11 Cheapest Universities in Los Angeles for International Students

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In Los Angeles, California, there are a lot of affordable universities that you can find. Enrolling in these schools will help you fulfill your dream of studying in United States without paying a lot. These institutions also provide well-rounded academic programs and curriculums, allowing students to earn a degree with less burden on their pockets.

Now, if you’re planning to study in Los Angeles, you’ll have a lot of school options, as they are home to 12 universities. But if you’re looking for cheap universities in Los Angeles, make sure to read more!

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Cheap Bachelor's Colleges and Universities in Los Angeles for International Students

Here is the list of affordable institutions in Los Angeles ordered by their tuition fee for international bachelor's students.

University Annual Bachelor’s International Tuition % Cheaper than Average*
California State University, Northridge 17,700 USD 55%
California State University, Los Angeles 17,700 USD 55%
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science 18,100 USD 54%
West Coast University – Los Angeles 21,700 USD - 36,400 USD 45%
American Jewish University 27,900 USD 29%
University of California, Los Angeles 44,900 USD -14%
Otis College of Art and Design 49,100 USD -25%
Southern California Institute of Architecture 49,500 USD -26%
Occidental College 60,000 USD -53%
Loyola Marymount University 61,000 USD -55%
University of Southern California 63,500 USD -62%

* Average Bachelor’s International Tuition is 39,200 USD for universities in Los Angeles.

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1. California State University, Northridge

California State University, Northridge was founded in 1958 in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. The university is dedicated to helping students attain their academic and professional goals. CSUN is also known for its having several collaborations with university and community stakeholders in conducting research and projects that would serve the people of San Fernando Valley and beyond. 

2. California State University, Los Angeles

The California State University in Los Angeles is among the leading public universities in the state. It offers over 100 study programs for students from within and outside Los Angeles. Programs are designed to meet the needs of today’s industries and to impart important values that would serve and help improve society. 

3. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a medical school in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1966 and has established itself as one of the top-notch medical schools in the United States. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in medicine, nursing, and other areas of health sciences.

4. West Coast University – Los Angeles

For those who’d like to pursue a career in the health field, West Coast University is an excellent option for obtaining your undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university’s main objective is to provide experiential learning and highly technical training through innovation. It also tries to offer flexible and equal opportunities to all students, which is why it has many fully online programs and special options for completing the degrees in more time if needed. It also has five campuses in different cities in the U.S. so you can choose the alternative that best suits you.

5. American Jewish University

American Jewish University is a school founded in 1947 as a center and home for the Jewish community. A private university with three libraries and limited offered programs, the school is currently not accepting undergraduate applicants. The school has multiple graduate programs but only has three Master’s level programs under their School for Jewish Education and Leadership. Despite being a center and home for the Jewish community, they have a diverse and inclusive campus life that accepts individuals of any race, gender, ethnicity, and religion. The Jewish tradition is used as a guide in school but is not forced on their students.

6. University of California, Los Angeles

Located in the illustrious City of Angels is the University of California, Los Angeles. Diversity, a passion for creation, and applied knowledge defines this grand university. Offering over 300 programs, the University of California, Los Angeles is among the world’s best institutions for engineering, arts, medicine, and the sciences.

7. Otis College of Art and Design

The Otis College of Art and Design takes pride as the pioneering independent institution for art studies in Los Angeles. It offers world-class education in media, design, and communication. The Otis College of Art and Design is recognized as a national leader in empowering the creative economy.

8. Southern California Institute of Architecture

Southern California Institute of Architecture is one of the most prestigious and highly specialized higher education institutions in the United States. The private university was founded in 1972 and has been providing only one undergraduate and six graduate programs in or related to Architecture. From its history of the founders wanting to experiment with ideas on design and architecture, the focus of the school aims to provide immersive, hands-on, creative, and technical skills and knowledge that are greatly required to thrive and innovate architectural studies. Located in Los Angeles, California, it sits right in the middle of a bustling city and makes it home to diverse individuals from in and out of the United States.

9. Occidental College

Occidental College (Oxy) is a private liberal arts school located in Los Angeles, California. This institution prepares students to become capable and skilled professionals and experts. Currently, it offers full-time undergraduate studies in arts, literature, science, and politics. Oxy may be small in size, but it can be pretty beneficial as faculty members will be able to support their students individually.

10. Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University is a private educational institution located in Los Angeles, California. It was established in 1911 and takes pride in its Jesuit and Marymount heritage. The university is dedicated not only to providing excellent education to its students but also to guiding them towards their spiritual growth and overall development. 

11. University of Southern California

The University of Southern California (USC) is a premier private research university that was established in 1880 in Los Angeles. It’s known as the oldest private higher education institution in California. Ranking as one of the top-most performing universities in the country, USC offers one of the best high-quality instruction and professional training in various fields ranging from liberal arts, business, and finance, to engineering and medicine. The university is globally recognized for introducing the Domain Name System and other innovations such as DNA computing, antivirus software, dynamic programming, and others.

Cheap Master's Colleges and Universities in Los Angeles for International Students

Here is the list of affordable institutions in Los Angeles ordered by their tuition fee for international master's students.

University Annual Master's International Tuition % Cheaper than Average*
California State University, Northridge 13,200 USD 60%
California State University, Los Angeles 13,200 USD 60%
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science 14,500 USD 56%
Loyola Marymount University 23,200 USD - 24,200 USD 29%
American Jewish University 26,000 USD 20%
Southwestern Law School 28,100 USD - 56,200 USD 14%
University of California, Los Angeles 33,000 USD -1%
West Coast University – Los Angeles 44,200 USD -35%
Otis College of Art and Design 49,100 USD -51%
Southern California Institute of Architecture 49,500 USD -52%
University of Southern California 63,500 USD -95%

* Average Master's International Tuition is 32,500 USD for universities in Los Angeles.

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1. California State University, Northridge

California State University, Northridge was founded in 1958 in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California. The university is dedicated to helping students attain their academic and professional goals. CSUN is also known for its having several collaborations with university and community stakeholders in conducting research and projects that would serve the people of San Fernando Valley and beyond. 

If you're looking to save the most on your graduate studies abroad, California State University, Northridge should be at the top of your list. International students here pay only 13,116 USD annually for their master's degree.

2. California State University, Los Angeles

One of the universities you should definitely check out for practical reasons is California State University, Los Angeles. Here, you can finish your master's degree with minimal stress on your finances. After all, the tuition rate for graduate studies at California State University, Los Angeles is 13,116 USD.

The California State University in Los Angeles is among the leading public universities in the state. It offers over 100 study programs for students from within and outside Los Angeles. Programs are designed to meet the needs of today’s industries and to impart important values that would serve and help improve society. 

3. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a medical school in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1966 and has established itself as one of the top-notch medical schools in the United States. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in medicine, nursing, and other areas of health sciences.

The tuition fee at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science for incoming international master’s students is 14,415 USD. With its cheap rates, you can guarantee you’ll get a quality education without breaking the bank!

4. Loyola Marymount University

Another affordable university to consider in Los Angeles is Loyola Marymount University.

Loyola Marymount University is a private educational institution located in Los Angeles, California. It was established in 1911 and takes pride in its Jesuit and Marymount heritage. The university is dedicated not only to providing excellent education to its students but also to guiding them towards their spiritual growth and overall development. 

The tuition fee in Loyola Marymount University for master’s program for foreign students starts from 23,145 USD.

5. American Jewish University

Aside from its outstanding quality of education, American Jewish University has some of the lowest tuition fee prices for foreign students who are planning to take a master's degree here. International master's students only pay as low as 26,000 USD yearly.

American Jewish University is a school founded in 1947 as a center and home for the Jewish community. A private university with three libraries and limited offered programs, the school is currently not accepting undergraduate applicants. The school has multiple graduate programs but only has three Master’s level programs under their School for Jewish Education and Leadership. Despite being a center and home for the Jewish community, they have a diverse and inclusive campus life that accepts individuals of any race, gender, ethnicity, and religion. The Jewish tradition is used as a guide in school but is not forced on their students.

6. Southwestern Law School

Southwestern Law School is a private law university located in the U.S. state of Los Angeles and certified by the American Bar Association. It is an independent law school affiliated with the undergraduate program of California State University in Northridge. The campus of the university includes a landmark, the Ardeco National Historic Landmark, which was established in 1929. The university was founded to establish a law school for women and minorities, and after World War II, the number of students exploded, and now has seven student dormitories on campus.

7. University of California, Los Angeles

Located in the illustrious City of Angels is the University of California, Los Angeles. Diversity, a passion for creation, and applied knowledge defines this grand university. Offering over 300 programs, the University of California, Los Angeles is among the world’s best institutions for engineering, arts, medicine, and the sciences.

8. West Coast University – Los Angeles

For those who’d like to pursue a career in the health field, West Coast University is an excellent option for obtaining your undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university’s main objective is to provide experiential learning and highly technical training through innovation. It also tries to offer flexible and equal opportunities to all students, which is why it has many fully online programs and special options for completing the degrees in more time if needed. It also has five campuses in different cities in the U.S. so you can choose the alternative that best suits you.

9. Otis College of Art and Design

The Otis College of Art and Design takes pride as the pioneering independent institution for art studies in Los Angeles. It offers world-class education in media, design, and communication. The Otis College of Art and Design is recognized as a national leader in empowering the creative economy.

10. Southern California Institute of Architecture

Southern California Institute of Architecture is one of the most prestigious and highly specialized higher education institutions in the United States. The private university was founded in 1972 and has been providing only one undergraduate and six graduate programs in or related to Architecture. From its history of the founders wanting to experiment with ideas on design and architecture, the focus of the school aims to provide immersive, hands-on, creative, and technical skills and knowledge that are greatly required to thrive and innovate architectural studies. Located in Los Angeles, California, it sits right in the middle of a bustling city and makes it home to diverse individuals from in and out of the United States.

11. University of Southern California

The University of Southern California (USC) is a premier private research university that was established in 1880 in Los Angeles. It’s known as the oldest private higher education institution in California. Ranking as one of the top-most performing universities in the country, USC offers one of the best high-quality instruction and professional training in various fields ranging from liberal arts, business, and finance, to engineering and medicine. The university is globally recognized for introducing the Domain Name System and other innovations such as DNA computing, antivirus software, dynamic programming, and others.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get admission to affordable universities in Los Angeles, California?

Applying to cheap universities in Los Angeles requires you to complete different requirements depending on your degree and chosen university. These usually include admission forms, language proficiency scores, and a visa. Check out our full guide to studying in United States for a more comprehensive guide!

2. What can I study at Best affordable universities in Los Angeles?

International students can study a variety of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Los Angeles. For example, one of the best affordable schools in Los Angeles is the American Jewish University, which offers Early Childhood Education to students seeking a bachelor’s degree. At the master’s level, the American Jewish University offers Education , Teaching , and Early Childhood Education .

It's important to take a look at all your options when selecting where to attend post-secondary school. With so many different types of schools, degrees, and universities in Los Angeles, it can be tough to know where to start looking.

So, make sure to explore the best public universities in Los Angeles as well if you're looking for affordable education!

We hope that this article on affordable institutions in Los Angeles for international students was helpful!