Cal State Long Beach vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($10,607 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 11.3% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($15,612 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 686.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $50,453 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 189.7% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Long Beach (about $37,853 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Long Beach (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 259.5% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($42,407 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and Cal State Long Beach.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 30 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at Cal State Long Beach).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and Saint Mary's College of California? 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $15,700 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $10,000 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($15,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($155 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.