We crunched the numbers
To help you budget your expenses, we’ve estimated the costs of going to school for a new undergraduate student. Along with tuition, we include fees, books and supplies, room and board, and miscellaneous items.
We also include an amount for personal expenses, which obviously will vary based on your lifestyle and choices. You’ll see the estimated costs for the 2024-25 academic year on the table below. Keep in mind that it’s up to you where you live while you’re in school—with your family, in a residence hall on campus, or an apartment on or off campus. They all come with their own advantages—and costs.
We suggest you check out CashCourse to help create your budget.
Note that actual tuition, fees and charges are subject to change, and could be impacted by factors including changes in state funding. Also, tuition and mandatory fees won’t be refunded if instruction is delivered remotely for any part of the 2024-25 academic year.
Estimated Budgets for 2024-25 New Undergraduate Students
For nonresidents of California, add $34,200 Nonresident Tuition and Fees to the costs below.
|
Living At Home
|
Living On Campus*
|
Living Off Campus
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Books and Supplies
|
$1,473.00
|
$1,473.00
|
$1,473.00
|
|
Housing and Food
|
$8,020.00
|
$18,991.00
|
$19,130.00
|
|
Personal
|
$2,535.00
|
$2,154.00
|
$2,400.00
|
|
Transportation
|
$2,450.00
|
$885.00
|
$2,183.00
|
|
Subtotal
|
$14,478.00
|
$23,503.00
|
$25,186.00
|
|
Systemwide Fees
|
$14,436.00
|
$14,436.00
|
$14,436.00
|
|
Campus Fees
|
$4,105.00
|
$4,105.00
|
4,105.00
|
|
$18,541.00
|
$18,541.00
|
$18,541.00
|
|
|
Total
|
$33,019.00
|
$42,044.00
|
$43,727.00
|
|
Footnotes: *Las Lomas, Arroyo Vista, Vista del Campo, Vista Del Campo Norte, Camino del Sol and Puerta del Sol housing are treated as on campus. |
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UC Tuition Stability Plan
The University of California Board of Regents approved a multiyear Tuition Stability Plan on July 22, 2021. The plan helps students and families budget for a UC education by keeping systemwide tuition and fees stable and predictable and providing new resources for financial aid. Beginning fall 2022, tuition will be adjusted for each incoming undergraduate class but will subsequently remain flat until the student graduates, for up to six years. For undergraduates who first enrolled in fall 2021 or earlier — including all current undergraduates — tuition will stay flat at current rates for the duration of their enrollment, up to six years.