College ROI in California
See the strongest eligible ROI and value signals, then browse every covered college located in the state.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
California's everyday prices are 10.7% above the U.S. average
This statewide BEA benchmark helps put college budgets in context. It is not tuition, a campus-specific cost estimate or an input to our ROI rankings.
- Overall prices
- 110.7
- Housing
- 154.3
- Utilities
- 158.9
Best estimated 10-year return
90 colleges meet the consistent ROI screen.
1California Institute of TechnologyPasadena · Private nonprofit+276%2Stanford UniversityStanford · Private nonprofit+274%3Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont · Private nonprofit+237%4Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo · Public+141%5University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley · Public+116%6Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont · Private nonprofit+114%7West Coast University-Anaheim-Orange CountyAnaheim · Private for-profit+104%8California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo · Public+80%9University of California, San DiegoLa Jolla · Public+72%10West Coast University-OntarioOntario · Private for-profit+68%
Most earnings per price dollar
Observed five-year earnings divided by annual average net price.
1California State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles · Public15.1×2California State University, San BernardinoSan Bernardino · Public12.4×3California State University, BakersfieldBakersfield · Public10.9×4Foothill CollegeLos Altos Hills · Public10.3×5California State University, StanislausTurlock · Public10.0×6Stanford UniversityStanford · Private nonprofit9.6×7California State University, FullertonFullerton · Public9.6×8California State University, FresnoFresno · Public8.6×9California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge · Public8.6×10California Institute of TechnologyPasadena · Private nonprofit8.5×
LOW DEBT · SOLID COMPLETION
Where completer borrowers leave with less federal debt
Limited to currently operating colleges with at least 500 students and a completion rate at or above the California median among debt-reporting colleges.
1De Anza CollegeCupertino · Public$5,625median federal debt68%college completion2Advanced Career InstituteVisalia · Private for-profit$6,331median federal debt81%college completion3Contra Costa Medical Career CollegeAntioch · Private for-profit$6,333median federal debt100%college completion4Milan Institute-ClovisClovis · Private for-profit$6,333median federal debt63%college completion5Institute of Culinary EducationPasadena · Private for-profit$6,439median federal debt77%college completion6Central Coast CollegeSalinas · Private for-profit$7,476median federal debt67%college completion7Summit CollegeSan Bernardino · Private for-profit$7,600median federal debt62%college completion8Institute for Business and TechnologySan Jose · Private for-profit$7,853median federal debt84%college completion9National Career EducationCitrus Heights · Private for-profit$7,853median federal debt83%college completion10MTI CollegeSacramento · Private for-profit$8,836median federal debt77%college completion
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. This view does not rank ROI or guarantee affordability.ALL COLLEGES IN CA
Browse the full California directory
664 matching colleges · page 18 of 27
The directory includes every College Scorecard institution assigned to California, including online-only colleges at their federal administrative location and historical records marked as not currently operating. Online-only colleges are labeled and excluded from state top-10 lists because their students are not confined to that state. “Not available” means a required federal value was missing or suppressed. Top-10 ROI eligibility requires current operating status, a reported bachelor’s-level program, at least 500 students, observed earnings and average net price of at least $1,000.