UCSC vs. Cal State Fullerton vs. Cal State Long Beach

University of California Santa Cruz, California State University Fullerton, and California State University Long Beach side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Santa Cruz
California State University Fullerton
California State University Long Beach

At a glance

  • Lowest net price: Cal State Fullerton ($7,064 a year). Next is Cal State Long Beach at $10,607, about $3,543 more.
  • Hardest to get into: Cal State Long Beach (46.3% admitted, typical SAT 1130). UCSC is close behind (65.8%, SAT 1260); Cal State Fullerton 90.5%.
  • Highest graduation rate: UCSC (73%). Then Cal State Long Beach 54%, Cal State Fullerton 50%.
  • Highest median earnings: Cal State Long Beach ($51,100 ten years after starting college). Then UCSC $50,400, Cal State Fullerton $49,000.
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Key differences

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Measure UCSC Cal State Fullerton Cal State Long Beach
Acceptance rateCal State Long Beach most selective 65.8% 90.5% 46.3%
SAT range (middle 50%)UCSC highest 1160-1360 1000-1180 1020-1240
Average net priceCal State Fullerton lowest $18,059 $7,064 $10,607
In-state tuitionCal State Long Beach lowest $16,005 $7,470 $7,350
Out-of-state tuitionCal State Long Beach lowest $50,205 $20,070 $19,950
Graduation rateUCSC highest 73% 50% 54%
Median earnings (10 years)Cal State Long Beach highest $50,400 $49,000 $51,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Cal State Fullerton 53,559
  • Cal State Long Beach 83,967
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Cal State Fullerton 48,482
  • Cal State Long Beach 38,854
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Cal State Fullerton 90.5%
  • Cal State Long Beach 46.3%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Cal State Fullerton 14.2%
  • Cal State Long Beach 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Cal State Fullerton 1090
  • Cal State Long Beach 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Cal State Fullerton 20
  • Cal State Long Beach 23
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Cal State Fullerton 3.77
  • Cal State Long Beach 3.7
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Cal State Fullerton A-
  • Cal State Long Beach A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Cal State Fullerton Very Easy
  • Cal State Long Beach Moderate
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Cal State Fullerton
  • Cal State Long Beach Low
  • SAT range
  • UCSC 1160-1360
  • Cal State Fullerton 1000-1180
  • Cal State Long Beach 1020-1240
  • ACT range
  • UCSC 25-33
  • Cal State Fullerton 18-23
  • Cal State Long Beach 20-26
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Cal State Fullerton Test-free
  • Cal State Long Beach Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026
  • Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Cal State Fullerton $7,470
  • Cal State Long Beach $7,350
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Cal State Fullerton $20,070
  • Cal State Long Beach $19,950
  • Room & board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Cal State Fullerton $19,080
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,612
  • Average net price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Cal State Fullerton $7,064
  • Cal State Long Beach $10,607
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Cal State Fullerton $11,234
  • Cal State Long Beach $11,795
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Cal State Fullerton 78%
  • Cal State Long Beach 76%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Cal State Fullerton 50%
  • Cal State Long Beach 54%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Cal State Fullerton $49,000
  • Cal State Long Beach $51,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Cal State Fullerton 69%
  • Cal State Long Beach 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Cal State Fullerton $15,000
  • Cal State Long Beach $15,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Cal State Fullerton $155
  • Cal State Long Beach $155
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Cal State Fullerton 26:1
  • Cal State Long Beach 23:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Cal State Fullerton
    • Business (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Cal State Long Beach
    • Business (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, CA
  • Cal State Long Beach Long Beach, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Cal State Fullerton Midsize City
  • Cal State Long Beach Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Cal State Fullerton 43,662
  • Cal State Long Beach 42,003
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Cal State Fullerton Public 4 Year
  • Cal State Long Beach Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Cal State Fullerton #799
  • Cal State Long Beach #523

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA, California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, CA, and California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

By total student enrollment, California State University Fullerton is the largest of the three (43,662 students), followed by Cal State Long Beach (42,003) and UCSC (19,938).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Settings: Santa Cruz, CA (Small City); Fullerton, CA (Midsize City); Long Beach, CA (Large City).
  • All three are public, non-profit 4-year institutions.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: UCSC 22:1; Cal State Fullerton 26:1; Cal State Long Beach 23:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are lowest at Cal State Long Beach ($15,612) and highest at UCSC ($19,948); Cal State Fullerton $19,080.
  • The largest share of students receiving grant aid is at Cal State Fullerton (78%), then Cal State Long Beach (76%) and UCSC (57%).
  • Average grant aid: UCSC $22,774; Cal State Long Beach $11,795; Cal State Fullerton $11,234.

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate): UCSC 29; Cal State Long Beach 23; Cal State Fullerton 20.
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSC, Cal State Fullerton, and Cal State Long Beach.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026; Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026.
  • Average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen: Cal State Fullerton 3.77; Cal State Long Beach 3.7; UCSC 3.63.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield): Cal State Long Beach 16.7%; Cal State Fullerton 14.2%; UCSC 9.3%.

Loans and repayment

  • Median federal loan debt among borrowers: Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach $15,000; UCSC $19,959.
  • Median monthly federal loan payment: Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Long Beach $155; UCSC $206.
  • Share of former students actively paying back federal loans three years after graduation: UCSC 74%; Cal State Long Beach 69%; Cal State Fullerton 69%.

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

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