Federal enrolment data · Fall 2023 · California
Online colleges in California
Across the 351 California colleges the federal government holds distance-education figures for, 657,113 students (26%) were enrolled entirely at a distance in Fall 2023, and 56% took at least one distance course. 151 of those colleges enrol at least a quarter of their students that way; they are listed below, largest online intake first.
Colleges with federal figures
351
In California
Students studying entirely online
657,113
26% of the 2,499,566 enrolled at those colleges
Took at least one distance course
56%
Fully online plus part-distance study
Colleges on the list below
151
At least 25% of students studying entirely online AND at least 50 of them. CampusPin thresholds, not federal categories.
Why your state still matters for online study
Distance study has no postcode, but the price and the paperwork do. Most public institutions charge residents less than non-residents, including for online courses at many of them, and states authorise which out-of-state institutions may enrol their residents at all. Starting from the colleges in California is therefore usually starting from the cheaper and simpler end, which is the only sense in which an online college is “in” a state.
California colleges where students actually study online
Every California college where at least 25% of students were enrolled entirely at a distance and at least 50students did so, ordered by how many. Share alone would let a twenty-student campus open the list ahead of a community college teaching thousands at a distance. It is a measurement of enrolment, not a ranking, and nobody paid to be on it.
32,580 of 32,604 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 24 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $13,160 in-state.
16,569 of 19,924 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 633 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $13,320 in-state.
12,968 of 29,908 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,895 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,288 in-state / $12,808 out-of-state.
12,468 of 30,321 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,394 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
11,228 of 20,632 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,875 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,184 in-state / $11,120 out-of-state.
11,030 of 19,031 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,658 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,288 in-state / $12,808 out-of-state.
9,182 of 18,370 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,760 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,432 in-state / $13,732 out-of-state.
9,066 of 18,226 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 7,551 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,288 in-state / $9,072 out-of-state.
9,050 of 9,069 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 19 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $12,520 in-state.
8,983 of 15,733 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,499 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
8,870 of 23,164 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 9,015 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,156 in-state / $9,316 out-of-state.
7,929 of 25,285 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,585 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,334 in-state / $9,454 out-of-state.
7,848 of 8,576 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 220 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,180 in-state / $9,964 out-of-state.
7,838 of 14,980 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,301 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,288 in-state / $12,808 out-of-state.
7,650 of 19,243 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,365 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,150 in-state / $9,094 out-of-state.
7,507 of 14,076 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,962 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
7,430 of 26,073 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,343 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,180 in-state / $9,460 out-of-state.
7,295 of 14,091 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,710 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,416 in-state / $8,179 out-of-state.
7,289 of 21,046 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,869 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,364 in-state / $12,004 out-of-state.
7,258 of 16,186 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,622 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
6,977 of 16,990 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,262 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,562 in-state / $12,317 out-of-state.
6,949 of 20,437 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,403 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,420 in-state / $11,230 out-of-state.
6,941 of 24,425 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 9,474 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,556 in-state / $11,440 out-of-state.
6,739 of 17,420 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,776 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,156 in-state / $9,988 out-of-state.
6,494 of 9,299 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,378 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
6,398 of 17,439 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,848 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,176 in-state / $11,232 out-of-state.
6,327 of 17,152 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 7,119 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,270 in-state / $8,870 out-of-state.
6,176 of 11,367 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,714 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,416 in-state / $8,179 out-of-state.
6,107 of 23,592 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 7,064 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,180 in-state / $10,756 out-of-state.
6,037 of 21,599 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 7,362 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,144 in-state / $7,144 out-of-state.
6,034 of 10,425 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,248 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
6,027 of 10,214 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,543 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,288 in-state / $12,808 out-of-state.
5,910 of 12,982 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,598 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,185 in-state / $10,017 out-of-state.
5,761 of 11,707 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,495 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,152 in-state / $9,120 out-of-state.
5,710 of 18,569 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,573 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,150 in-state / $9,399 out-of-state.
5,574 of 16,424 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,375 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,312 in-state / $9,012 out-of-state.
5,451 of 8,898 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,664 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,050 out-of-state.
5,431 of 12,931 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,027 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,565 in-state / $12,320 out-of-state.
5,201 of 13,569 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,544 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,150 in-state / $9,094 out-of-state.
5,073 of 15,372 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,425 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,425 in-state / $10,125 out-of-state.
5,037 of 13,197 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,658 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,150 in-state / $9,094 out-of-state.
4,997 of 13,591 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,255 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,332 in-state / $10,628 out-of-state.
4,990 of 18,815 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,365 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,354 in-state / $10,650 out-of-state.
4,974 of 16,803 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,725 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,318 in-state / $11,308 out-of-state.
4,820 of 10,787 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,438 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,420 in-state / $11,230 out-of-state.
4,809 of 11,835 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,967 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,194 in-state / $8,154 out-of-state.
4,670 of 17,193 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,652 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,388 in-state / $9,884 out-of-state.
4,593 of 12,218 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,498 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,150 in-state / $8,686 out-of-state.
4,578 of 11,994 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,957 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,156 in-state / $10,996 out-of-state.
4,463 of 10,023 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,132 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,420 in-state / $11,230 out-of-state.
4,382 of 13,333 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6,177 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $7,055 in-state / $18,935 out-of-state.
4,294 of 8,437 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,157 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,340 in-state / $10,636 out-of-state.
4,267 of 5,833 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
4,198 of 5,833 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 804 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,148 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state.
4,184 of 10,211 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,569 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,148 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state.
4,152 of 10,433 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,244 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,196 in-state / $11,084 out-of-state.
4,125 of 11,979 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,476 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,164 in-state / $9,612 out-of-state.
3,828 of 6,716 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,337 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,167 in-state / $8,703 out-of-state.
3,826 of 12,345 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 4,919 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,234 in-state / $10,186 out-of-state.
3,722 of 9,428 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,129 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,332 in-state / $11,384 out-of-state.
3,710 of 12,655 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,675 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
3,657 of 8,989 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,889 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,366 in-state / $8,718 out-of-state.
3,635 of 10,764 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,802 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,326 in-state / $9,586 out-of-state.
3,632 of 6,547 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,406 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,148 in-state / $8,684 out-of-state.
3,513 of 5,267 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 633 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,238 in-state / $10,130 out-of-state.
3,498 of 13,992 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 5,367 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,150 in-state / $9,399 out-of-state.
3,420 of 6,320 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,216 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $28,024 in-state.
3,338 of 6,911 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,356 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,416 in-state / $8,179 out-of-state.
3,318 of 8,081 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,360 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,197 in-state / $8,277 out-of-state.
3,228 of 8,400 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,163 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,366 in-state / $9,486 out-of-state.
3,221 of 10,437 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,191 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,340 in-state / $11,000 out-of-state.
3,140 of 8,868 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,409 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,172 in-state / $8,900 out-of-state.
2,965 of 8,230 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,308 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,312 in-state / $9,012 out-of-state.
2,920 of 9,915 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,358 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,204 in-state / $9,844 out-of-state.
2,896 of 8,174 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,042 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,334 in-state / $9,454 out-of-state.
2,877 of 5,735 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,435 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,128 in-state / $8,208 out-of-state.
2,861 of 8,375 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,116 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,202 in-state / $8,714 out-of-state.
2,857 of 5,825 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,091 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,334 in-state / $9,454 out-of-state.
2,828 of 7,272 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,373 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,490 in-state / $8,702 out-of-state.
2,805 of 5,997 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,834 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,312 in-state / $9,012 out-of-state.
2,804 of 9,545 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 893 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $66,742 in-state.
2,776 of 3,392 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 372 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $20,844 in-state.
2,735 of 4,147 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 691 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $13,918 in-state.
2,722 of 10,211 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,657 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,336 in-state / $8,416 out-of-state.
2,676 of 3,153 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 311 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,104 in-state / $9,936 out-of-state.
2,667 of 5,690 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 689 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,384 in-state / $10,264 out-of-state.
2,480 of 9,208 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,210 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,332 in-state / $11,384 out-of-state.
2,312 of 2,357 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 16 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $14,600 in-state.
2,306 of 3,461 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 337 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,288 in-state / $12,880 out-of-state.
2,262 of 6,669 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,966 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,438 in-state / $12,220 out-of-state.
2,056 of 8,111 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 3,942 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,126 in-state / $7,990 out-of-state.
2,006 of 6,532 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 369 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $21,000 in-state.
1,968 of 3,664 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 770 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,124 in-state / $8,184 out-of-state.
1,959 of 6,097 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,836 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,188 in-state / $12,320 out-of-state.
1,926 of 4,160 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,408 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,384 in-state / $10,084 out-of-state.
1,891 of 4,939 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,666 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,409 in-state / $10,289 out-of-state.
1,760 of 2,262 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 473 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $31,243 in-state.
1,754 of 5,484 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,790 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,506 in-state / $12,246 out-of-state.
1,620 of 4,213 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,456 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,156 in-state / $11,908 out-of-state.
1,608 of 4,481 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2,189 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $22,685 in-state.
1,554 of 2,119 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 540 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $17,488 in-state.
1,482 of 3,481 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 920 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $41,390 in-state.
1,435 of 4,765 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,122 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,142 in-state / $8,822 out-of-state.
1,410 of 2,369 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 142 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
1,409 of 1,410 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $15,390 in-state.
1,403 of 4,032 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1,060 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,423 in-state / $8,893 out-of-state.
1,397 of 3,592 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 783 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,384 in-state / $10,084 out-of-state.
1,382 of 3,376 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 417 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,131 in-state / $11,067 out-of-state.
1,297 of 2,288 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 368 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
1,165 of 1,935 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 252 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
1,122 of 2,600 students enrolled entirely at a distance · public · published tuition $15,977 in-state / $21,605 out-of-state.
1,067 of 2,047 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 980 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
1,043 of 1,758 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 274 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,465 in-state / $9,925 out-of-state.
1,043 of 4,135 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 706 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,108 in-state / $9,076 out-of-state.
1,030 of 1,987 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 913 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $10,769 in-state.
802 of 1,783 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 467 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,144 in-state / $8,224 out-of-state.
789 of 2,799 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 31 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $36,930 in-state.
646 of 1,051 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 364 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $33,360 in-state.
605 of 1,524 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 440 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,114 in-state / $11,050 out-of-state.
584 of 1,408 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 704 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
559 of 1,223 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
526 of 1,430 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 366 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $1,444 in-state / $9,394 out-of-state.
508 of 508 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $10,460 in-state.
484 of 1,140 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 241 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $36,250 in-state.
454 of 1,025 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 196 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
428 of 428 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $9,695 in-state.
421 of 575 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $14,760 in-state.
389 of 507 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 118 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
382 of 440 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 58 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $6,920 in-state.
350 of 1,055 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 705 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
268 of 364 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 57 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
227 of 249 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
226 of 226 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
193 of 598 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 17 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $14,804 in-state.
190 of 207 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 17 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $6,200 in-state.
169 of 503 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 272 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
165 of 209 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 2 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
160 of 208 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 48 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $8,839 in-state.
150 of 257 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 6 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
147 of 148 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 1 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
145 of 504 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 180 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $20,462 in-state.
143 of 392 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 224 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $22,480 in-state.
120 of 161 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 41 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
111 of 232 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 99 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $3,480 in-state.
107 of 175 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 24 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
99 of 128 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 23 more took at least one distance course · public · published tuition $7,743 in-state.
80 of 138 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 15 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $18,720 in-state.
72 of 111 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 39 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $13,774 in-state.
59 of 126 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 67 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $2,896 in-state.
51 of 78 students enrolled entirely at a distance, and 16 more took at least one distance course · private · published tuition $12,320 in-state.
51 of 195 students enrolled entirely at a distance · private · published tuition $15,977 in-state.
Tuition shown is the published institution-wide rate, not the price of an online programme. Many colleges price online study on a separate schedule, and some charge a single rate regardless of where the student lives, so treat them as headline figures for the institution and confirm the online rate with the institution.
What this list is not
- It is not the complete set of your options. It counts students, not programmes. A college below the threshold may run an excellent online degree that few students happened to take exclusively that term, and residents of California can enrol with institutions anywhere.
- It is not a ranking. A high share describes how an institution enrols, not how good it is. Some of the largest shares belong to institutions worth reading carefully before applying, which is why every row links to the full profile with cost, debt and graduation figures.
- It is one term. These are Fall 2023 enrolments, on the federal reporting cycle.
Next steps in California
Other states
Source & methodology
Enrolment figures are from the U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023. Published tuition and control are from CampusPin's committed institution snapshot. Federal data is public domain; credit the U.S. Department of Education.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2026). Online study at California colleges. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/online-colleges-in/california
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