Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSB

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than UCSB based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 26,133 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 Santa Barbara is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Barbara is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; University of California Santa Barbara 17:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or UCSB? 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 UCSB ($10,607 vs. $17,658).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 23% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($15,612 vs. $20,279).
• University of California Santa Barbara is 123.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $9,064 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 153.7% higher at UCSB than at California State University Long Beach (about $30,664 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at University of California Santa Barbara (76% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 109.4% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($24,695 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSB Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Barbara (1350) is 220 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming UCSB students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 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 Santa Barbara 1230/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; University of California Santa Barbara 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; UCSB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; UCSB Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSB students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than UCSB (33%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 13.8% at UCSB.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and UCSB? 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 Santa Barbara's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Barbara earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $1,451 lower median loan debt than UCSB graduates ($15,000 vs. $16,451).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSB graduates ($155 vs. $170).
• More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.