CSULB: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially California State University-Long Beach · Long Beach, California · Public · Selective · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-blind
- 83,951
- Applicants
- 38,854
- Admitted46%
- 6,483
- Enrolled
- 17%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective46% admittedRanked #137 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #199 (tie), Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #32 (tie), Computer Science #193 (tie), Nursing #115 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by California State University-Long Beach (see the source), read on 2026-06-14.
Is CSULB a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places CSULB against it in about a minute. No account needed.
CSULB is a public university in Long Beach, California that admits about 46% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $10,440 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Fine and Studio Arts, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 69% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, CSULB admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 46%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $10,440 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for CSULB?
70% of enrolled students at CSULB had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
Compare CSULB with the other schools on your list
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What does CSULB weight in admissions?
CSULB reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Class rank
- Academic GPA
Considered
2- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
14- Rigor of secondary school record
- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores CSULB typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: CSULB does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • CSU system permanently dropped the SAT/ACT; scores are not used for admission at any CSU campus.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on CSULB's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does CSULB actually cost?
Published tuition is $7,350 for in-state students and $19,950 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,612 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $10,440 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 50% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $6,450 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $17,994 |
| Room and board | $16,666 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $10,440 |
| Average need-based grant | $11,389 |
| Average merit award, no financial need0 first-year students received one | $0 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 44% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $17,498 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for CSULB
| Regular deadline | 11/30 |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from CSULB?
These predict outcomes at CSULB better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at CSULB
The most popular undergraduate programs at CSULB, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Fine and Studio Arts. Across all programs, CSULB confers roughly 4,211 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $66,801 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1,566 | $66,801 |
| Psychology, General | 528 | $55,066 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 415 | $42,341 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | 403 | $47,210 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 370 | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 339 | $58,497 |
| Sociology | 306 | $53,402 |
| Biology, General | 284 | $65,092 |
Is CSULB safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), CSULB disclosed 57 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 5 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at CSULB?
About 20% of undergraduates at CSULB live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- California State University-Fullerton91% acceptance
- California State University-Northridge93% acceptance
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo31% acceptance
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona75% acceptance
- California State University-Los Angeles91% acceptance
- California State University-Fresno95% acceptance
- California State University-Sacramento94% acceptance
- Claremont McKenna College10% acceptance
Next steps for CSULB
Common questions parents ask about CSULB
What GPA do I need for CSULB?
70% of enrolled students at CSULB had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.67, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does CSULB typically admit?
CSULB is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does CSULB actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at CSULB after grants and scholarships is $10,440 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $7,350 and $19,950 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is CSULB realistic for my child?
CSULB admits 46% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $10,440 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at CSULB?
CSULB accepts about 46% of applicants out of roughly 83,951 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is CSULB test-optional?
CSULB is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at CSULB?
About 69% of students at CSULB graduate within six years, and 38% finish in four years. 87% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does CSULB look for in applicants?
CSULB rates class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is CSULB a public or private school, and where is it located?
CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California.
What are the most popular majors at CSULB?
The largest undergraduate majors at CSULB by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Psychology, General and Fine and Studio Arts. The school awards about 4,211 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is CSULB safe? What is its campus crime rate?
CSULB reported 57 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at CSULB?
At CSULB, 20% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by California State University-Long Beach, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers