Cal State Long Beach vs. Cal State LA

Deciding between California State University Long Beach and California State University Los Angeles? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Long Beach
California State University Los Angeles

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal State Long Beach Long Beach, CA
  • Cal State LA Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal State Long Beach Large City
  • Cal State LA Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State Long Beach 42,003
  • Cal State LA 23,163
  • Type
  • Cal State Long Beach Public 4 Year
  • Cal State LA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal State Long Beach #523
  • Cal State LA #934
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal State Long Beach -
  • Cal State LA -
  • Status
  • Cal State Long Beach Non-profit
  • Cal State LA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal State Long Beach
  • Cal State LA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal State Long Beach $7,350
  • Cal State LA $7,160
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal State Long Beach $19,950
  • Cal State LA $19,760
  • Room & Board
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,612
  • Cal State LA $19,696
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal State Long Beach $10,607
  • Cal State LA $4,460
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal State Long Beach $11,795
  • Cal State LA $13,824
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal State Long Beach 76%
  • Cal State LA 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal State Long Beach 83,967
  • Cal State LA 32,723
  • Admitted
  • Cal State Long Beach 38,854
  • Cal State LA 29,860
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 46.3%
  • Cal State LA 91.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal State Long Beach 16.7%
  • Cal State LA 9.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 1130
  • Cal State LA 970
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 23
  • Cal State LA 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal State Long Beach 3.7
  • Cal State LA 3.31
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal State Long Beach A-
  • Cal State LA B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal State Long Beach Moderate
  • Cal State LA Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal State Long Beach Low
  • Cal State LA
  • ACT Range
  • Cal State Long Beach 20/26
  • Cal State LA 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • Cal State Long Beach 1020/1240
  • Cal State LA 870/1060
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal State Long Beach Test-free
  • Cal State LA Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026
  • Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal State Long Beach 23:1
  • Cal State LA 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal State Long Beach
    • Business (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Cal State LA
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 54%
  • Cal State LA 36%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal State Long Beach $51,100
  • Cal State LA $46,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal State Long Beach 69%
  • Cal State LA 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,000
  • Cal State LA $12,920
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal State Long Beach $155
  • Cal State LA $133

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal State Long Beach 41%
  • Cal State LA 43%
  • % Women
  • Cal State Long Beach 59%
  • Cal State LA 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal State Long Beach Very High
  • Cal State LA Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • Cal State LA No
  • % White
  • Cal State Long Beach 19%
  • Cal State LA 7%
  • % Asian
  • Cal State Long Beach 23%
  • Cal State LA 15%
  • % Black
  • Cal State Long Beach 4%
  • Cal State LA 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal State Long Beach 39%
  • Cal State LA 63%
  • % Native American
  • Cal State Long Beach 0%
  • Cal State LA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal State Long Beach 0%
  • Cal State LA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal State Long Beach 5%
  • Cal State LA 2%
  • % International
  • Cal State Long Beach 6%
  • Cal State LA 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal State Long Beach 4%
  • Cal State LA 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal State Long Beach 97%
  • Cal State LA 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal State Long Beach 1%
  • Cal State LA 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • Cal State LA Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • Cal State LA No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • Cal State LA Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • Cal State LA No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • Cal State LA Yes

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than Cal State LA based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 23,163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); California State University Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; California State University Los Angeles 21:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Cal State LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or Cal State LA? 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 Los Angeles than Cal State Long Beach ($4,460 vs. $10,607).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 20.7% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($15,612 vs. $19,696).
  • California State University Long Beach is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $190 more per year; $7,350.00 vs. $7,160.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at Cal State Long Beach than at California State University Los Angeles (about $190 more per year; $19,950.00 vs. $19,760.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State University Long Beach (94% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 17.2% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($13,824 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Cal State LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or Cal State LA? 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 LA and Cal State Long Beach.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Long Beach (1130) is 160 points higher than at Cal State LA (970).
  • Incoming Cal State Long Beach students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 17 at Cal State LA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; California State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; California State University Los Angeles 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; Cal State LA - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
  • Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 9.4% at Cal State LA.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Cal State LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and Cal State LA? 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 State University Long Beach's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
  • Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $2,080 lower median loan debt than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($12,920 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($133 vs. $155).
  • More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.