Cheapest Physical Sciences Colleges in California

California State University-Stanislaus delivers the state's most affordable Physical Sciences education at just $5,671 net cost, while UC Berkeley charges nearly three times more yet maintains a 92.90% graduation rate. This cost variation reflects California's tiered public university system serving students across income levels. The Golden State's massive tech sector, anchored by companies like SpaceX and biotech firms throughout Silicon Valley, creates strong demand for physics, chemistry, and materials science graduates. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with eight of the top nine schools charging under $17,000 annually.

Programs

$5,671 – $39,495

Net Price Range

70.7%

Avg. Graduation Rate

12 Physical Sciences Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	California State University-Stanislaus Turlock, California	$5,671	$7,826	58.0%	96.6%
2	California State University-Fresno Fresno, California	$6,480	$6,980	54.8%	95.4%
3	San Francisco State University San Francisco, California	$12,882	$7,424	50.1%	94.2%
4	California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, California	$13,167	$7,913	46.6%	98.2%
5	University of California-Riverside Riverside, California	$13,707	$14,170	76.6%	68.7%
6	University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, California	$14,979	$14,850	92.9%	11.3%
7	University of California-Davis Davis, California	$15,288	$15,247	85.1%	37.3%
8	San Diego State University San Diego, California	$16,174	$8,290	78.3%	39.3%
9	University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California	$16,607	$14,560	74.5%	46.9%
10	Biola University La Mirada, California	$28,101	$46,704	68.8%	56.6%
11	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$31,927	$68,237	92.0%	12.0%
12	University of San Francisco San Francisco, California	$39,495	$58,222	71.1%	71.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge cost difference between CSU Stanislaus at $5,671 and USC at $31,927?

CSU Stanislaus serves a different student population with significant financial aid, while USC operates as a private research university with higher base costs. The $26,256 gap also reflects California's public university mission to provide accessible education versus private institutions focusing on research and smaller class sizes.

How do graduation rates correlate with costs among these Physical Sciences programs?

UC Berkeley and USC achieve over 90% graduation rates despite higher costs, while more affordable options like CSU Fresno graduate 54.80% of students. However, UC Riverside breaks this pattern with a strong 76.60% graduation rate at just $13,707 net cost, proving affordability doesn't always mean lower outcomes.

Is the Bay Area worth the higher costs for Physical Sciences students?

San Francisco State charges $12,882 while Berkeley costs $14,979, both serving the nation's largest tech center. The region's concentration of research labs, semiconductor companies, and biotech firms creates internship and job opportunities that may justify the premium, especially given Berkeley's 92.90% graduation rate.

Where can students find the best value among UC campuses for Physical Sciences?

UC Riverside offers strong value at $13,707 with a 76.60% graduation rate, compared to UC Davis at $15,288 with 85.10% graduation. Both significantly undercut Berkeley's $14,979 cost while providing access to the UC system's research resources and Silicon Valley connections.

More Physical Sciences Rankings

Best Value Physical Sciences in California Physical Sciences Under $20,000 in California

All Physical Sciences Programs Best Colleges in California Best Physical Sciences in California

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.