California State University-Long Beach
California State University-Long Beach — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California State University-Long Beach at a Glance
California State University, Long Beach, also known in athletics as Long Beach State University (LBSU), is a public research university in Long Beach, California, United States. The 322-acre campus is the second largest in the California State University system (CSU).
1949
77 years old
$133M
$132.9 million (2023-24)
42,174
36,703 undergrad · 5,471 grad
2,539
323 acres
Identity
Is California State University-Long Beach Worth It?
California State University-Long Beach is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $10,440/year net price and $64,403 median earnings, graduates earn 6.2× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 69% graduation rate means roughly 31% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: California State University-Long Beach delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How California State University-Long Beach compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 19 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Long Beach | 100 | $10,440 | $64,403 |
| #2 | Florida International University | 100 | $9,288 | $60,249 |
| #3 | University of South Florida | 100 | $9,812 | $57,743 |
| #4 | University of Georgia | 100 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| #5 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 100 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| #6 | CUNY Hunter College | 100 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of California State University-Long Beach's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at California State University-Long Beach
The highest-earning program at California State University-Long Beach is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $83,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Music at $13,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from California State University-Long Beach earns $83,500, while a Music graduate earns $13,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $15,000 in median debt vs. $18,871 for Music.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,440/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,500 | $83,500 | $15,000 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $76,700 | $76,700 | $23,180 |
| Computer Engineering | $64,200 | $64,200 | $21,404 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $63,300 | $63,300 | $20,604 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $61,600 | $61,600 | $20,000 |
| Computer Science | $58,800 | $58,800 | $16,750 |
| Civil Engineering | $58,700 | $58,700 | $17,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $58,400 | $58,400 | $17,291 |
| Chemical Engineering | $50,400 | $50,400 | $20,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $46,200 | $46,200 | $14,569 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $45,000 | $45,000 | $14,208 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,000 | $41,000 | $20,371 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $39,700 | $39,700 | $14,017 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $39,600 | $39,600 | $14,119 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $38,200 | $38,200 | $14,247 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $37,800 | $37,800 | $17,757 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $37,600 | $37,600 | $13,272 |
| Chemistry | $36,400 | $36,400 | $13,722 |
| Marketing | $36,000 | $36,000 | $16,670 |
| Social Work | $34,800 | $34,800 | $13,276 |
| Economics | $34,800 | $34,800 | $15,000 |
| Physics | $33,900 | $33,900 | $19,250 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $33,500 | $33,500 | $13,792 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,400 | $32,400 | $15,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $32,200 | $32,200 | $16,250 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $31,900 | $31,900 | $17,612 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,900 | $31,900 | $15,125 |
| Public Health | $31,800 | $31,800 | $15,000 |
| Philosophy | $30,400 | $30,400 | $12,583 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,400 | $30,400 | $13,000 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $29,900 | $29,900 | $15,000 |
| Area Studies | $29,800 | $29,800 | $18,809 |
| Sociology | $29,800 | $29,800 | $13,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $29,600 | $29,600 | $17,707 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $29,200 | $29,200 | $22,967 |
| Psychology, General | $29,000 | $29,000 | $13,512 |
| Journalism | $28,600 | $28,600 | $16,350 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $15,000 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $28,300 | $28,300 | $15,648 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $27,900 | $27,900 | $17,431 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $27,900 | $27,900 | $14,672 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $27,600 | $27,600 | $11,285 |
| History | $26,600 | $26,600 | $14,813 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $26,400 | $26,400 | $15,000 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $26,300 | $26,300 | $15,000 |
| Biology, General | $26,200 | $26,200 | $13,908 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $25,200 | $25,200 | N/A |
| Geography and Cartography | $25,100 | $25,100 | $19,732 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $24,100 | $24,100 | $15,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $23,800 | $23,800 | $18,241 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $23,700 | $23,700 | $16,011 |
| Anthropology | $23,200 | $23,200 | $16,459 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $22,200 | $22,200 | $15,755 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,000 | $19,000 | $15,000 |
| Dance | $16,400 | $16,400 | $21,683 |
| Music | $13,700 | $13,700 | $18,871 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Long Beach, CA
- Student Body
- 35,924 students
- Admission Rate
- 46%
- Graduation Rate
- 69%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,440
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $64,403
- Median Student Debt
- $14,289