Right, this is pretty straightforward to me, you give them numbers of commutable CCC, commutable Cal 4 yr if that is feasible, and residential Cal 4 yr school (realistic schools for your stats, not OOS dreams) and then work from there. Room and board at most schools is going to be at least 12K a year, that is the first cost to consider. That is near 50K for 4 years. If that is off the table, then your options are clearer. 12K a year is a LOT of money to pay for a kid to live in a dorm for 2 semesters. Then you have tuition costs to consider.