out of the 165 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Foothill College landed the #4 spot on the list. This fairly large public school is located in Los Altos Hills, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Foothill College is ranked #19 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,227 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,662 a year.
Learn More About Value at Foothill College
Out of the 165 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #5 spot on the list. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Berkeley is ranked #2 for quality in the state of California. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $34,462 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $34,396 a year.
Full University of California - Berkeley Value Report
Saddleback College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school located in Mission Viejo, California.
Saddleback College has the honor of being ranked #42 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,586 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,254 a year.
Learn More About Value at Saddleback College
With a ranking of #7, Fielding Graduate University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California list. Fielding is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Barbara, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fielding Graduate University is ranked #9 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,000 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $29,718 a year.
Read full value report on Fielding Graduate University
California State University - Long Beach came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California.
California State University - Long Beach has the honor of being ranked #33 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,784 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,218 per year for graduate students.
Full California State University - Long Beach Value Report
West Valley College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in California list. Located in Saratoga, California, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is West Valley College a great value, but it is also ranked #77 in California for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,783 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $13,293 a year.
Full West Valley College Value Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking. This large public school is located in San Luis Obispo, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is ranked #16 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $26,527 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $27,961 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #11. University of California - San Diego is a large public school located in La Jolla, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - San Diego is ranked #8 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $30,845 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $29,709 a year.
Full University of California - San Diego Value Report
With a ranking of #12, Pasadena City College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California list. Pasadena City College is a large public school located in Pasadena, California.
Pasadena City College has the honor of being ranked #59 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 $17,792 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,580 a year.
Learn More About Value at Pasadena City College
With a ranking of #13, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California list. UCSB is located in Santa Barbara, California and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of California - Santa Barbara a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $31,116 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $30,280 a year.
Learn More About Value at University of California - Santa Barbara
With a ranking of #14, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California list. California State University - Northridge is a large public school located in Northridge, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - Northridge is ranked #56 for quality in the state of California. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,545 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,979 a year.
Learn More About Value at California State University - Northridge
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking. SRJC is located in Santa Rosa, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Santa Rosa Junior College has the honor of being ranked #49 in California for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,922 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,594 a year.
Learn More About Value at Santa Rosa Junior College
With a ranking of #16, Chaffey College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California list. Rancho Cucamonga, 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, Chaffey College is ranked #60 for quality in the state of California. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,436 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,252 a year.
Learn More About Value at Chaffey College
Coastline Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Fountain Valley, California, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Coastline Community College has the honor of being ranked #63 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 $17,927 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,757 a year.
Read full value report on Coastline Community College
California State University - Fresno ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in California list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, California State University - Fresno is ranked #71 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,411 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,845 a year.
Full California State University - Fresno Value Report
Orange Coast College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #19. Costa Mesa, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Orange Coast College has the honor of being ranked #83 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 $15,922 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $14,724 per year for graduate students.
Full Orange Coast College Value Report
Fresno City College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Fresno City College is a public institution located in Fresno, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fresno City College is ranked #81 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $16,390 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $15,086 a year.
Read full value report on Fresno City College
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking. Delta is located in Stockton, California and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is San Joaquin Delta College a great value, but it is also ranked #66 in California for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,541 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,253 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on San Joaquin Delta College
With a ranking of #22, Los Angeles Harbor College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California list. Wilmington, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Los Angeles Harbor College a great value, but it is also ranked #67 in California for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,491 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $17,253 a year.
Read full value report on Los Angeles Harbor College
With a ranking of #23, Los Angeles Valley College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California list. This fairly large public school is located in Valley Glen, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Los Angeles Valley College is ranked #69 for quality in the state of California. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,491 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $17,253 per year for graduate students.
Full Los Angeles Valley College Value Report
University of California - Davis did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in California ranking, coming in at #24. UC Davis is a public institution located in Davis, California.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of California - Davis is ranked #11 for quality in the state of California. The average cost without aid for the school is $31,663 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $30,626 per year for graduate students.
Read full value report on University of California - Davis
University of Phoenix - California ranked #25 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in California list. This small private for-profit school is located in Ontario, California.
Not only is University of Phoenix - California a great value, but it is also ranked #40 in California for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,552 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $27,188 a year.
Learn More About Value at University of Phoenix - California
