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Affordable & Cheapest Universities in California 2025
Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Jun 16, 2025 10:45 AM IST
If you are planning to study in USA on a budget, then California is the right option. It offers quality education at an affordable price. In addition, the city is quite homely with a vibrant student lifestyle, quality of life, and world class universities. Students can get affordable study options in the cheapest universities in California. According to NAFSA, in 2023-2024, California hosted 140,858 international students. Although education in California is quite expensive, some of the most affordable universities in California provide an opportunity for international students to study without worrying about the budget. The top 5 Cheapest Universities in California for international students include California State University-Fullerton, California State University-East Bay, California State University-Fresno, San Francisco State University, and California State University, San Bernardino. Not all the universities in California demand higher tuition fees. Some of the top-ranked universities in California also offer low tuition fees to international students. Understanding the most affordable colleges in California beforehand helps the candidate to study in the USA and secure their future in the right direction. Read the article below to learn more about the cheapest universities in California in 2025.
This Story also Contains
- Benefits of Studying in California in 2025
- Cheapest Universities in California 2025
- Cost of Living in California 2025
Benefits of Studying in California in 2025
There are many cheap universities in California. Here are some of the benefits of studying in California for Indian students:
- World Class Education: California is known for its strong educational system and the universities in the state are among the top institutions in the world. The majority of universities are among the top in the world.
- International Support Services: The universities offer comprehensive and convenient support services for international students including orientation programs and counseling services.
- Several Course Options: A wide range of courses are available in California for international students.
- Career Opportunities: There are better career opportunities for international students in California at top companies like Apple, Google, Meta, Netflix etc.
- Multicultural Environment: California offers a vibrant culture for students as it welcomes international students from several countries. Top universities in California have more than 20-50% of international students, which reflects cultural diversity for students.
Cheapest Universities in California 2025
California is an exciting place to study for most of the international students. A few of the best cheap universities in California for international students are mentioned below.
Cheapest Universities in California for International Students 2025:
University Name | Average Fees per year (in USD) | Average Fees per year (in INR) |
20,070 | 17L | |
California State University-East Bay | 16000 to 21,000 | 13L-18L |
17,000 to 21,000 | 14L-18L | |
15,000 to 22,000 | 12L-18L | |
California State University- Stanislaus | 17,000 to 22,000 | 14L-18L |
17,750 | 15L | |
20,170 | 17L | |
| Golden Gate University | 12,000 to 19,000 | 10L-16L |
| University of Massachusetts | 32,000 to 36,000 | 27L-31L |
| California State University San Marcos | 18,000 to 19,000 | 15L-16L |
California State University, Fullerton
The California State University, located in Fullerton, California is a public university established in 1957. The university is one of the best universities in California. The university offers 110 degree programs that is, 55 UG and 55 graduate and doctoral, etc. as arts, biology, business, communications, engineering, dance, economics, music, nursing, psychology, etc. It is one of the cheap colleges in California for non residents with a tuition fee of around USD 20,070, which includes the basic tuition fees and non-resident tuition fees. Being one of the cheap public universities in California for international students, the tuition fee is 32% below the national average. It ranks number 4 public school in the west for counting the lowest tuition fee in the nation.
California State University, East Bay
The California State University, East Bay located in Hayward, California is a public university founded in 1957. The university is an affordable university in California, apart from other top affordable universities in USA. The university provides a wide range of UG and PG courses. It is one of the cheap public universities in California for out of state students with a tuition fee ranging from USD 1600 to USD 21,000 per year for international students.
California State University, Fresno
The California State University, Fresno, located in Fresno, is a public university founded in 1911 as Fresno State Normal School. The university is one of the top 185 in the Best National Universities Rankings in USA. Fresno schools and colleges together offer 72 UG degrees and 49 postbaccalaureate and 3 doctoral degree programs in arts, health and human services, business, social sciences, engineering, agriculture, etc. It is one of the cheap university in California. California State University fees range from USD 17,000 to USD 21,000 per year for international students which includes the basic tuition fee and non-resident tuition fees.
San Francisco State University
The San Francisco State University, located in the southwest part of San Francisco city, is a public university established in 1899 as a teacher training school and obtained college status in 1921. The university is one of the good low fees universities in California. The San Francisco State University offers 77 degrees in UG and 63 degrees in masters. Along with them, the university also offers 16 credential programs and 57 certification programs, doctorate and clinical doctorate programs, etc.
The areas of Study include accounting, animation, anthropology, mathematics, arts, biology, business, comics, dance, environmental sciences, humanities, medical technologies, etc. and many more. It is one of the cheapest universities in California for international students with tuition fees ranging from USD 15,000 to USD 22,000 per year for International students which includes the basic tuition fee and non-resident tuition fee.
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California State University, Los Angeles
The California State University, Los Angeles, located in the heart of Los Angeles is a public university founded in 1947. The university is one of the cheap public universities in California for international students, holding the 1401st position in the QS World University Rankings 2025. The university offers various programs in bachelors, and masters, like arts, business, public health, pharmacy, etc., and a few others. It is one of the cheapest universities in California for Indian students. The California State University fees is around USD 17,720 per year for International Students which includes the basic fee and non-resident tuition fee.
California State University, Stanislaus
The California State University, Stanislaus, located in the heart of the California Central Valley, is a public university established in 1957. It is one of the universities in best California University list. The university offers a wide range of programs in UG, PG degrees extended education programs, certifications, etc. It is one of the cheap public universities in California for international students with a tuition fee ranging from USD 17,000 to USD 22,000 per year which includes the basic tuition fee and non-resident tuition fee.
San Diego State University
The San Diego State University located near downtown San Diego is a public university founded in 1897. The university is one of the top public universities in USA. The university offers a wide range of 202 degree programs in bachelor's, master's, doctoral degrees, certificate programs, etc. It is one of the best cheap universities in California for non residents with tuition fees of around USD 20,170 per year for International Students which includes the basic tuition fee and non-resident tuition fee.
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University offers a vibrant culture and various opportunities to international students. They help students connect to a network of industry leaders, innovative companies, and career opportunities. It is situated in the city’s financial district, and has access to Fortune 500 companies, tech powerhouses, and the startups of Silicon Valley. It offers more than 60 degrees & certificates. It is considered as one of the cheapest universities in California as it offers education at an average fee of USD 12,000 - 19,000.
University of Massachusetts
The average fees for international students at the University of Massachusetts is around USD 3200 - 36,000. The University of Massachusetts (UMass) is a public university that provides diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including STEM, business, and liberal arts. UMass consistently earns high rankings among public universities in the US, celebrated for its academic excellence, research contributions, and overall value.
California State University San Marcos
California State University San Marcos is a 30-year-old university. With over 17,000 students enrolled, CSUSM proudly holds full accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It offers 43 major bachelor's programs and 39 minor programs. Additionally, it offers 24 master’s programs. The average financial aid received by CSUSM is USD 11,275 and 70% of students who apply for financial aid receive it. The average annual fees for international students at one of the cheapest universities in California range between USD 18,000 - 19,000.
Cost of Living in California 2025
While looking for the cheapest universities in California for international students, the candidates can also plan the budget which includes the cost of living expenses with accommodation in USA, California. For students who are planning to live on campus or off campus, the accommodation and food cost about USD 15,000 - USD 18,000 per year. A compulsory health insurance cost of around USD 2000 per year should be taken out by students.
On average the living expenses are USD 12,000- USD 18,000 depending on the individual. If the candidate brings an additional dependent, then a separate cost of USD 5000 - USD 10,000 per year will be incurred for each individual. To sum up, the living expenses in California per year are:
- Accommodation and Food (On-campus): USD 15,000 - USD 18,000
- Health Insurance: USD 2,000
- Other Miscellaneous: USD 12,000- USD 18,000
- Additional Dependent Living Expenses: USD 5000 - USD 10,000
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the cheapest University of California?
UC Merced is the most affordable University of California apart from several top affordable universities in USA. According to the National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES), the average annual net price for UC Merced students was USD 13,549 per year. The average annual net price for students at other UC campuses ranged from USD 17,310 to USD 19,260.
2. Which Cal State University is the cheapest?
With an estimated annual cost of attendance of USD 18,000 for the 2025 academic year, California State University, San Marcos is the cheapest Cal State University for in-state students. Tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other personal expenses are all included.
3. What's the cheapest university to go to?
The University of the People (UoPeople) is the world's cheapest university. It is an online university with no tuition that offers degrees in business administration, computer science, and health science. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) has accredited UoPeople.
4. How much does a 4-year university cost in California?
The cost of attending a four-year university in California varies depending on a variety of factors such as the type of school (public or private), residency status, and financial aid. A four-year university in California costs an average of USD 31,412 per year. Tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses are all included.
5. Which California State University is the cheapest?
Based on average annual fees, the cheapest California State University is the Dominguez Hills campus. The average fees for Indian students at CSU, Dominguez Hills is approximately INR 10.50 L - INR 15.75 L per year.
6. Is California expensive for international students?
Yes, California is an expensive city for international students. California universities have separate tuition fees for both in-state and foreign students. The cost of tuition for international students is typically 10% higher than that of in-state students. However, there are low cost universities in California.
California has a high cost of living, which include the cost of housing, food, transportation, and other expenses. Other costs such as Health insurance, textbooks, and entertainment are additional factors to consider when planing for your studies in California.
7. Which California state university is the cheapest?
There are several low cost universities in California. Some of the cheapest universities in California in 2025 for international students are listed below:
- California State University-Los Angeles.
- California State University-San Bernardino.
- California State University-Dominguez Hills.
- California State University-Fullerton.
- California State University-Monterey Bay.
- California State University-Fresno.
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Questions related to
Have a question related to ?
Hi there
Yes you can try to learn various courses that are for approximately 3 months to 6 months in duration.
Yes you can learn before going to us. Learning skills definitively adds some value to the life of a candidate and also improves in getting good recognition in life..
Below i have mentioned some courses that you can try before visiting us:
- Social media marketing
- Content writer
- Content creation
- Video editing
- Photography skills
- Digital marketing
- Stiching
- Makeup artist course
- Hairstyling course.
So these are some courses you can try.
Hope this answer will help you. Revert incase of any query.
Thank you and good luck:)
Anushri Varshney 12 June,2022
Hello Samarasimha,
YES, you can MS in UA after completing Bsc in Statistics. . All you have to do is score good marks in your PG and prepare for GRE. You should also decide upon the country and the university in which you are going to study.
Furthermore, the requirements to pursue MS in USA are as follows :
- 3 to 4 years bachelors degree in relevant field.
- 3.5 or higher GPA, equivalent to 87% in bachelors.
- GRE score of 330 or above.
- Statement of Purpose.
- Research Internships/ Published Research Papers.
- Project work/Seminars.
- 2-3 Letter of Recommendation.
- Social & Leadership Activities.
Further, requirements for Software jobs in USA are as follows :
- Enroll in a software development program. The first step to becoming a software engineer is to enroll in a software development degree program. ...
- Gain internship experience. ...
- Choose your specialty. ...
- Pursue industry certifications. ...
- Continue your education.
I hope that this will help.
Piyush kesarwani 13 May,2022
Dear aspirant hope you are doing well..
To study at foreign universities/abroad in U. S , the admission process will require the candidate to give one language exam and one standardized exam. However, depending on the country, course, college, or university you are applying for you may be exempted from standardized exams. The language test will showcase your English proficiency skills. These exams are required for pursuing almost all courses abroad. Different countries have different language exams such as
- TOEFL exam for getting admission to the universities in the US and Canada. The score of this exam is valid for two years after the declaration of results
- There are plenty of universities abroad where you can apply to do master-level course, MSc in statistics, MSc in Operation Research, and Applied Mathematics, MSc in Mathematical Modeling, etc are some of the Master level Course in Mathematics that are available abroad. Students who have completed their graduation or bachelor's degree in Mathematics can apply for these courses. Foreign universities like Uppsala University, Dublin City University, Oxford Brookes University, University of York, University of Liverpool, etc offer all the above-mentioned courses in mathematics.
Top university of The USA for master degree courses
- John Carroll University
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- Michigan State University
- West Virginia University
- Rhode Island College
- University of Arkansas
- Vanderbilt University
- DePaul University
- Delaware State University
- Texas A&M University-Commerce
- University of South Florida
- California State University Northridge
You can get the detailed information about the process how to apply for MS in USA. read the given article. Link is given below
https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/how-apply-for-ms-in-usa/amp
Hope it's helpful for you..
Thank you
AVINASH KUMAR 23 February,2022
There are many ways to choose your university such as fees, the ranking of the university, which state it is located and scholarships. My suggestion is to choose your research focus and write academic papers. In the US, PhD in Commerce admission into the university depends on what you want to study (your area of research) and your already completed research papers. You can begin your research by searching online for US universities offering PhD in Business Administration. One example is University of California Los Angeles (https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/phd-program/admissions#app-req) .
Tabitha 08 January,2022
Hello Student
You are aBHM means Bachelor in Hotel Management so after doing BHM,to gain a bright future inthis trade you have to do MSc in Hotel Management,post graduation in Hospitality Management,Master degree in travel and tourism management,or MBA in hotel management,AFter doing post graduation in Hotel management or travel and tourism management will give you the best return in employment opportunity.
Hope this will help.
Sohamsengupta8 13 February,2022
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