Cal State Long Beach vs. K-State

Deciding between California State University Long Beach and Kansas State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Long Beach
Kansas State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal State Long Beach Long Beach, CA
  • K-State Manhattan, KS
  • Setting
  • Cal State Long Beach Large City
  • K-State Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State Long Beach 42,003
  • K-State 20,295
  • Type
  • Cal State Long Beach Public 4 Year
  • K-State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal State Long Beach #523
  • K-State #510
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal State Long Beach -
  • K-State -
  • Status
  • Cal State Long Beach Non-profit
  • K-State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal State Long Beach
  • K-State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal State Long Beach $7,350
  • K-State $11,221
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal State Long Beach $19,950
  • K-State $28,568
  • Room & Board
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,612
  • K-State $12,830
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal State Long Beach $10,607
  • K-State $20,527
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal State Long Beach $11,795
  • K-State $9,270
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal State Long Beach 76%
  • K-State 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal State Long Beach 83,967
  • K-State 15,509
  • Admitted
  • Cal State Long Beach 38,854
  • K-State 12,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 46.3%
  • K-State 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal State Long Beach 16.7%
  • K-State 27.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 1130
  • K-State 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State Long Beach 23
  • K-State 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal State Long Beach 3.7
  • K-State 3.77
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal State Long Beach A-
  • K-State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal State Long Beach Moderate
  • K-State Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal State Long Beach Low
  • K-State
  • ACT Range
  • Cal State Long Beach 20/26
  • K-State 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • Cal State Long Beach 1020/1240
  • K-State 1060/1260
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal State Long Beach Test-free
  • K-State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026
  • K-State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal State Long Beach 23:1
  • K-State 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal State Long Beach
    • Business (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • K-State
    • Business (17%)
    • Agriculture (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal State Long Beach 54%
  • K-State 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal State Long Beach $51,100
  • K-State $49,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal State Long Beach 69%
  • K-State 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,000
  • K-State $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal State Long Beach $155
  • K-State $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal State Long Beach 41%
  • K-State 46%
  • % Women
  • Cal State Long Beach 59%
  • K-State 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal State Long Beach Very High
  • K-State Low
  • HBCU
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • K-State No
  • % White
  • Cal State Long Beach 19%
  • K-State 78%
  • % Asian
  • Cal State Long Beach 23%
  • K-State 1%
  • % Black
  • Cal State Long Beach 4%
  • K-State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal State Long Beach 39%
  • K-State 7%
  • % Native American
  • Cal State Long Beach 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal State Long Beach 0%
  • K-State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal State Long Beach 5%
  • K-State 3%
  • % International
  • Cal State Long Beach 6%
  • K-State 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal State Long Beach 4%
  • K-State 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal State Long Beach 97%
  • K-State 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal State Long Beach 1%
  • K-State 28%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • K-State No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • K-State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal State Long Beach No
  • K-State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal State Long Beach Yes
  • K-State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA with Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than K-State based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 20,295 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Kansas State University is in Manhattan, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Kansas State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Kansas State University 19:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. K-State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or K-State? 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 K-State ($10,607 vs. $20,527).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas State University are 17.8% lower than at California State University Long Beach ($12,830 vs. $15,612).
  • Kansas State University is 52.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $3,871 more per year; $11,221.00 vs. $7,350.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.2% higher at K-State than at California State University Long Beach (about $8,618 more per year; $28,568.00 vs. $19,950.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas State University than at California State University Long Beach (92% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Long Beach students is 27.2% larger than aid received by Kansas State University students ($11,795 vs. $9,270).

Cal State Long Beach vs. K-State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or K-State? 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 K-State and Cal State Long Beach.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kansas State University (1160) is 30 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
  • Incoming Cal State Long Beach students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 23) as students at K-State (23).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; Kansas State University 1060/1260.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; Kansas State University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; K-State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman K-State students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
  • K-State has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 27.5% at K-State.

Cal State Long Beach vs. K-State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and K-State? 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).

  • Kansas State University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
  • Graduates from California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than K-State graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $49,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than K-State graduates ($15,000 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than K-State graduates ($155 vs. $232).
  • More K-State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 69%)

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.