Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSD

Comparable Facts

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

University of California San Diego is larger than Cal State Long Beach based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 42,003 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 San Diego is in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; University of California San Diego 19:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach or UCSD? 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 UCSD ($10,607 vs. $14,047).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 17.7% lower than at University of California San Diego ($15,612 vs. $18,970).
• University of California San Diego is 128% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $9,408 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 155.4% higher at UCSD than at California State University Long Beach (about $31,008 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at University of California San Diego (76% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 118.4% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($25,757 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSD Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California San Diego (1380) is 250 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming UCSD students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 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 San Diego 1270/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; University of California San Diego 28/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; UCSD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; UCSD Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSD students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than UCSD (26.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 20.4% at UCSD.

Cal State Long Beach vs. UCSD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach and UCSD? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than California State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $16,800 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than UCSD graduates ($15,000 vs. $18,500).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSD graduates ($155 vs. $191).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.