Cal Poly vs. Cal State Long Beach

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than Cal Poly based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 23,069 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Small Suburban setting); California State University Long Beach is in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; California State University Long Beach 23:1.

Cal Poly vs. Cal State Long Beach Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or Cal State Long Beach? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Long Beach than Cal Poly ($10,607 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 16.9% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($15,612 vs. $18,792).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 85% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $6,246 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 73.8% higher at Cal Poly than at California State University Long Beach (about $14,715 more per year; $34,665.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (76% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 21.6% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($14,338 vs. $11,795).

Cal Poly vs. Cal State Long Beach Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or Cal State Long Beach? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Cal State Long Beach and Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 190 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 23 at Cal State Long Beach).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; California State University Long Beach 1020/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; California State University Long Beach 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; Cal State Long Beach - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach.

Cal Poly vs. Cal State Long Beach Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and Cal State Long Beach? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $3,666 lower median loan debt than Cal Poly graduates ($15,000 vs. $18,666).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal Poly graduates ($155 vs. $193).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.