Colleges with the lowest student debt in California

Colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.

Colleges with the lowest student debt in California61 schools

61 schools qualify, ranked by median debt. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Schools in California.
Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
Has the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Ordered by median debt, lowest first.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina
West Covina, CA · Private for-profit
Top 2% for graduation
- Median debt $10,313
- 97% graduate
2
Pomona College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $11,782
- 93% graduate
3
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $12,000
- 92% graduate
4
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $13,000
- 93% graduate
4
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 7% for graduation
- Median debt $13,000
- 86% graduate
6
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $13,500
- 91% graduate
6
Scripps College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $13,500
- 83% graduate
8
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $13,993
- 83% graduate
9
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $14,000
- 93% graduate
10
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $14,289
- 69% graduate
11
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $15,000
- 87% graduate
11
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $15,000
- 76% graduate
13
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $15,500
- 86% graduate
14
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 4% for graduation
- Median debt $15,650
- 92% graduate
15
New York Film Academy
Burbank, CA · Private for-profit
Top 22% for low debt
- Median debt $16,000
- 68% graduate
16
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public
Top 20% for earnings
- Median debt $16,144
- 69% graduate
17
Angeles College
Los Angeles, CA · Private for-profit
Top 4% for graduation
- Median debt $16,522
- 93% graduate
18
University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA · Public
Top 14% for graduation
- Median debt $16,666
- 75% graduate
19
Pitzer College
Claremont, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Median debt $16,750
- 83% graduate
20
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · Public
Top 13% for graduation
- Median debt $17,500
- 76% graduate
21
PCI College
Cerritos, CA · Private for-profit
Excellent: Compass grade A-
- Median debt $17,542
- 68% graduate
22
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Median debt $18,000
- 92% graduate
22
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA · Private nonprofit
Top 8% for graduation
- Median debt $18,000
- 84% graduate
24
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for earnings
- Median debt $18,500
- 86% graduate
25
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Top 1% for earnings
- Median debt $19,162
- 88% graduate

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
InterCoast Colleges-West Covina	$27,536	$10,313	$36,089	97%
Pomona College	$19,285	$11,782	$77,779	93%
Stanford University	$13,807	$12,000	$124,080	92%
University of California-Berkeley	$13,481	$13,000	$92,446	93%
University of California-Davis	$14,741	$13,000	$80,838	86%
Claremont McKenna College	$28,849	$13,500	$104,736	91%
Scripps College	$36,294	$13,500	$77,539	83%
University of California-Santa Barbara	$16,109	$13,993	$74,915	83%
University of California-Los Angeles	$12,548	$14,000	$82,511	93%
California State University-Long Beach	$10,440	$14,289	$64,403	69%
University of California-Irvine	$14,251	$15,000	$80,735	87%
San Diego State University	$15,364	$15,000	$64,909	76%
University of California-San Diego	$12,470	$15,500	$84,943	86%
Soka University of America	$18,260	$15,650	$55,017	92%
New York Film Academy	$39,011	$16,000	$29,633	68%
University of California-Merced	$11,983	$16,144	$64,368	69%
Angeles College	$28,639	$16,522	$49,108	93%
University of California-Santa Cruz	$17,890	$16,666	$68,396	75%
Pitzer College	$34,191	$16,750	$69,512	83%
University of California-Riverside	$14,304	$17,500	$67,699	76%
PCI College	$27,439	$17,542	$36,141	68%
University of Southern California	$32,740	$18,000	$92,498	92%
Thomas Aquinas College	$26,196	$18,000	$55,619	84%
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	$16,665	$18,500	$90,768	86%
Santa Clara University	$50,062	$19,162	$109,183	88%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

The national list → · All top school lists →

Colleges with the lowest student debt in California

How this list is made

InterCoast Colleges-West Covina

Pomona College

Stanford University

University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Davis

Claremont McKenna College

Scripps College

University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Los Angeles

California State University-Long Beach

University of California-Irvine

San Diego State University

University of California-San Diego

Soka University of America

New York Film Academy

University of California-Merced

Angeles College

University of California-Santa Cruz

Pitzer College

University of California-Riverside

PCI College

University of Southern California

Thomas Aquinas College

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Santa Clara University

Compare cost and outcomes

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