California State University Long Beach

  • 6/10 Overall Rating
  • 4 Year
  • Long Beach, CA
  • 5.0 1 review
#11 Best Public Universities in California

Overview

Total enrollment

42,003
California State University Long Beach overview
California State University Long Beach overview
  • Size Large
  • Status Non-profit
  • Housing Yes
  • Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

California State University Long Beach is situated on a 322-acre campus in Long Beach, California, three miles from the Pacific Ocean and 25 miles south of Los Angeles. The campus features a mix of mid-century modern and contemporary architecture, with notable landmarks including the Walter Pyramid arena and the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden. Established in 1949, CSULB operates as part of the California State University system and serves as one of the largest public universities in California. The university maintains competitive admission standards and is particularly known for its programs in business administration, engineering, visual and performing arts, and nursing. Most first-year students live in campus residential facilities, though the majority of the student population commutes, and the university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Beach, participating in the Big West Conference.

Ratings

Cal State Long Beach is rated within the top 48% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 6 out of 10.

  • Overall Rating
    6 out of 10
  • Academics
    6 out of 10
  • Resources
    3 out of 10
  • Outcomes
    7 out of 10
  • Value
    7 out of 10

Admissions

Admission Standards

Moderate
California State University Long Beach admission standards
  • GPA 3.7

Acceptance Rate

46.3%
California State University Long Beach applications overview
  • Applications Due Nov 30, 2026
  • Enrollment Rate 16.7%
  • Application Fee $70

Applicant Competition Average

Very Low
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Annual Cost to Attend

California Resident Tuition

$7,350

Out of State Resident Tuition

$19,950

Breakdown

In State Costs for California State University Long Beach
  • Tuition $7,350
  • Books and Supplies $1,562
  • Other Fees $1,266
  • Room and Board $15,612
  • Budget for Other Expenses $4,446
  • Total One Year Cost $30,236

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$51,100 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

54% within 6 years

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at California State University Long Beach are Business, Visual and Performing Arts, and English and Literature. 20% of students major in Business, 10% in Visual and Performing Arts, and 9% in English and Literature.

  • Business 20%
  • Visual and Performing Arts 10%
  • English and Literature 9%
  • Health Professions 8%
  • Social Sciences 7%

More Colleges to Consider

Students considering California State University Long Beach are frequently interested in these similar colleges.

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110583.

GPA calculator: California State University Long Beach GPA calculator.

Last updated: August 2026