Cal State Long Beach vs. Sacramento State

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than Sacramento State based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 31,943 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 Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Sacramento State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or Sacramento State? 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 Sacramento than Cal State Long Beach ($10,110 vs. $10,607).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 18.6% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($15,612 vs. $19,174).
• California State University Sacramento is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $668 more per year; $8,018.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Sacramento State than at California State University Long Beach (about $668 more per year; $20,618.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at California State University Long Beach (82% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 8.2% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($12,767 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Sacramento State Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Long Beach (1130) is 100 points higher than at Sacramento State (1030).
• Incoming Cal State Long Beach students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at Sacramento State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; California State University Sacramento 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; California State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; Sacramento State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Sacramento State (3.42).
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Sacramento State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and Sacramento State? 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 Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $100 more per year than Sacramento State graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,750).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($155 vs. $162).
• More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

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.