PSU-Hazleton accepts 90% of its applicants and is a very small school of about 1,300 students. The OOS tuition is approximately $32K per year. A California Community College, where the cost/credit is approximately $46, Tuition alone would be $1,400/yr (for 30 credits). Even if we add in a Room & Board cost of $12K, the annual cost of a California CC would be less than 14K/yr.
OP, what are your high school stats? What are you SAT/ACT Math scores? What is the highest Math course you have taken in high school (Pre-Calc, Calculus X)? Would remedial work be required for Math/English? Is it the appeal of going away to college that is driving this choice? Did you apply to any of the California State Universities?
What exactly is this PSU alumni program?