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Key takeaway: 257 schools in our directory offer at least one fully online program to California students, and among those that report tuition, the median in-state tuition is $7,780 a year (IPEDS/College Scorecard data in our directory). Accreditation still matters more than location – verify any school through the U.S. Department of Education’s DAPIP database before enrolling. The list below is ranked by our independent BOC Score.
Studying online from California usually means enrolling at a public or private university that delivers coursework over the internet rather than in a classroom, while you remain a legal resident of the state. That distinction matters for cost: public universities generally set a lower in-state tuition rate for California residents, even when the program itself is delivered fully online, while out-of-state and private tuition rates run higher. Among the 257 schools in our directory that offer an online program to California students, 47 report an in-state tuition figure, and the median among those is $7,780 a year (IPEDS/College Scorecard data in our directory). Actual cost varies widely by institution, program level, and whether the school charges a flat online rate regardless of residency, so treat this figure as a directional benchmark rather than a quote for any single school.
Many public universities extend their resident tuition rate to online students who live in California, which is one of the clearest cost advantages of studying close to home. Some schools instead charge every online student the same rate regardless of state of residence, so it is worth confirming a school’s residency policy for online programs directly with its admissions office before you apply. Private nonprofit and for-profit schools typically charge one tuition rate for all students, online or on campus, and that rate is not tied to state residency at all.
Before comparing costs or programs, confirm that any school you are considering holds accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP) lets you look up a school’s accreditor directly and confirm the accreditation is current. Accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor – whether an institutional body such as the Higher Learning Commission or SACSCOC, or a career-focused accreditor such as ACCSC or COE – affects whether credits transfer and whether employers and licensing boards will recognize your degree. This step applies whether a school is based in California or delivers its online program from another state.
The schools listed below offer accredited online programs and are ordered using our independent BOC Score, which weighs factors including affordability, outcomes, and accreditation status rather than marketing spend or sponsorship. Request information from multiple schools to compare specific program costs, formats, and admissions requirements before you decide.
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
For a broader comparison across states, see our Best Accredited Online College guide and Affordable Online Degrees.
257 schools in our directory offer at least one fully online program that California students can enroll in (IPEDS/College Scorecard data in our directory).
Among the 257 schools in our directory that offer an online program to California students, 47 report an in-state tuition figure, and the median among those is $7,780 a year (IPEDS/College Scorecard data in our directory). Individual program costs vary by school and degree level.
Search the school by name in the U.S. Department of Education’s DAPIP database to confirm its accreditor is currently recognized. This applies to any school offering an online program to California residents, regardless of where the school is physically located.
Schools are ordered using our independent BOC Score, which is based on published factors such as affordability, outcomes, and accreditation status rather than paid placement.
