I am not going to tell you whether it is the right school for your child. No article can say that, because it depends on what they want to study, what you can afford, and how you all picture the coming years. What I can do is put before you, with complete clarity, what this university is according to its own federal reports. With that in hand, you decide what questions to ask next.
Who this school is and where it stands
California State University-Long Beach is a public four-year university located in the city of Long Beach, within Los Angeles County, right in the heart of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area. Its census code places it in a principal city with 250,000 residents or more. If your child plans to live at home and drive to campus, do not rely on what the map says: make the trip yourself on a weekday, at the time they would have class. Traffic in that area has its own logic.
The Carnegie classification system, which organizes the country’s universities according to what they do, places it among doctoral institutions with high research activity. It also describes it as a large and “primarily nonresidential” school—a technical label that simply means that, according to 2019-20 data, fewer than one in four undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing, or fewer than half studied full time. That does not mean there are no residence halls; in fact, there are, as you will see later.
Carnegie also places it among institutions that receive many transfer students. If your child plans to attend CSULB after studying somewhere else, this is a sign that they would not be alone on that path, but it does not tell you how many credits people transfer in with or how many are lost in the change. That must be requested in writing, course by course, before enrolling.
On the other hand, it is important to say what this school is not: it does not appear in the federal registry as a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this census, 138 have one of those three designations. CSULB’s absence from that group says nothing about which communities it serves or how your child would feel there. That requires direct research into the cultural centers and student organizations that exist today.
A large, predominantly Latino community
Here is a fact worth reading carefully. In fall 2023, 51 out of every 100 undergraduate students at California State University-Long Beach reported being Hispanic or Latino. That is half or more of the entire student body. Compared with 519 selective public four-year schools in this same census, CSULB is among those reporting the highest proportion: nine out of ten of those schools reported an equal or lower percentage.
If your child worries about feeling like the only Latino student in their classroom, the numbers do not show that at this school. But be careful: counting is not the same as serving. Having many Latino students does not tell us whether there are counselors who speak Spanish, targeted tutoring, or whether those students complete their degrees at the same pace as everyone else. And it is a percentage for the whole university, not for the specific major that interests your child. That information must be requested separately.
There are also more women than men in undergraduate study—58 out of every 100—and one permanent-address figure worth noting: 97 out of every 100 newly enrolled students reported living in California when they applied. It is, above all, a school of the state, for the state.
As for size: CSULB has 40,278 enrolled students, of whom 34,243 are undergraduates and 6,035 are graduate students. It is among the largest schools among its peers—at most one in ten similar universities has more students than it does. But large does not mean classes are large. If that concerns you, request the actual number of students per class in the first year and in the specific major that interests your child.
How the academic year works
CSULB organizes its calendar by semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The university reported that it accepts credit for AP examinations and also what IPEDS calls “credit for life experience”—learning acquired through independent study, work, portfolios, or previous certifications. It also enrolls high school students in college-credit courses through a formal dual-enrollment program and accepts credit for military training.
Here is a hard truth you should not skip: a university reporting that it accepts AP does not mean it will grant credit for every exam with every score. We do not know from this information how many points it requires or whether those credits apply to your child’s major. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling, and do not count those savings in your budget until you have it in hand.
As for academic offerings: CSULB awarded 8,633 bachelor’s degrees in one year, spread across 25 different major families. Nothing takes up an enormous share: even the most popular, business and administration, represented only 16 out of every 100 degrees awarded. Compared with 514 similar schools, CSULB is in the quarter with the greatest variety of major families represented in its report. It is a broad offering, although “25 families with a row in the report” is not the same as 25 specific majors: each family groups several programs, and one may report zero degrees that year. The exact name of the major that interests your child must be verified directly.
Regarding the student-to-faculty ratio: the reported ratio is 19 students for every full-time-equivalent faculty member. On the overall scale this falls in a middle range, but compared specifically with schools of the same type, it is in the highest quarter—that is, with more students per faculty member than most of its peers. This number does not tell you the actual size of a classroom; it is an institutional average, not a direct measure.
The university also reports structured opportunities such as study abroad, undergraduate research, and pathways to teacher certification, including state approval for initial teacher certification.
Getting into CSULB: what matters and what does not
Here is something every family should know before building a college list. CSULB reported that it does not have open admission: it reviews specific pieces before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marked four as required: the high school record, high school grade-point average, completion of the course plan the university requires, and the English-proficiency examination for those to whom it applies.
The list of what is not considered is longer: class rank, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio or competency examination, work experience, and whether a family member studied there. Even if they are submitted, the report says they do not factor into the admission decision.
If your child studied outside the United States or attended high school in Spanish, ask now whether the English-proficiency examination applies to them and what would exempt them from it. These are the kinds of things discovered late that complicate everything. The application fee, by the way, is $70.
Now, the number most families want to see first: in the 2023 cycle, CSULB received 79,680 first-year applications and offered admission to 37,547. In other words, 47 out of every 100 applicants received an offer. Compared with 519 similar selective public schools, CSULB is among those that admit the fewest: nine out of ten of those schools admit a higher percentage. It is a selective university.
But here is an important turn that many families do not see coming. Out of every 100 admitted students, only 15 ultimately enrolled. The other 85 had acceptance in hand and did not take it. Put another way: out of every seven admitted students, about one ended up attending. And do not read that as a stain on the school—the federal record does not say why each person chose what they chose. What matters is this: what others decided does not tell you what they will offer you. Wait for your own letter with the net price—what it will actually cost you—before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
Regarding standardized tests: CSULB reported that it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admission decision, even if applicants submit them. This does not cover scholarships or course placement; those must be asked about separately.
And regarding transfers: in the cohort that entered in 2017, the departure to other schools was low—only 2 out of every 100 transferred without completing their degree at CSULB. At the same time, the arrival of transfer students is high: 4,438 undergraduate students entered in fall 2023 after having studied at another institution. If your child arrives as a transfer student, request in writing, with the course list in hand, which credits will be recognized before they move.
The sticker price, and what is actually paid
At California State University-Long Beach, among 1,145 first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or district tuition rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $5,477. Among 654 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $9,063; among 493 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $18,575. For dependent students, the band adds their parents’ income and their own.
There is a difference of $13,098 between the average for the lower-income band (1,145 students) and that for the higher-income band (493 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any scholarship, the average was $9,731.
Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this information with the same time coverage, this one falls in the least expensive quarter for lower-income families, after scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it is inexpensive for your family. It is a fact that carries weight when you build the list of schools to apply to.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, placing yours correctly is the first step. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or district tuition rate. The overall average with scholarships, when it appears, describes first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional scholarships or grants. What controls is the aid letter you receive.
How it is paid for: scholarships, Pell, and loans
At CSULB, 73 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some type of aid that does not have to be repaid—scholarships or grants. Among those who received it, the annual average was $10,063. That average is not spread across everyone: it counts only those who actually received something.
The federal Pell grant, aimed at lower-income families, went to 50 out of every 100 students. That is half or more of the student body. Applying for this aid here is neither unusual nor reserved for just a few.
As for loans: only 24 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan in 2022-23. Most CSULB students did not use a federal loan that year. Among those who did borrow, the average was $6,226. Compared with 519 similar schools, CSULB is on the lower side in the proportion of students with loans.
Here is a truth that needs to be said plainly: the fact that most did not use a federal loan does not mean everyone had enough from other sources. The report does not say how they covered the rest—it could have been scholarships, work, family savings, or another type of debt that this report does not record. And that $6,226 average is only for one year, only for federal loans in the student’s name: it does not include loans that parents sometimes sign for, credit cards, or the total debt with which someone graduates. For that, all years would have to be added together, and that number is not in this report.
CSULB also offers a tuition installment payment plan as an additional mechanism for managing the cost.
Campus life: housing, sports, and support
CSULB does have institution-owned housing. Not all first-time students are required to live there—the institution responded that there is no universal requirement, although that does not rule out a particular program requiring it. The reported maximum housing capacity is 3,216 students. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in the largest plan. Having the option does not guarantee a place: request in writing the rate, the application deadline, and whether you are guaranteed space or placed on a waiting list.
There is an opportunity for ROTC in two branches: Army and Air Force. Navy is not marked. Being in the report is not the same as being accepted, nor does it confirm that the program is taken on this specific campus: that must be asked by name before building a plan around it.
CSULB competes in intercollegiate sports and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported membership in basketball, baseball, and cross country or track and field. Membership belongs to the school, not your child: if they are interested, you must write directly to the coach for that sport.
Regarding course format: only 4 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their classes remotely; the other 96 take at least one in-person class. The university does offer at least one program that can be completed entirely remotely, although the information does not confirm at what exact level. That must be confirmed directly.
The library has employed staff, spending above the government-required threshold, physical and digital materials, and interlibrary lending. And reported services include combined academic and career counseling, employment support, child care on campus, a point of contact for veterans and military personnel, and a services page for people with disabilities. The existence of these services in the report does not say how effective they are or how your child will experience them. That must be asked in person.
Do they stay? Do they graduate?
This is perhaps the most important section for understanding the real outcomes of students who enter here.
Of the full-time cohort that entered in fall 2022 (5,260 students), 85 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already graduated one year later. It is a high proportion, and compared with similar schools, CSULB is near the top. But be careful: this number combines two groups—those who are still enrolled and those who have already finished—and does not separate which is which or say what happened to the rest.
Now, the question that truly matters to a family: do they graduate? The cohort that entered in 2017—4,107 full-time, first-time students—had these results: by the sixth year, 70 out of every 100 had a degree in hand. But by the fourth year, the timeline almost every family has in its budget, the figure was only 38 out of every 100.
The gap of 32 points measures how much the proportion with bachelor’s degrees increased between the four-year and six-year cutoffs, within the same cohort. The information does not say how many semesters each person attended and does not report tuition, rent, or salary. Before signing, request in writing how long the program your child wants usually takes, how its required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if it takes longer.
Of that same exact cohort of 4,107 students: 2,869 graduated here within the period; 73 transferred without completing at CSULB; 135 were still enrolled without having finished; and 1,030 fell into the “no longer enrolled” category, without the information explaining the reason.
Viewed over an even longer period—eight years, following a different cohort that entered in 2015-16, with 9,449 students who were both first-time students and students with prior experience—83 out of every 100 had earned a CSULB degree or certificate. Compared with similar schools, CSULB is among those where the most people earn credentials over this period. Among students with Pell grants, the outcome was practically the same: also 83 out of every 100.
It is a high figure, and it is worth recognizing it as such. But a high percentage is not a personal promise. It describes a cohort that entered years ago, under circumstances that are not necessarily those of your child today. It is worth asking about the current supports in the specific program and about outcomes for more recent cohorts.
Putting the pieces together
You now know, in considerable depth, one piece of the puzzle: who California State University-Long Beach is according to its own reports to the federal government.
The university’s role is to admit students, decide how much aid to offer, and sustain the programs it already has. Your child’s role is to explore what they want to study, work hard, and decide whether this feels like their place. Your role is the money, the deadlines, the uncomfortable questions that need to be asked in writing, and supporting them without carrying alone a system that you probably did not inherit either.
This information alone is not a plan. It becomes a plan when you combine it with what your child truly wants to study, what they have already built in high school, and what your family’s finances can sustain without putting you at risk. That combination—not a single article, nor a single figure—is what will allow you to decide with your eyes open.
Source note: the information in this article comes from data reported by California State University-Long Beach to IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) of the U.S. Department of Education, corresponding to different years and cohorts as indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent California State University-Long Beach or any federal or state government agency.