Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 26,384 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 Riverside is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; University of California Riverside 22:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or UC Riverside? 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 UC Riverside ($10,607 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 24.5% lower than at University of California Riverside ($15,612 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 112.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $8,256 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 149.7% higher at UC Riverside than at California State University Long Beach (about $29,856 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach as at University of California Riverside (76% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 106.5% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($24,355 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 50 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 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 Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than Cal State Long Beach (46.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and UC Riverside? 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 Riverside's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $4,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($155 vs. $197).
• More Cal State Long Beach graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)

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.