Cal State Long Beach vs. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Thomas Aquinas College is in Santa Paula, CA (Distant Rural setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Thomas Aquinas College 11:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or Thomas Aquinas College? 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 Thomas Aquinas College ($10,607 vs. $24,820).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Aquinas College are 28.3% lower than at California State University Long Beach ($11,200 vs. $15,612).
• Thomas Aquinas College is 310.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $22,850 more per year; $30,200.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.4% higher at Thomas Aquinas College than at California State University Long Beach (about $10,250 more per year; $30,200.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at Thomas Aquinas College (76% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas Aquinas College students is 57.7% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($18,606 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Thomas Aquinas College (1310) is 180 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming Thomas Aquinas College students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 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; Thomas Aquinas College 1220/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; Thomas Aquinas College 28/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; Thomas Aquinas College - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Thomas Aquinas College students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 67.7% at Thomas Aquinas College.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and Thomas Aquinas College? 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).

• Thomas Aquinas College's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Thomas Aquinas College graduates ($155 vs. $175).
• More Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.