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Cheapest Psychology Colleges in California

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Cal State Dominguez Hills delivers psychology training for just $3,659 in net costs, making it California's most affordable option among 20 programs. This price advantage matters in a state where psychology professionals serve tech companies, healthcare systems, and entertainment studios across Silicon Valley and Los Angeles. The gap between cheapest and most expensive reaches nearly $8,000, with most Cal State campuses clustering below $7,000 in net costs. Graduates from these affordable programs earn between $23,359 and $40,368, reflecting California's varied psychology job market from community mental health to corporate consulting. The state's Cal Grant system helps many students attend these public universities at reduced costs, while the handful of private options like San Diego Christian College command higher tuition despite lower graduation rates.
50
Programs
$3,659 – $27,032
Net Price Range
$29,193
Avg. Program Earnings
62.3%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Psychology, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
2 $4,113 $6,813 52.6% 86.9%
3 $5,646 $7,073 69.2% 66.7%
4 $5,671 $7,826 58.0% 96.6%
5 $5,825 $7,696 49.3% 86.6%
6 $5,918 $7,675 54.7% 91.1%
7 $6,480 $6,980 54.8% 95.4%
8 $7,599 $7,095 56.2% 91.2%
9 $7,871 $26,300 23.5%
10 $8,931 $7,008 69.9% 40.0%
11 $9,792 $6,817 53.5% 89.7%
12 $10,512 $7,602 55.8% 93.2%
13 $10,550 $7,739 54.2% 95.2%
14 $11,137 $14,718 31.1% 78.3%
15 $11,276 $7,055 45.5% 96.2%
16 $11,580 $7,439 66.7% 55.4%
17 $11,750 $15,265 87.6% 23.7%
18 $12,136 $62,484 92.8% 3.7%
19 $12,744 $14,167 69.1% 89.5%
20 $12,840 $14,237 86.0% 21.2%
21 $12,882 $7,424 50.1% 94.2%
22 $13,167 $7,913 46.6% 98.2%
23 $13,707 $14,170 76.6% 68.7%
24 $13,741 $7,992 64.7% 76.7%
25 $13,801 $8,190 60.5% 94.0%
26 $13,825 $14,965 85.3% 25.9%
27 $14,013 $13,747 92.7% 8.6%
28 $14,317 $35,558 55.9% 75.0%
29 $14,487 $7,437 63.2% 92.4%
30 $14,838 $8,064 63.6% 95.0%
31 $14,979 $14,850 92.9% 11.3%
32 $15,288 $15,247 85.1% 37.3%
33 $15,624 $11,075 85.2% 30.4%
34 $16,174 $8,290 78.3% 39.3%
35 $16,599 $14,600 42.3%
36 $16,607 $14,560 74.5% 46.9%
37 $19,424 $62,326 93.2% 7.0%
38 $19,761 $39,950 55.9% 74.8%
39 $19,798 $43,600 64.4% 87.0%
40 $20,170 $11,976 32.5%
41 $20,979 $35,214 51.5% 48.5%
42 $22,867 $57,614 70.7% 81.9%
43 $25,009 $48,132 53.4% 75.8%
44 $25,300 $37,150 60.7% 65.9%
45 $25,321 $13,160 8.8%
46 $25,926 $55,340 67.8% 93.2%
47 $26,217 $35,910 68.1% 91.9%
48 $26,433 $50,670 74.0% 87.2%
49 $26,925 $47,000 65.4% 73.5%
50 $27,032 $51,070 51.3% 61.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Cal State Dominguez Hills so affordable for psychology students?

Cal State Dominguez Hills charges just $3,659 in net costs, the lowest among California psychology programs. The campus serves a varied student population with 89% acceptance rate and produces graduates earning $27,106 annually. However, the graduation rate sits at 47%, below the state average for psychology programs.

How much do psychology graduates earn from California's cheapest programs?

Earnings vary significantly across affordable programs, ranging from $23,359 at Cal State Fresno to $37,640 at Cal State East Bay. Most graduates from sub-$7,000 programs earn between $25,000 and $30,000 annually. Cal State East Bay stands out with the highest earnings at $37,640 despite having a modest 46% graduation rate.

Is there a significant cost difference between public and private psychology programs?

Public Cal State programs dominate the affordable options, with 13 of the 15 cheapest schools being state universities. San Diego Christian College charges $7,871 in net costs but has only a 24% graduation rate. The price gap between public and private options can exceed $15,000 when comparing in-state tuition rates.

Does graduation rate correlate with program costs in California psychology programs?

Higher-cost programs generally show better graduation rates, with Cal State Long Beach achieving 70% graduation despite $8,931 net costs. The most affordable option at Dominguez Hills graduates 47% of students, while mid-range programs like Fullerton reach 69%. Student debt loads remain relatively consistent across programs, typically ranging from $11,952 to $17,750.

Where can psychology students find the best value in California's Central Valley?

Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock offers excellent value at $5,671 net cost with 58% graduation rate and $28,055 graduate earnings. Cal State Fresno provides the region's cheapest option at $6,480 but shows lower post-graduation earnings at $23,359. Both schools maintain high acceptance rates above 95%, making them accessible to most applicants.

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