Cal State Long Beach vs. UCLA

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than Cal State Long Beach based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 42,003 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 Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; University of California Los Angeles 20:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or UCLA? 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 UCLA ($10,607 vs. $14,512).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 15% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($15,612 vs. $18,369).
• University of California Los Angeles is 106.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $7,853 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 147.6% higher at UCLA than at California State University Long Beach (about $29,453 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at University of California Los Angeles (76% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 117.3% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($25,627 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCLA Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 290 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming UCLA students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 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 Los Angeles 1300/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; UCLA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 50.4% at UCLA.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and UCLA? 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $1,300 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($15,000 vs. $16,300).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($155 vs. $168).
• More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.