Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Davis

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than UC Davis based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 40,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); University of California Davis is in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; University of California Davis 22:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Davis Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or UC Davis? 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 UC Davis ($10,607 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 19.6% lower than at University of California Davis ($15,612 vs. $19,426).
• University of California Davis is 128.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $9,424 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 155.5% higher at UC Davis than at California State University Long Beach (about $31,024 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at University of California Davis (76% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Davis students is 108.5% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($24,591 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Davis Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Davis (1280) is 150 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 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; University of California Davis 1160/1400.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; University of California Davis 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; UC Davis - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; UC Davis Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 16.4% at UC Davis.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Davis Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and UC Davis? 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).

• University of California Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from University of California Davis earn a median of about $14,100 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $324 lower median loan debt than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($14,676 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($151 vs. $155).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.