Cal State Long Beach vs. FIDM LA

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA with FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than FIDM LA based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 135:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. FIDM LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or FIDM LA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Long Beach than FIDM LA ($10,607 vs. $39,494).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 29.3% lower than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising ($15,612 vs. $22,086).
• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is 376.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $27,650 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 75.4% higher at FIDM LA than at California State University Long Beach (about $15,050 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising than at California State University Long Beach (78% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students is 17.3% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($13,834 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. FIDM LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or FIDM LA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between FIDM LA and Cal State Long Beach.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); FIDM LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.

Cal State Long Beach vs. FIDM LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and FIDM LA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than FIDM LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($13,000 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, FIDM LA graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State Long Beach graduates ($134 vs. $155).
• More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIDM LA students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.