College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2021 Best Affordable Colleges in California for Students from Malaysia

30 Colleges
$33,458 Avg Tuition & Fees*
44% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

When it comes to choosing a college, international students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

After analyzing 30 schools in California, we came up with our list of those that offered the best educational experiences for Malaysian students in California. Our ranking is based on several objective factors, including the school's overall value and the total number of international students at the school. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Customizing Your List

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
Other Rankings Narrow by Field of Study

Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as quality or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as online students or returnings adults.

We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Top Value Colleges in California for Students from Malaysia

See which schools came out on top of our ranking:

1

Our 2021 rankings named California State University - Long Beach the best affordable school for Malaysian students in California working on their bachelor’s degree. CSULB is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9,179 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

International students make up 6.0% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at CSULB are India, China, and Japan. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at CSULB runs, on average, about $18,726. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $17,784 per year.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on California State University - Long Beach

2

Out of the 30 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Jose State University landed the #2 spot on the list. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,192 students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 10.2% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at San Jose State are India, China, and Vietnam. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at San Jose State is about $19,732 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $18,790 a year in average tuition and fees.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full San Jose State University Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #3 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Malaysian students in California list. Located in Northridge, California, the large public school awarded 9,572 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Around 6.2% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at CSUN come from such countries as Kuwait, China, and India. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at CSUN is about $18,923 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $17,981 a year in average tuition and fees.

Read full report on California State University - Northridge

4

Out of the 30 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #4 spot on the list. CSUMB is a public institution located in Seaside, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,805 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 4.7% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at CSUMB are Japan, China, and Germany. International students at CSUMB can expect to pay, on average, about $19,098 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $18,156 a year in average tuition and fees.

Full California State University - Monterey Bay Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #5 in this year’s ranking. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8,719 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Of the total number of students at the school, 5.4% are international. Students studying at SDSU come from such countries as China, India, and Kuwait. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at SDSU runs, on average, about $20,016. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $19,074 per year.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read More…

6

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California ranking, coming in at #6. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, the large public school handed out 5,421 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 2.2% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is about $28,105 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $21,133 a year in average tuition and fees.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report

7

With a ranking of #7, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. This large public school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 6,526 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 5.3% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, Kuwait, and South Korea come to Cal Poly Pomona to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Cal Poly Pomona runs, on average, about $19,319. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $18,377 per year.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

8

San Francisco State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California list. SFSU is a public institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,627 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 6.8% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at SFSU are China, India, and Japan. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at SFSU is about $19,184 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $18,242 per year.

Full San Francisco State University Report

9

California State University - Fullerton ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California list. Located in Fullerton, California, the large public school awarded 10,010 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

International students make up 5.9% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as India, China, and Kuwait come to Cal State Fullerton to study. International students at Cal State Fullerton can expect to pay, on average, about $18,856 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $17,914 per year.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on California State University - Fullerton

10

With a ranking of #10, Soka University of America did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. Soka University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Aliso Viejo, California. It awarded 85 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 48.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Soka University come from such countries as Japan, Nepal, and India. International students at Soka University can expect to pay, on average, about $34,166 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $34,166 a year in average tuition and fees.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Soka University of America Report

11

With a ranking of #11, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. Located in Sacramento, California, the large public school awarded 7,644 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 3.9% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Sac State are India, China, and South Korea. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Sac State runs, on average, about $19,272. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $18,330 per year.

Read full report on California State University - Sacramento

12

California State University - San Marcos landed the #12 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. Located in San Marcos, California, the fairly large public school awarded 3,749 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 3.8% are international. Students studying at CSUSM come from such countries as China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at CSUSM runs, on average, about $19,607. Graduate students pay around $18,665 a year in average tuition and fees.

Read More…

13

With a ranking of #13, California State University - East Bay did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. California State University - East Bay is a fairly large public school located in Hayward, California that handed out 4,189 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 7.2% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Cal State East Bay are China, India, and Saudi Arabia. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Cal State East Bay is about $18,875 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $17,933 a year in average tuition and fees.

Read full report on California State University - East Bay

14

With a ranking of #14, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9,086 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Of the total number of students at the school, 21.4% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at UCSD are China, India, and South Korea. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UCSD is about $44,454 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $28,666 a year in average tuition and fees.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of California - San Diego Report

15

University of California - Los Angeles ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California list. UCLA is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,102 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 13.8% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, South Korea, and India come to UCLA to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UCLA runs, on average, about $43,012. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $28,138 per year.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on University of California - Los Angeles

16

University of California - Irvine landed the #16 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. Located in Irvine, California, the large public school handed out 9,882 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 18.4% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to UC Irvine to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UC Irvine runs, on average, about $43,529. Graduate students pay around $28,458 a year in average tuition and fees.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read More…

17

University of California - Davis landed the #17 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. Located in Davis, California, the large public school awarded 9,846 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Around 17.5% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at UC Davis come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UC Davis is about $44,399 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $28,710 a year in average tuition and fees.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of California - Davis Report

18

University of California - Riverside did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California ranking, coming in at #18. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6,193 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 7.7% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at UCR come from such countries as China, India, and Taiwan. International students at UCR can expect to pay, on average, about $43,508 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $28,569 a year in average tuition and fees.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on University of California - Riverside

19

With a ranking of #19, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,523 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 16.2% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, South Korea, and India come to UC Berkeley to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UC Berkeley runs, on average, about $43,980. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $29,262 per year.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read More…

20

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #20 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. This large public school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 7,001 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 14.9% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at UCSB are China, India, and South Korea. International students at UCSB can expect to pay, on average, about $44,171 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $28,683 per year.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read More…

21

With a ranking of #21, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. Located in Los Angeles, California, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1,856 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Around 9.5% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Loyola Marymount come from such countries as Indonesia, China, and Saudi Arabia. International students at Loyola Marymount can expect to pay, on average, about $53,051 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $19,922 a year in average tuition and fees.

Full Loyola Marymount University Report

22

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 5,426 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 9.6% are international. Students from as far away as China, India, and Taiwan come to UC Santa Cruz to study. International students at UC Santa Cruz can expect to pay, on average, about $43,824 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $28,997 a year in average tuition and fees.

Read More…

23

University of San Francisco landed the #23 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California. USFCA is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 1,682 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Of the total number of students at the school, 12.7% are international. Students from as far away as China, India, and Indonesia come to USFCA to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at USFCA runs, on average, about $53,472. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $27,250 per year.

Read More…

24

University of San Diego ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California list. USD is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,672 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

International students make up 5.7% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at USD are China, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. International students at USD can expect to pay, on average, about $52,864 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $28,410 per year.

Full University of San Diego Report

25

California College of the Arts came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Malaysian Students in California ranking. California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 283 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.

Of the total number of students at the school, 41.7% are international. Students studying at California College of the Arts come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at California College of the Arts runs, on average, about $52,312. Graduate students pay around $55,090 a year in average tuition and fees.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full California College of the Arts Report

Best Affordable Colleges in the Far Western US Region

View Best Affordable Colleges for International Students Nationwide >

More Rankings >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options