Cal State Long Beach vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 7,713 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 Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or CSUMB? 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 CSUMB ($10,607 vs. $14,493).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 9.4% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($15,612 vs. $17,234).
• California State University Monterey Bay is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $429 more per year; $7,779.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at CSUMB than at California State University Long Beach (about $429 more per year; $20,379.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at California State University Monterey Bay (76% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 3.3% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($12,185 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Long Beach (1130) is 70 points higher than at CSUMB (1060).
• Incoming Cal State Long Beach students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at CSUMB).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at CSUMB (3.45).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Cal State Long Beach vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and CSUMB? 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 Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($14,000 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($144 vs. $155).
• More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 66%)

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.