Cal State Long Beach vs. Sonoma State University

Should I go to California State University Long Beach or Sonoma State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Cal State Long Beach or Sonoma State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
California State University Long Beach vs. Sonoma State University comparison
California State University Long Beach Sonoma State University College 3 College 4
California State University Long Beach Sonoma State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
Location Long Beach, CA Rohnert Park, CA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 38,973 6,637
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #507 #675
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csulb.edu sonoma.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $17,622
Room & Board $14,932 $14,926
Avg Net Price $9,346 $15,507
Avg Grant Aid $9,478 $7,287
% Receiving Grant Aid 75% 77%

Admission

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 74,718 10,806
Admitted 29,851 10,158
Acceptance Rate 40% 94%
Enrolled % 18% 9.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 17/23
SAT Range 1020/1240 950/1150
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024

Academics

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)

Outcomes

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
Graduation Rate 54% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,100 $49,300
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,000 $17,500
Median Loan Payment $155 $180

Diversity

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
% Men 41% 37%
% Women 59% 63%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 19% 48%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 39% 29%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 7%

Students

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
% In-State 97% 97%
% Out-of-State 2% 3%

Campus

Cal State Long Beach Sonoma State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Long Beach is larger than than Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (38,973 students vs. 6,637 students)

Cal State Long Beach vs. Sonoma State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or Sonoma State University?

  • California State University Long Beach and Sonoma State University cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is the same at Cal State Long Beach as Sonoma State University ($17,622.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Long Beach than Sonoma State University ($9,346 vs. $15,507)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 0% lower than costs at California State University Long Beach ($14,926 vs. $14,932)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sonoma State University than California State University Long Beach (77% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Long Beach students is 30.1% larger than aid received Sonoma State University ($9,478 vs. $7,287)

Cal State Long Beach vs. Sonoma State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or Sonoma State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sonoma State University or Cal State Long Beach .

  • The average SAT score at California State University Long Beach (1056) is 60 points higher than at Sonoma State University (996)
  • Incoming Cal State Long Beach students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Sonoma State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Sonoma State University (3.4)
  • Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than Cal State Long Beach (40%)

Cal State Long Beach vs. Sonoma State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Cal State Long Beach or Sonoma State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Sonoma State University and Cal State Long Beach.

  • The graduation rate at Sonoma State University is higher than California State University Long Beach (57% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn on average $1,800 more per year than Sonoma State University graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $49,300)
  • California State University Long Beach students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Sonoma State University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $17,500)
  • Cal State Long Beach graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than Sonoma State University graduates. ($155 vs. $180)
  • More Sonoma State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/