California State University-Fresno vs. Cal State Long Beach

California State University Fresno and California State University Long Beach side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

California State University Fresno
California State University Long Beach

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Cal State Long Beach (46.3% admitted vs 95.3%). Typical SAT 1130 vs 1000.
  • Cheaper after aid: California State University-Fresno. Average net price is $7,834 vs $10,607 at Cal State Long Beach.
  • Graduation: California State University-Fresno 49% vs Cal State Long Beach 54%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: California State University-Fresno $46,500 vs Cal State Long Beach $51,100 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

California State University Fresno California State University Long Beach
Acceptance rate
Cal State Long Beach more selective
California State University-Fresno95.3%
Cal State Long Beach46.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cal State Long Beach higher
California State University-Fresno890-1100
Cal State Long Beach1020-1240
Average net price
California State University-Fresno $2,773 less
California State University-Fresno$7,834
Cal State Long Beach$10,607
In-state tuition
California State University-Fresno $0 less
California State University-Fresno$7,350
Cal State Long Beach$7,350
Out-of-state tuition
California State University-Fresno $0 less
California State University-Fresno$19,950
Cal State Long Beach$19,950
Graduation rate
Cal State Long Beach +5 pts
California State University-Fresno49%
Cal State Long Beach54%
Median earnings (10 years)
Cal State Long Beach +$4,600
California State University-Fresno$46,500
Cal State Long Beach$51,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at California State University-Fresno and Cal State Long Beach with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at California State University-Fresno Check my chances at Cal State Long Beach
  • Applied
  • California State University-Fresno 21,521
  • Cal State Long Beach 83,967
  • Admitted
  • California State University-Fresno 20,501
  • Cal State Long Beach 38,854
  • Acceptance rate
  • California State University-Fresno 95.3%
  • Cal State Long Beach 46.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • California State University-Fresno 17.5%
  • Cal State Long Beach 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • California State University-Fresno 1000
  • Cal State Long Beach 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • California State University-Fresno 18
  • Cal State Long Beach 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • California State University-Fresno 3.12
  • Cal State Long Beach 3.7
  • Typical high school grades
  • California State University-Fresno B
  • Cal State Long Beach A-
  • Admissions standards
  • California State University-Fresno Extremely Easy
  • Cal State Long Beach Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • California State University-Fresno
  • Cal State Long Beach Low
  • SAT range
  • California State University-Fresno 890-1100
  • Cal State Long Beach 1020-1240
  • ACT range
  • California State University-Fresno 16-21
  • Cal State Long Beach 20-26
  • Submit test scores
  • California State University-Fresno Test-free
  • Cal State Long Beach Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026
  • Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • California State University-Fresno $7,350
  • Cal State Long Beach $7,350
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • California State University-Fresno $19,950
  • Cal State Long Beach $19,950
  • Room & board
  • California State University-Fresno $11,960
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,612
  • Average net price
  • California State University-Fresno $7,834
  • Cal State Long Beach $10,607
  • Average grant aid
  • California State University-Fresno $12,326
  • Cal State Long Beach $11,795
  • % receiving grant aid
  • California State University-Fresno 85%
  • Cal State Long Beach 76%
  • Graduation rate
  • California State University-Fresno 49%
  • Cal State Long Beach 54%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • California State University-Fresno $46,500
  • Cal State Long Beach $51,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • California State University-Fresno 63%
  • Cal State Long Beach 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • California State University-Fresno $15,000
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,000
  • Median loan payment
  • California State University-Fresno $155
  • Cal State Long Beach $155
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • California State University-Fresno 22:1
  • Cal State Long Beach 23:1
  • Popular majors
  • California State University-Fresno
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Cal State Long Beach
    • Business (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • California State University-Fresno Fresno, CA
  • Cal State Long Beach Long Beach, CA
  • Setting
  • California State University-Fresno Large City
  • Cal State Long Beach Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • California State University-Fresno 24,427
  • Cal State Long Beach 42,003
  • Type
  • California State University-Fresno Public 4 Year
  • Cal State Long Beach Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • California State University-Fresno #874
  • Cal State Long Beach #523

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fresno in Fresno, CA with California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than California State University-Fresno based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 24,427 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Fresno is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); California State University Long Beach is in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Fresno is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Fresno 22:1; California State University Long Beach 23:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fresno are 23.4% lower than at California State University Long Beach ($11,960 vs. $15,612).
  • Out-of-state tuition is the same at California State University-Fresno as at California State University Long Beach ($19,950 vs. $19,950).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fresno than at California State University Long Beach (85% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Fresno students is 4.5% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($12,326 vs. $11,795).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Cal State Long Beach than at California State University-Fresno (23 vs. 18, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California State University-Fresno and Cal State Long Beach.
  • Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Fresno Dec 15, 2026; Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Cal State Long Beach average a 3.7 high school GPA, 0.58 higher than at California State University-Fresno (3.12).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.5% at California State University-Fresno vs. 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach and California State University-Fresno graduates have the same median loan debt ($15,000 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, California State University Long Beach and California State University-Fresno graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($155 vs. $155).
  • More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Fresno students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 63%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

California State University Fresno
California State University Long Beach
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges