California State University-Long Beach

California State University-Long Beach admits approximately 47.1% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 2 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places CSULB in the selective admission category, with acceptance rates between 25-50%.

The peer median admission rate of 78.1% highlights that CSULB maintains more competitive admission standards than typical public universities, accepting applicants at a rate 31 percentage points lower than peer institutions. This selectivity level represents balanced accessibility - more competitive than open-access institutions but more approachable than highly selective universities.

For prospective students, this admission rate suggests that strong academic preparation improves chances significantly, but the university remains accessible to students with solid high school performance. Students should treat CSULB as a target school rather than a safety, building college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates as backup options.

The 47.1% acceptance rate reflects the university's position as a desirable public option in the competitive California higher education landscape, balancing quality outcomes with broad educational access for diverse student populations.

California State University-Long Beach demonstrates exceptional affordability compared to peer institutions and national averages. The university's published cost of attendance totals $20,310 per year, including $7,008 in-state tuition, $15,612 for room and board, and $1,490 for books and supplies.

However, the average student pays just $8,931 after financial aid, representing substantial savings of $11,379 through institutional and federal aid programs. This net price of $8,931 sits significantly below the peer median of $15,590, creating $6,659 in additional savings compared to similar institutions.

The university's affordability index ranks at the 92.8th percentile with excellent performance, reflecting exceptional value for students and families. California State University-Long Beach's cost structure particularly benefits lower-income students, with net prices ranging from $5,477 for families earning under $30,000 to $18,575 for families earning over $110,000.

This progressive pricing structure, combined with strong financial aid, makes quality higher education accessible across income levels while maintaining solid academic outcomes and career preparation.

California State University-Long Beach graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth trajectory over time. Median earnings rise from $50,062 six years after enrollment to $56,802 at eight years and $64,403 at ten years, representing 28.7% growth from the six-year mark.

These outcomes are based on substantial ten-year cohorts of 8,425 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures. Graduates earn $3,615 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing CSULB in the 69.7th percentile for earnings uplift.

This above-average performance reflects the university's effectiveness in translating educational access into economic outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $51,600, demonstrating solid economic advancement opportunities for students from lower-income backgrounds.

Earnings span from $38,902 at the 25th percentile to $91,639 at the 75th percentile, reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory. Approximately 24.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both advanced education and workforce entry.

The substantial cohort sizes across all time horizons provide robust data for understanding typical graduate outcomes.