Cost of Attendance (COA)
The following table compares the 2025 costs of attendance between best schools in California. For state residents, the average COA is $39,858 when living on campus and $39,161 when living off campus. For out-of-state students, the average COA is $85,406 when living on campus and $84,709 when living off campus. The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board costs, and other living expenses.
| Rank | Name | Tuition & Fees | Books & Supplies | Living Costs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | On-Campus | Off-Campus | |||
| 1 | Stanford University | $65,910 | $825 | $26,157 | - | |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | $65,898 | $1,428 | $23,496 | $27,054 | |
| 3 | Pomona College | $65,420 | $1,100 | $22,894 | $19,729 | |
| 4 | Claremont McKenna College | $67,980 | $1,200 | $22,330 | $22,330 | |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles | $14,233 | $46,121 | $1,641 | $25,146 | $26,183 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $15,377 | $47,265 | $1,131 | $30,781 | $26,247 |
| 7 | University of Southern California | $71,647 | $1,200 | $21,937 | $21,937 | |
| 8 | Harvey Mudd College | $68,613 | $800 | $23,718 | $12,582 | |
| 9 | Soka University of America | $38,728 | $1,062 | $18,746 | $28,940 | |
| 10 | Scripps College | $65,950 | $800 | $24,136 | $24,136 | |
| Average | $14,805 | $60,353 | $1,119 | $23,934 | $23,238 | |
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The following table compares 2024-2025 undergraduate tuition & fees between best schools in California. The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $14,805 for in-state students and $60,353 for out-of-state students. The 2024-2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of best schools in California are increased by 4.46% compared to the previous year.
Among the best schools in California, University of Southern California requires the most expensive tuition & fees of $69,904 and Soka University of America has the lowest tuition & fees of $35,584 for undergraduate programs.
| Rank | Name | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 1 | Stanford University | $62,484 | $65,910 | ||
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | $63,255 | $65,898 | ||
| 3 | Pomona College | $62,326 | $65,420 | ||
| 4 | Claremont McKenna College | $64,150 | $67,980 | ||
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles | $13,747 | $44,524 | $14,233 | $46,121 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $14,850 | $45,627 | $15,377 | $47,265 |
| 7 | University of Southern California | $68,237 | $71,647 | ||
| 8 | Harvey Mudd College | $66,255 | $68,613 | ||
| 9 | Soka University of America | $37,450 | $38,728 | ||
| 10 | Scripps College | $63,434 | $65,950 | ||
| Average | $14,299 | $57,774 | $14,805 | $60,353 | |
Graduate Tuition & Fees
The following table compares 2024-2025 graduate tuition & fees between best schools in California. The average graduate tuition & fees is $15,171 for state residents and $52,408 for out-of-state students. The 2024-2025 graduate tuition & fees of best schools in California are increased by 3.62% compared to the previous year.
Among the best schools in California, Claremont McKenna College requires the most expensive graduate tuition & fees of $72,294 and University of California-Los Angeles has the lowest graduate tuition & fees of $27,864.
| Rank | Name | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 1 | Stanford University | $59,499 | $61,878 | ||
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | $63,063 | $65,706 | ||
| 3 | Pomona College | The graduate tuition information is not available. | |||
| 4 | Claremont McKenna College | $68,525 | $72,294 | ||
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles | $13,883 | $28,985 | $14,476 | $29,578 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $15,261 | $30,363 | $15,866 | $30,968 |
| 7 | University of Southern California | $68,128 | $71,515 | ||
| 8 | Harvey Mudd College | The graduate tuition information is not available. | |||
| 9 | Soka University of America | $37,450 | $38,728 | ||
| 10 | Scripps College | $48,598 | $48,598 | ||
| Average | $14,572 | $50,576 | $15,171 | $52,408 | |
Room & Board, Other Living Expenses
The following table compares living costs including room, board, and other expenses between best schools in California. Each cost is in average and may vary by room types, meal plan, and other living styles. For academic year 2024-2025, the average living costs of best schools in California is $23,934 when a student lives on campus and $23,238 when living off campus.
| Rank | Name | On-Campus | Off-Campus | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Room & Board | Other Expenses | Room & Board | Other Expenses | Other Expenses (living with family) | ||
| 1 | Stanford University | $21,315 | $4,842 | - | - | - |
| 2 | California Institute of Technology | $20,283 | $3,213 | $22,086 | $4,968 | $4,059 |
| 3 | Pomona College | $21,394 | $1,500 | $18,229 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 4 | Claremont McKenna College | $20,830 | $1,500 | $20,830 | $1,500 | $1,650 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles | $18,369 | $6,777 | $18,610 | $7,573 | $8,759 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley | $23,750 | $7,031 | $18,721 | $7,526 | $9,013 |
| 7 | University of Southern California | $19,931 | $2,006 | $19,931 | $2,006 | $3,920 |
| 8 | Harvey Mudd College | $22,318 | $1,400 | $11,182 | $1,400 | $1,400 |
| 9 | Soka University of America | $14,378 | $4,368 | $22,086 | $6,854 | $5,772 |
| 10 | Scripps College | $22,136 | $2,000 | $22,136 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Average | $20,470 | $3,464 | $19,312 | $3,925 | $4,230 | |
The ranking data is provided by CollegeEvaluator. We compare the schools that ranked top 10 in Californiaand in top 500 ranking for all colleges and universities in United States.
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