Cal State Long Beach vs Cal State Fullerton
California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) and California State University-Fullerton (CSUF) are two of the most sought-after public universities in California, offering a wide range of academic programs and vibrant campus life. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and student success, they also have distinct characteristics that set them apart. CSULB boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate and a more diverse student body, while CSUF has a higher graduation rate and a stronger reputation for its business and engineering programs. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into the details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() California State University-Fullerton |
![]() California State University-Long Beach |
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Overview |
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Location | Fullerton, California | Long Beach, California |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 87.0% | 87.0% |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 59.4% | 46.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 45,140 | 67,122 |
Total number of admissions given out | 26,827 | 31,448 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,219 | 4,865 |
Yield rate | 15.7% | 15.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$30,282
Out of state:
$42,162
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In state:
$24,912
Out of state:
$36,792
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Average net price | $4,939 | $9,171 |
Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$12,918
Meal plan:
$4,374
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Room/dormitory:
$8,590
Meal plan:
$4,324
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
74.0%
Average amount $9,215 |
75.0%
Average amount $9,433 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
17.0%
Average amount $4,700 |
19.0%
Average amount $4,565 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $11,380 |
0.0%
Average amount $15,875 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
35,600
Men 41.2% Women 58.8% |
33,897
Men 42.3% Women 57.7% |
Graduate students |
5,138
Men 36.8% Women 63.2% |
6,293
Men 37.5% Women 62.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 0.9% | 1.4% |
International students | 4.9% | 6.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,045 | 3,206 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Hawaii Illinois Arizona | California Texas Washington Pennsylvania Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 25:1 | 23:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 71.5% | 75.5% |
Dropout rate | 21.3% | 19.7% |
Transferred out | 1.8% | 1.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
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