Cal State Long Beach vs. Westmont College

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA with Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Long Beach is larger than Westmont College based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 1,310 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Westmont College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Westmont College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Westmont College 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 7.9% lower than at Westmont College ($15,612 vs. $16,960).
• Out-of-state tuition is 168.6% higher at Westmont College than at California State University Long Beach (about $33,634 more per year; $53,584 vs. $19,950).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmont College than at California State University Long Beach (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 230.3% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($38,956 vs. $11,795).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Westmont College than at Cal State Long Beach (28 vs. 23, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Cal State Long Beach, test optional at Westmont College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at Cal State Long Beach average a 3.7 high school GPA, 0.11 higher than at Westmont College (3.59).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 15.9% at Westmont College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $10,123 lower median loan debt than Westmont College graduates ($15,000 vs. $25,123).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $104 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmont College graduates ($155 vs. $259).
• More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Long Beach students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.