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California State University-Long Beach

Public Graduate Excellent 90/100

California State University-Long Beach

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Long Beach, California

About California State University-Long Beach

California State University-Long Beach is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Long Beach, California. It enrolls 35,924 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: csulb.edu

Acceptance: 46.3%
Graduation: 77.6%
Net Price: $10,440
Median Earnings (10yr): $64,403
Enrollment: 35,924
Student : Faculty: 19:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Excellent

90/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 77

Value 95

Affordability 87

Selectivity 85

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 46.3%, California State University-Long Beach is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

46.3%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State University-Long Beach is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 7.9 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending California State University-Long Beach isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,440 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$10,440

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

50%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

24%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $7,350
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $19,950
Room & Board (on-campus): $15,612
Room & Board (off-campus): $22,086
Books & Supplies: $1,562
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,446
Other Expenses (off-campus): $6,930
Total Cost of Attendance: $22,679

Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$7,183
$30,001 – $48,000

$7,831
$48,001 – $75,000

$9,705
$75,001 – $110,000

$12,630
Over $110,000

$19,750

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$14,289

Median percentile

$23,500

75% percentile

$31,000

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $12,000 ↓ $2,289

No Pell $12,894 ↓ $1,395

Dependent students $11,500 ↓ $2,789

Independent students $13,313 ↓ $976

Female students $12,000 ↓ $2,289

Male students $12,500 ↓ $1,789

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($14,289), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

78% of full-time students who enrolled at California State University-Long Beach graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

78%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

86%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State University-Long Beach earn a median of $64,403 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$64,403

Earning > $25K

81%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$48,600

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$60,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$51,600

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$54,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$54,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $11,500, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 13.9 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

California State University-Long Beach is home to 35,924 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 49% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

35,924

Part-Time

15%

First-Generation

49%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 52.5% 18,846

Asian 19.9% 7,145

White 14.4% 5,177

Other 5.2% 1,864

Black 4.0% 1,419

International 2.2% 783

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at California State University-Long Beach. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Long Beach, California

Housing

Limited on-campus housing 3,216 beds

Adult Learners

16% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

California State University-Long Beach offers an extensive catalog of programs: 138 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

6 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Hospitality Management $57K ($41K–$74K)

11 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)
Design $51K ($33K–$71K)

14 Programs

Health

Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)

13 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Electrical Engineering $101K ($85K–$122K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

4 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)
Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Long Beach is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

19:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$8,378

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$115M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$100,191

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

1,117 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	371	33%	$122,178
Associate Professors	226	20%	$105,422
Assistant Professors	210	19%	$90,690
Lecturers	308	28%	$76,048
No Rank	2	0%	$146,300

Pros & Cons of California State University-Long Beach

A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State University-Long Beach tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Wide variety of programs and student life
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Class sizes are on the higher side
Large institutional setting can feel impersonal

Best for: Based on the data, California State University-Long Beach is a fit for students who want a large campus with breadth and variety.

Frequently Asked Questions about California State University-Long Beach

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State University-Long Beach.

Is California State University-Long Beach hard to get into?

California State University-Long Beach is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 46.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Long Beach?

California State University-Long Beach has an acceptance rate of 46.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does California State University-Long Beach cost?

The average net price after aid at California State University-Long Beach is $10,440 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is California State University-Long Beach worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,403 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,440 per year. That's roughly 6.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is California State University-Long Beach known for?

California State University-Long Beach is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Fine Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do California State University-Long Beach graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering California State University-Long Beach are $64,403, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is California State University-Long Beach accredited?

Yes. California State University-Long Beach is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend California State University-Long Beach?

California State University-Long Beach enrolls 35,924 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at California State University-Long Beach?

California State University-Long Beach graduates 78% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is California State University-Long Beach a public or private college?

California State University-Long Beach is a Public institution.

Where is California State University-Long Beach located?

California State University-Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California.

What programs does California State University-Long Beach offer?

California State University-Long Beach offers 138 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Psychology, Fine Arts.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Long Beach?

The student-to-faculty ratio at California State University-Long Beach is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.