Cal State Long Beach vs. Sacramento State

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

California State University Long Beach
California State University Sacramento

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Cal State Long Beach (46.3% admitted vs 94%). Typical SAT 1130 vs 1030.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $10,607 at Cal State Long Beach vs $10,110 at Sacramento State. Sacramento State in-state tuition is about $668 more per year.
  • Graduation: Cal State Long Beach 54% vs Sacramento State 42%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cal State Long Beach $51,100 vs Sacramento State $51,000 (median).
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Key differences

California State University Long Beach California State University Sacramento
Acceptance rate
Cal State Long Beach more selective
Cal State Long Beach46.3%
Sacramento State94%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cal State Long Beach higher
Cal State Long Beach1020-1240
Sacramento State930-1130
Average net price
About even
Cal State Long Beach$10,607
Sacramento State$10,110
In-state tuition
Cal State Long Beach $668 less
Cal State Long Beach$7,350
Sacramento State$8,018
Out-of-state tuition
Cal State Long Beach $668 less
Cal State Long Beach$19,950
Sacramento State$20,618
Graduation rate
Cal State Long Beach +12 pts
Cal State Long Beach54%
Sacramento State42%
Median earnings (10 years)
Cal State Long Beach +$100
Cal State Long Beach$51,100
Sacramento State$51,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Cal State Long Beach 83,967
  • Sacramento State 27,702
  • Admitted
  • Cal State Long Beach 38,854
  • Sacramento State 26,036
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 46.3%
  • Sacramento State 94%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cal State Long Beach 16.7%
  • Sacramento State 15.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 1130
  • Sacramento State 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 23
  • Sacramento State 20
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cal State Long Beach 3.7
  • Sacramento State 3.42
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cal State Long Beach A-
  • Sacramento State B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Cal State Long Beach Moderate
  • Sacramento State Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Cal State Long Beach Low
  • Sacramento State
  • SAT range
  • Cal State Long Beach 1020-1240
  • Sacramento State 930-1130
  • ACT range
  • Cal State Long Beach 20-26
  • Sacramento State 17-23
  • Submit test scores
  • Cal State Long Beach Test-free
  • Sacramento State Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026
  • Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cal State Long Beach $7,350
  • Sacramento State $8,018
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cal State Long Beach $19,950
  • Sacramento State $20,618
  • Room & board
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,612
  • Sacramento State $19,174
  • Average net price
  • Cal State Long Beach $10,607
  • Sacramento State $10,110
  • Average grant aid
  • Cal State Long Beach $11,795
  • Sacramento State $12,767
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cal State Long Beach 76%
  • Sacramento State 82%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 54%
  • Sacramento State 42%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cal State Long Beach $51,100
  • Sacramento State $51,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cal State Long Beach 69%
  • Sacramento State 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,000
  • Sacramento State $15,750
  • Median loan payment
  • Cal State Long Beach $155
  • Sacramento State $162
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cal State Long Beach 23:1
  • Sacramento State 24:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cal State Long Beach
    • Business (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Sacramento State
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • Cal State Long Beach Long Beach, CA
  • Sacramento State Sacramento, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal State Long Beach Large City
  • Sacramento State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State Long Beach 42,003
  • Sacramento State 31,943
  • Type
  • Cal State Long Beach Public 4 Year
  • Sacramento State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cal State Long Beach #523
  • Sacramento State #841

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than Sacramento State based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 31,943 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); California State University Sacramento is in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; California State University Sacramento 24:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 18.6% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($15,612 vs. $19,174).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Sacramento State than at California State University Long Beach (about $668 more per year; $20,618 vs. $19,950).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at California State University Long Beach (82% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 8.2% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($12,767 vs. $11,795).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Cal State Long Beach than at Sacramento State (23 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Cal State Long Beach and Sacramento State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Cal State Long Beach average a 3.7 high school GPA, 0.28 higher than at Sacramento State (3.42).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 15.3% at Sacramento State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than Sacramento State graduates ($15,000 vs. $15,750).
  • Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sacramento State graduates ($155 vs. $162).
  • More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 64%).

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

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