Cal State Long Beach vs. UCI

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than UCI based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 37,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); University of California Irvine is in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; University of California Irvine 19:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or UCI? 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 UCI ($10,607 vs. $15,889).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 17.8% lower than at University of California Irvine ($15,612 vs. $18,991).
• University of California Irvine is 113.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $8,372 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 150.2% higher at UCI than at California State University Long Beach (about $29,972 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at University of California Irvine (76% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 95.9% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($23,110 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 200 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming UCI students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 23 at Cal State Long Beach).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; University of California Irvine 1230/1430.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; University of California Irvine 26/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; UCI - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; UCI Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCI students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 19.2% at UCI.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• University of California Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than UCI graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCI graduates ($155 vs. $175).
• More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.