Cost and outcomes · 2026 edition
Best-Value Public Colleges in California 2026
Compare California public colleges by reported earnings relative to average annual net price, with completion and debt alongside cost.
By College Index · Dataset: · Analysis updated: 2026-09-04
How this comparison works
Includes public institutions in California with positive average annual net price and reported 10-year earnings. Ordered by earnings divided by net price, highest first; equal ratios are ordered by federal school ID. This is a school-wide earnings-to-price comparison, not a lifetime return calculation.
32 of 1,219 schools meet these criteria. 1187 do not meet them or lack required data. Showing 32.
Source definitions, coverage, and reporting datesAverage net price reflects the source cohort after grants and scholarships. It is not an out-of-state price quote or a personal aid offer. Check residency rules and each school’s net price calculator before comparing your own costs.
Download this comparison (CSV)| Rank | College | Earnings / price | Annual net price | Completion rate | Annual earnings¹ | Federal debt² | Admission rate | Save |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | 14.93× | $3,967 | 52.8% | $59,211 | $13,000 | 91.3% | |
| 2 | California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA · Public | 13.14× | $4,564 | 54.8% | $59,977 | $14,715 | 93.7% | |
| 3 | California State University-Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA · Public | 10.44× | $5,652 | 49.6% | $59,009 | $16,600 | 93.8% | |
| 4 | California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, CA · Public | 10.42× | $6,067 | 55.6% | $63,188 | $13,540 | 98.1% | |
| 5 | California State University-Fullerton Fullerton, CA · Public | 9.60× | $6,555 | 69.7% | $62,951 | $13,750 | 90.5% | |
| 6 | California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA · Public | 8.75× | $7,000 | 55.9% | $61,244 | $14,505 | 95.3% | |
| 7 | California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA · Public | 8.42× | $7,021 | 56.5% | $59,115 | $13,872 | 93.5% | |
| 8 | California State University-East Bay Hayward, CA · Public | 7.66× | $9,320 | 46.7% | $71,401 | $16,544 | 97.4% | |
| 9 | California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA · Public | 6.95× | $9,338 | 56.1% | $64,876 | $15,000 | 94.0% | |
| 10 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA · Public | 6.86× | $13,481 | 92.9% | $92,446 | $13,000 | 11.0% | |
| 11 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA · Public | 6.81× | $12,470 | 86.8% | $84,943 | $15,500 | 26.7% | |
| 12 | California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA · Public | 6.64× | $8,615 | 44.6% | $57,162 | $13,807 | 93.3% | |
| 13 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA · Public | 6.58× | $12,548 | 92.6% | $82,511 | $14,000 | 9.0% | |
| 14 | California State University-Channel Islands Camarillo, CA · Public | 6.31× | $9,849 | 52.4% | $62,152 | $15,000 | 94.8% | |
| 15 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Pomona, CA · Public | 6.24× | $11,531 | 67.6% | $71,902 | $16,000 | 75.2% | |
| 16 | California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public | 6.17× | $10,440 | 69.3% | $64,403 | $14,289 | 46.3% | |
| 17 | California State University-San Marcos San Marcos, CA · Public | 6.15× | $10,229 | 54.4% | $62,908 | $17,350 | 95.1% | |
| 18 | San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | 5.74× | $13,760 | 66.8% | $78,988 | $15,000 | 84.6% | |
| 19 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA · Public | 5.67× | $14,251 | 86.4% | $80,735 | $15,000 | 28.6% | |
| 20 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public | 5.54× | $12,278 | 50.3% | $68,077 | $15,371 | 96.4% | |
| 21 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA · Public | 5.48× | $14,741 | 85.4% | $80,838 | $13,000 | 41.8% | |
| 22 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA · Public | 5.45× | $16,665 | 85.7% | $90,768 | $18,500 | 31.3% | |
| 23 | University of California-Merced Merced, CA · Public | 5.37× | $11,983 | 68.9% | $64,368 | $16,144 | 90.5% | |
| 24 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, CA · Public | 5.12× | $12,885 | 59.1% | $65,986 | $16,705 | 93.4% | |
| 25 | University of California-Riverside Riverside, CA · Public | 4.73× | $14,304 | 76.3% | $67,699 | $17,500 | 76.4% | |
| 26 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA · Public | 4.65× | $16,109 | 84.3% | $74,915 | $13,993 | 33.0% | |
| 27 | California State University-Chico Chico, CA · Public | 4.43× | $14,480 | 63.2% | $64,172 | $16,552 | 92.7% | |
| 28 | California State University-Monterey Bay Seaside, CA · Public | 4.34× | $13,663 | 61.1% | $59,247 | $12,750 | 97.4% | |
| 29 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA · Public | 4.22× | $15,364 | 77.3% | $64,909 | $15,000 | 36.2% | |
| 30 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA · Public | 3.82× | $17,890 | 74.8% | $68,396 | $16,666 | 65.8% | |
| 31 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA · Public | 3.62× | $13,171 | 47.5% | $47,626 | $18,000 | 98.2% | |
| 32 | University of Massachusetts Global Aliso Viejo, CA · Public | 2.01× | $32,654 | N/A | $65,703 | $24,276 | N/A |
¹ School-wide median annual earnings 10 years after enrollment, not after graduation. ² Median federal debt among completers. Net price is an annual average after grants and scholarships for the reported cohort, not a personal price quote. N/A means unavailable. Source cohorts and reporting years differ by measure.
Is a California public college always cheaper for a nonresident?
These figures cannot establish that. Residency, household finances, housing, and grants change what an individual pays. Compare your own aid offers and resident or nonresident tuition, not just the school average.
The edition year identifies this comparison, not the measurement year of every outcome. Earnings, costs, admissions, and completion can refer to different cohorts. These are institution-wide results, not outcomes for a specific major.
Compare cost and outcomes
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Best-Value Public Colleges in California
Compare California public colleges by reported earnings relative to average annual net price, with completion and debt alongside cost.
Colleges with Higher Admission Rates and Strong Earnings
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Colleges with Low Debt and High Completion Rates
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