Cal State Long Beach vs. Laguna College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA with Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than Laguna College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Laguna College of Art and Design is in Laguna Beach, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Laguna College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or Laguna College of Art and Design? 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 Laguna College of Art and Design ($10,607 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 20.2% lower than at Laguna College of Art and Design ($15,612 vs. $19,553).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is 410.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $30,150 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 88% higher at Laguna College of Art and Design than at California State University Long Beach (about $17,550 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laguna College of Art and Design than at California State University Long Beach (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Long Beach students is 5.8% larger than aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students ($11,795 vs. $11,153).

Cal State Long Beach vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach or Laguna College of Art and Design? 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 Laguna College of Art and Design 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); Laguna College of Art and Design - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal State Long Beach students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Laguna College of Art and Design (3.69).
• Laguna College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (94.3%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design.

Cal State Long Beach vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and Laguna College of Art and Design? 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).

• Laguna College of Art and Design'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 $11,000 more per year than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $11,699 lower median loan debt than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,699).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $121 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($155 vs. $276).
• More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laguna College of Art and Design 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.