Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
California State University-Long Beach graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early careers. Median earnings begin at $50,062 six years after enrollment, increase to $56,802 at eight years, and reach $64,403 at ten years.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $14,289 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
California State University-Long Beach graduates carry exceptionally manageable debt loads compared to national and peer averages. Median student debt totals just $14,289, significantly below the peer median of $20,000, creating $5,711 in debt savings compared to similar institutions.
California State University-Long Beach demonstrates above-average return on investment, ranking at the 66.7th percentile nationally. Graduates earn $3,615 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing the university at the 69.7th percentile for earnings uplift.
Approximately 24.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on high-confidence estimates derived from program mix analysis. Th...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings demonstrate the diversity of career outcomes at California State University-Long Beach. Adult Health Nurse/Nursing leads with median earnings of $106,552, followed by Electrical and Electronics Engineering at $88,978 and Mechanical Engineering at $85,474.
Computer Science graduates earn $84,658, while Commercial Photography produces $58,879. Business Administration and Management, the largest program with 1,443 graduates, generates median earnings of $58,055.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes show meaningful variation across programs and career paths. The spread from $38,902 at the 25th percentile to $91,639 at the 75th percentile represents a 2.4:1 ratio, reflecting diverse academic programs and career trajectories.
