Public colleges
Public Colleges in California
CampusPin lists 154 public colleges and universities in California, about 36.7% of the state's 420 institutions. Public colleges charge state residents a lower in-state rate, with a median published in-state tuition of $7,521 in this snapshot.
California public colleges by the numbers
- Public colleges
- 154
- Share of state colleges
- 36.7%
- Median in-state tuition
- $7,521
- Median out-of-state tuition
- $19,318
- Out-of-state premium
- +$11,797
- National public in-state median
- $8,994
Counts and shares come from CampusPin's committed institution-distribution snapshot; tuition medians are the published public-university figures from the tuition-by-state snapshot. Published prices are before financial aid; net price is typically lower. Residency rules determine in-state eligibility.
Public universities in California
- Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster · $1,124 in-state
- Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield · $1,430 in-state
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo · $11,075 in-state
- California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata · $7,913 in-state
- California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona · $7,439 in-state
- California State University Maritime AcademyVallejo · $7,672 in-state
- California State University-BakersfieldBakersfield · $7,696 in-state
- California State University-Channel IslandsCamarillo · $6,817 in-state
- California State University-ChicoChico · $8,064 in-state
- California State University-Dominguez HillsCarson · $7,064 in-state
- California State University-East BayHayward · $7,055 in-state
- California State University-FresnoFresno · $6,980 in-state
- California State University-FullertonFullerton · $7,073 in-state
- California State University-Long BeachLong Beach · $7,008 in-state
- California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles · $6,813 in-state
- California State University-Monterey BaySeaside · $7,437 in-state
- California State University-NorthridgeNorthridge · $7,095 in-state
- California State University-SacramentoSacramento · $7,602 in-state
- California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino · $7,675 in-state
- California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos · $7,739 in-state
- California State University-StanislausTurlock · $7,826 in-state
- Cypress CollegeCypress · $1,150 in-state
- Feather River Community College DistrictQuincy · $1,465 in-state
- Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills · $1,565 in-state
- MiraCosta CollegeOceanside · $1,152 in-state
- Modesto Junior CollegeModesto · $1,270 in-state
Public community colleges in California
- Allan Hancock CollegeSanta Maria · $1,156
- American River CollegeSacramento · $1,288
- Barstow Community CollegeBarstow · $1,104
- Berkeley City CollegeBerkeley · $1,148
- Butte CollegeOroville · $1,336
- Cabrillo CollegeAptos · $1,270
- California Indian Nations CollegePalm Desert · $7,743
- Canada CollegeRedwood City · $1,332
- Cerritos CollegeNorwalk · $1,364
- Cerro Coso Community CollegeRidgecrest · $1,384
- Chabot CollegeHayward · $1,150
- Chaffey CollegeRancho Cucamonga · $1,184
- Citrus CollegeGlendora · $1,204
- City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco · $1,696
- Clovis Community CollegeFresno · $1,334
- Coalinga CollegeCoalinga · $1,384
- Coastline Community CollegeFountain Valley · $1,180
- College of AlamedaAlameda · $1,148
- College of MarinKentfield · $1,558
- College of San MateoSan Mateo · $1,332
- College of the CanyonsSanta Clarita · $1,176
- College of the DesertPalm Desert · $1,326
- College of the RedwoodsEureka · $1,147
- College of the SequoiasVisalia · $1,394
- College of the SiskiyousWeed · $1,444
- Columbia CollegeSonora · $1,547
- Compton CollegeCompton · $1,142
- Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo · $1,312
- Copper Mountain Community CollegeJoshua Tree · $1,114
- Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento · $1,288
- Crafton Hills CollegeYucaipa · $1,188
- Cuesta CollegeSan Luis Obispo · $1,340
- Cuyamaca CollegeEl Cajon · $1,340
- De Anza CollegeCupertino · $1,562
- Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill · $1,312
- East Los Angeles CollegeMonterey Park · $1,238
- El Camino Community College DistrictTorrance · $1,144
- Evergreen Valley CollegeSan Jose · $1,366
- Folsom Lake CollegeFolsom · $1,288
- Fresno City CollegeFresno · $1,334
- Fullerton CollegeFullerton · $1,150
- Gavilan CollegeGilroy · $1,506
- Glendale Community CollegeGlendale · $1,181
- Golden West CollegeHuntington Beach · $1,196
- Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon · $1,332
- Hartnell CollegeSalinas · $1,404
- Imperial Valley CollegeImperial · $1,126
- Irvine Valley CollegeIrvine · $1,156
- Lake Tahoe Community CollegeSouth Lake Tahoe · $1,131
- Laney CollegeOakland · $1,148
- Las Positas CollegeLivermore · $1,168
- Lassen Community CollegeSusanville · $1,144
- Lemoore CollegeLemoore · $1,384
- Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach · $1,556
- Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles · $1,238
- Los Angeles County College of Nursing and Allied HealthLos Angeles · $15,977
- Los Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington · $1,238
- Los Angeles Mission CollegeSylmar · $1,238
- Los Angeles Pierce CollegeWoodland Hills · $1,238
- Los Angeles Southwest CollegeLos Angeles · $1,238
- Los Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles · $1,238
- Los Angeles Valley CollegeValley Glen · $1,238
- Los Medanos CollegePittsburg · $1,312
- Madera Community CollegeMadera · $1,334
- Mendocino CollegeUkiah · $1,423
- Merced CollegeMerced · $1,194
- Merritt CollegeOakland · $1,167
- Mission CollegeSanta Clara · $1,438
- Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey · $1,188
- Moorpark CollegeMoorpark · $1,416
- Moreno Valley CollegeMoreno Valley · $1,420
- Mt San Antonio CollegeWalnut · $1,364
- Mt San Jacinto Community College DistrictSan Jacinto · $1,406
- Napa Valley CollegeNapa · $1,156
Public vs private in California
Public colleges are state-supported and charge residents a lower in-state rate; private colleges set one tuition for all students but often discount it heavily with institutional aid. Compare net price and outcomes, not just sticker price, on each profile. Our cost and outcomes by state research shows how the median net price and graduation rate vary from one state to the next.
Public colleges in nearby states
Data sources & methodology
Public-college counts and tuition for California come from CampusPin's committed institution-distribution and tuition-by-state snapshots; the college list is compiled live from each institution's record.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Public Colleges in California. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/public-colleges-in/california