California State University-Long Beach prices its education accessibly across the income spectrum, with net costs that shift meaningfully by family financial circumstances. Low-income families pay approximately $7,183 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $9,705, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $19,750.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $22,679 |
| Tuition and Fees | $19,950 |
| Room and Board | $15,612 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,562 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$12,239 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $10,440 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,183 |
| $30–48k | $7,831 |
| $48–75k | $9,705 |
| $75–110k | $12,630 |
| $110k+ | $19,750 |
California State University-Long Beach prices its education accessibly across the income spectrum, with net costs that shift meaningfully by family financial circumstances. Low-income families pay approximately $7,183 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $9,705, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $19,750. Azimuth ranks California State University-Long Beach #70 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public institution in California, Cal State Long Beach benefits from the state's public-tuition structure, which keeps sticker prices below what comparable private institutions charge; the net price illusion is less pronounced here than at higher-sticker schools, since the gap between published cost and what families actually pay is more transparent. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what students pay. Cal State Long Beach offers Financial Aid and Scholarships through its enrollment services office, per the , covering federal Pell Grants, state Cal Grants, institutional awards, and work-study. Students from lower-income households benefit most from this layered aid structure, which helps explain the more favorable net price for that income band. Families should apply using the FAFSA to access the full range of federal and state aid available. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,289, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,177; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $63,140, median federal debt of $14,289 projects to a monthly payment of about $161 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of California State University-Long Beach earn median earnings of $63,140 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Long Beach in the 63.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $4,408 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 74.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to CA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,672, the state median earnings of working adults without a bachelor's degree. While institution-level earnings track CA's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Business Administration combines high enrollment with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's aggregate return. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #86 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions , with 1,566 graduates earning median earnings of $67,853 four years after enrollment — 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #177 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 528 graduates earning $48,926, and Fine and Studio Arts ranks #39 nationally with 415 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,349. Business is the dominant program family, representing 18% of degree output, followed by Arts at 10% and Engineering at 8%. The College of Business also offers an Honors Track, per the curriculum page, providing an accelerated pathway for high-performing students in the university's largest program family.
