California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, California · Public · 46.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 86/100 · Strong Value
California State University Long Beach is a large public institution in Long Beach, California, enrolling about 35,924 undergraduates. CSULB has the highest ROI score in this cohort at 86 — rated Strong Value — reflecting a 70.4% earnings premium, a 6.2-year payback period, and median debt of just $14,289. The average net price is $10,440, and Pell Grant recipients make up 50% of the student body, confirming strong access for lower-income students. Six-year median earnings of $40,000 grow to $64,403 at ten years. Engineering and nursing programs are exceptional, with nursing earning an A grade ($100,178 year-one earnings) and computer engineering, civil engineering, and biomedical engineering all posting A-grade outcomes. Business administration is CSULB's largest program at over 1,300 graduates and earns a B+ grade. CSULB competes with UC campuses at a fraction of the price for many California students.
California State University-Long Beach scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Long Beach
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,350/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,950/yr |
| Average net price | $10,440/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $41,760 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,403 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,289 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $151 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 35,924 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at California State University-Long Beach is $7,350/year ($19,950/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $10,440/year, or roughly $41,760 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $7,183/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,750/year.
The median graduate leaves with $14,289 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $151 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $64,403 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.36 - well within manageable territory.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,183 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,831 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,705 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,630 |
| $110,001+ | $19,750 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $7,183 net — below even in-state tuition, reflecting robust need-based aid layering. At that cost, a CSULB engineering or nursing degree represents life-changing ROI for low-income California students. The 50% Pell Grant rate confirms this is a core constituency. The 68.9% graduation rate is a genuine asset for persistence at this price point.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001–$75,000 band pays $7,831–$9,705 — still remarkably affordable. Middle-income California families can access a top-value public education with minimal debt exposure. The combination of low net price, 68.9% graduation, and strong program-level earnings makes CSULB among the most defensible public university choices in the Western U.S.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Above $75,000, families pay $12,630–$19,750. Even at the upper end, CSULB is price-competitive with any alternative in California. Higher-income families choosing CSULB over a UC campus should assess program-specific outcomes; for engineering and CS, CSULB compares favorably. For research-track students or those seeking UC system prestige, the higher UC cost may be justified.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Long Beach with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,853 | B+ |
| Psychology | $48,926 | B |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $43,349 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,137 | B |
| Computer Science | $101,428 | A |
| Biology | $61,492 | B |
| Family and Consumer Sciences | $50,361 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $60,019 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,513 | B |
| Sociology | $51,982 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing earns an A ROI grade with 157 graduates, year-one earnings of $100,178, and $111,681 at four years. A 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio against $18,661 median debt is exceptional. California's healthcare wages are the highest in the nation, and CSULB's nursing program captures that premium fully. This is one of the highest-ROI nursing programs in the entire dataset.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering graduates 60 students with year-one earnings of $79,809 and $98,967 at four years. An A grade and 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio reflect a premium program at a fraction of private-school costs. Southern California's tech corridor from LA to San Diego provides direct employer access for CSULB computer engineering graduates.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering graduates 134 students at $73,342 in year one and $89,457 at four years with an A grade and 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio. California's ongoing infrastructure investment and construction demand create strong regional placement for civil engineers, and CSULB's program scale ensures employer recognition.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is CSULB's largest program at 1,359 graduates with year-one earnings of $45,751 and $67,853 at four years. A B+ grade and 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio against just $15,000 median debt are strong for a program this size. The LA County business ecosystem provides breadth of placement options across industries.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 306 students with year-one earnings of $60,378 and $101,428 at four years. An A grade and 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio confirm top performance. CSULB CS graduates compete directly in the Southern California tech market against much more expensive UC and private school graduates at dramatically lower debt levels.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 74.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 46.3% |
| Enrollment | 35,924 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 50.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,276 |
CSULB admits 46.3% of applicants — moderately selective among CSU campuses. No SAT/ACT data is reported. High school GPA and major-specific requirements drive selection. STEM programs, nursing, and business are the most competitive internally; students who don't gain direct admission to their preferred major may need to complete lower-division prerequisites before declaring. California residents benefit substantially from the $7,350 in-state tuition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CSULB is listed alongside Cal Poly SLO, University of Wisconsin-Madison, NC State, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — a prestigious peer set. CSULB's ROI score of 86 matches or exceeds these research-intensive peers at a lower net price for California residents. Its greatest competitive advantage is delivering A-grade engineering and nursing outcomes at a cost structure that fully-funded private schools cannot replicate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Long Beach (this school) | 86 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 93 | $14,355 | $81,054 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 91 | $17,354 | $73,792 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 87 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Who Thrives Here
CSULB is one of California's best public-value institutions and suits a wide range of students, from STEM-focused high achievers to first-generation students looking for an affordable path into professional careers. The 46.3% admissions rate is selective for a CSU campus. Students in engineering, nursing, computer science, or construction technology have access to A-grade ROI programs at a $10,440 net price. Even lower-returning fields like kinesiology, fine arts, and music are made more defensible by CSULB's extremely low debt levels — $12,000–$21,000 medians across most programs.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
California State University-Long Beach delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $10,440 per year ($41,760 over four years), graduates earn a median of $64,403 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 6.2 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 68.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $14,289 is very manageable against $64,403 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.