2024 Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Computer Science in California
40
Colleges
743,175
Bachelor's Degrees
$29,280
Avg Cost*
Finding the Best Value Computer Science School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, computer science was ranked 6th in California. In fact, 743,175 were awarded in the state in 2021-2022. This means that of the 5,415,716 bachelor's that were awarded in the country, 13.7% were from a college or university in the state.
This year's Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Computer Science in California ranking looked at 40 colleges that offer a bachelor's in compsci. To us, 'best value' doesn't just mean the school with the lowest overall costs. We are more focused on compsci schools that offer a high quality education at a price lower that other schools of similar academic excellence.
To determine the average cost, we look at total expenses - such as tuition, fees, room and board, books, and other related expenses - and then subtract the average financial award a student receives. Knowing this amount can help you determine how much you may have to borrow in loans or take out of savings. Depending on your income and other factors, the cost for you to attend a particular school may be more or less.
More Ways to Rank Computer Science Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Value CompSci Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
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Featured Computer Science Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
AS in Computer Science
Learn the applied programming skills needed to fill in-demand tech roles when you earn your online AS in Computer Science at Southern New Hampshire University.
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BS in Computer Science
Learn the front-end design and back-end development skills employers look for in full stack software developers with this online bachelor's degree in computer science from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BS in Computer Science - Software Engineering
With a software engineering degree, you'll learn the fundamental concepts and principles – a systematic approach used to develop software on time, on budget and within specifications – throughout your online college classes at SNHU.
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2024 Best Value Computer Science Schools in California
The following schools top our list of the Best Computer Science Colleges for the Money.
Top 10 Best Value Computer Science Schools
University of California - San Diego landed the #1 spot in our 2024 rankings for best value computer science schools. UCSD is a very large public school located in the large city of La Jolla. UCSD not only placed well in our value rankings. It is also #5 on our Best Computer Science Schools in California list.
At UCSD, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.3 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $39,251. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from UCSD is $168,387. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
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The #2 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of California - Berkeley. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a very large student population. UC Berkeley also made our Best Computer Science Schools in California list, coming in at #2.
At UC Berkeley, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.2 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school is around $44,222. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley is $186,175. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
Read full report on Computer Science at University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Irvine earned the #3 spot in our 2024 rankings. Located in the city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public college with a very large student population. UC Irvine did well in our quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our Best Computer Science Schools in California list.
It takes the average student at UC Irvine about 4.2 years to graduate, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $39,344. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine is $165,245. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.
Full Computer Science at University of California - Irvine Report
Our rankings recognize California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo as the #4 school in this year's rankings. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public college with a very large student population.
The average student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduates in less than 4.4 years, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $33,869. When we combine these numbers, we estimate that the cost to get a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is $150,040. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
Full Computer Science at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report
The #5 spot in this year's ranking belongs to California State University - Northridge. CSUN is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge.
The average student at CSUN graduates in less than 4.9 years, and on average, the annual cost to attend the school is $21,912. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from CSUN be around $108,245. If you can shave even one term off your degree, you can save a substantial amount of money.
Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Northridge
Our rankings recognize California State University - Sacramento as the #6 school in this year's rankings. Sac State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Sacramento.
The average student at Sac State graduates in less than 5.0 years, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $27,149. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from Sac State is $136,831. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.
Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Sacramento
University of California - Santa Barbara earned the #7 spot in our 2024 rankings. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Santa Barbara, UCSB is a public school with a very large student population.
At UCSB, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.2 years, and the estimated yearly cost for the school is $39,676. Thus, the average cost to get a bachelor’s degree from the UCSB is $167,433. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
Full Computer Science at University of California - Santa Barbara Report
California State University - Long Beach comes in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public college with a very large student population.
At CSULB, the average time it takes a student to graduate is 4.8 years, and the average full-time cost to attend the school is around $23,555. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from CSULB is $112,593. The sooner a student graduates, the more money they can save.
Read full report on Computer Science at California State University - Long Beach
San Diego State University comes in at #9 in this year's ranking. SDSU is a very large public school located in the large city of San Diego.
It takes about 4.6 years for the average student at SDSU to complete their degree, and it costs about $30,447 per year to attend the school. This makes the estimated cost of a bachelor’s degree from SDSU be around $138,534. When students graduate in a lesser amount of time, they can save thousands of dollars.
Full Computer Science at San Diego State University Report
Our rankings recognize University of California - Santa Cruz as the #10 school in this year's rankings. UC Santa Cruz is a large public school located in the small city of Santa Cruz. In addition to being on our best value list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #9 rank in our Best Computer Science Schools in California ranking.
The average amount of time it takes for a student to receive their degree at UC Santa Cruz is 4.4 years, and the yearly average cost to attend the school is $41,493. Putting this cost and the average time to graduate together, we find that the average amount you’ll pay to get a bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz is $180,495. Graduating sooner can prevent you from having to pay more money out of pocket.
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More Computer Science Rankings in California
One of 10 majors within the Computer & Information Sciences area of study, Computer Science has other similar majors worth exploring.
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
