Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSC

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than UCSC based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 19,938 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 Cruz is in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; University of California Santa Cruz 22:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or UCSC? 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 UCSC ($10,607 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 21.7% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($15,612 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 117.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $8,655 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 151.7% higher at UCSC than at California State University Long Beach (about $30,255 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at University of California Santa Cruz (76% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 93.1% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($22,774 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 130 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming UCSC 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 Santa Cruz 1160/1360.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; UCSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 9.3% at UCSC.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and UCSC? 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 Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $700 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $4,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($155 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.