Best Online Colleges in California of 2025

California has the largest public college system in the nation. The Golden State features community colleges and famous public college networks like the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) systems. Globally recognized schools like UCLA and UC Berkeley rank among some of the most prestigious institutions in California. Fortunately for students in California and worldwide, California schools offer many online degrees. Below, you can find the best online colleges in California, including fast-growing careers and average salaries for jobs in the state.

Accreditation ensures your online college provides a high-quality education. When a college holds institutional accreditation, it means a third-party agency has vetted the school for its standards of excellence.

Accreditation signals to employers that your online education is just as rigorous and legitimate as an on-campus program. You’ll also need an accredited degree when applying for certain professional licenses.

In California, the primary institutional accreditors are the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and the WASC Senior College and University Commission, which were known as regional accreditors until 2020. However, your school still may have received accreditation from another agency recognized by the Department of Education. You can use their helpful tool to check any school’s accreditation status.

Searching for colleges in California can be overwhelming. Break your search down by city to target nearby locations and narrow down your search. If you live in the Bay Area, for example, you want to consider a hybrid online program based in San Francisco.

If you are an in-state student, you’ll save more on tuition in California. On average, the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at a California public college is more than $24,000 a year.

If you are a resident in other Western states, you may be able to access in-state tuition with the Western Undergraduate Exchange. To save even more on tuition, consider attending a public two-year college before transferring credits to a four-year public institution.

In addition to tuition and fees, you’ll need to budget for housing, food, and other living expenses. Online schools in California may charge less for the same degree programs offered on campus.

California offers an abundance of financial aid for students, including state university grants, middle-class scholarships, student aid work programs, and state-sponsored loans.

The following list is not exhaustive but offers a broad view of available funding sources for online colleges in California:

California is known for Silicon Valley and Hollywood, but its top industry is agriculture. The state’s farms and ranches received $55.9 billion for their output in 2022. Tourism, service, healthcare, and construction are other major industries in the Sunshine State.

Despite a strong economy, California’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average. As of Aug. 2024, it is 5.3%, compared to 4.2% nationally.

Fast-growing tech jobs with strong salaries include data scientists and information systems managers. Many healthcare jobs rank among the highest-paid roles in the following sections.

Many of California’s fastest-growing jobs center around the health sector. California nurse practitioner employment is projected to grow by an impressive 58.6% from 2022-2032. Employment for physician’s assistants, physical therapist assistants, and medical and health services managers is projected to increase by more than 39% over the same period, which is over six times the national average.

Employment for solar photovoltaic installers, taxi drivers, and home health aides — roles that do not require a degree — is also projected to grow significantly.

Many jobs in California pay higher than the national average, though California’s cost of living is about 38% above the national average. Physicians and medical specialties like nurse anesthetists and dentists rank among the top-paying careers.

Beyond medicine, managerial roles in several industries also report median salaries close to or above $200,000. The top-paying non-medical careers in California include airline pilot/copilots, flight engineers, and computer and information systems managers.

There are over 500 colleges and universities in California. It is the third largest state in the U.S. and home to many prestigious schools.

You don’t need to reside in California to attend an online college in California. Online colleges are open to any student, regardless of where they live. Since you won’t need to attend any in-person classes, you do not need to be in California physically. However, California’s schools may charge higher tuition to non-residents.

You can qualify for in-state tuition after living in California for over one year (at least 366 days). You must also prove financial independence and indicate that you plan to remain in the state after graduation. Some online colleges in California may have different rules for distance learners, so make sure to research any requirements before applying.

No — community colleges aren’t free in California. However, some community colleges participate in the California College Promise program, which offers grants or fee waivers to students who meet income standards and other requirements.

Yes — you can attend a California community college online. You can access the California Virtual Campus. This collaborative effort involving dozens of community colleges aims to expand access to high-quality online courses.