How does Cal State Long Beach rank?

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) receives strong rankings, often appearing in the top tier for public universities, social mobility, and value, with recent highlights including a Top 50 national ranking by the Wall Street Journal (43rd in 2026) and high marks for promoting socioeconomic opportunity by U.S. News & World Report and Washington Monthly. Specific rankings vary by publication, but generally place it well among national universities and within the top public schools in California, noted for student outcomes and affordability.

Is Cal State Long Beach prestigious?

Yes, CSULB (California State University, Long Beach) is considered prestigious, especially for its high social mobility, value, and return on investment, consistently ranking well nationally for helping diverse students achieve success at an affordable cost, although its prestige is in value and outcomes rather than pure selectivity like top UCs. It's recognized as a top national university for social mobility and value by publications like Washington Monthly, U.S. News, and Money, placing it among the best for producing successful graduates from various backgrounds. 

What is Cal State Long Beach best known for?

Reputation-wise, Cal State Long Beach is well-regarded for its well-known Engineering, CS, business, and arts programs. In fact, employers respect the brand this school carries, but they also consider your work experience and such.

Is Csu Long Beach hard to get into?

Yes, Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), is considered competitive and somewhat difficult to get into, with an acceptance rate around 47%, meaning strong academics (GPA, test scores if submitted) are important, especially for popular majors, but local applicants often have an advantage. Strong applications usually feature a GPA above 3.0 and SAT scores between 1020-1240 or ACT scores of 20-26, with higher scores increasing your chances significantly, and some majors are much more selective. 

What is the hardest CSU to get into in California?

The hardest CSU to get into generally shifts, but Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO), San Diego State University (SDSU), and CSU Long Beach (CSULB) consistently rank as the most selective due to high application volume and competitive programs like engineering or nursing. Cal Poly SLO often leads with very low acceptance rates for its popular majors, while SDSU and CSULB also see extremely low rates, sometimes even lower than some UCs for specific fields, making them top contenders for the most difficult CSU to enter. 

Cal State Long Beach - Rankings and Distinctions (2022)

Why is CSULB called dirtbags?

Long Beach State's baseball team is called the "Dirtbags" because of their gritty, hard-nosed style of play, originating in 1989 when the team, lacking a proper field, practiced on a local all-dirt Pony League field, leaving players covered in dirt and embracing the nickname as a badge of honor for their underdog success. The name symbolizes a blue-collar, tough, "team-first" approach, with players proudly showing dirt on their uniforms as a sign of their relentless effort. 

Why is Long Beach so popular?

Long Beach is famous for its iconic waterfront attractions like the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific, its status as a filming location for movies and shows, its rich cultural diversity (known as the "LBC"), historic oil boom, vibrant festivals, and being a major port, offering a blend of urban cool and coastal charm.
 

What is the most prestigious Cal State school?

While "prestige" is subjective, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO), San Diego State University (SDSU), and CSU Long Beach (CSULB) consistently rank as the most prestigious CSUs, often appearing in top national and public college lists for outcomes, value, and strong programs, particularly Cal Poly SLO for hands-on learning and tech/ag/architecture. Other highly-regarded campuses include San José State (SJSU) and Cal Poly Pomona, known for strong outcomes and specific program strengths. 

What are the top 3 majors at CSULB?

CSULB's top majors by enrollment and degrees awarded consistently include Business Administration, Psychology, and Communications, with Engineering, Computer Science, Biology, and Family & Consumer Sciences also very popular, reflecting strong demand in business, health, and technology fields at the university. 

What is the #1 college in California?

There isn't one single "number one" college in California, as rankings vary by source, but Stanford University, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) consistently appear at the top, often depending on whether you're looking for private or public institutions. Stanford and Caltech often lead private rankings, while UC Berkeley and UCLA are top public university contenders, with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo also highly rated in regional categories. 

How much is tuition at Cal State Long Beach?

California State University, Long Beach Tuition & Financial Aid. California State University, Long Beach's tuition is $8,312 for in-state and $19,856 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,422, California State University, Long Beach is cheaper.

Is Cal State, LA better than UCLA?

Neither Cal State LA nor UCLA is inherently "better"; they serve different strengths, with UCLA generally offering higher national prestige, research focus, and selectivity (UC system), while Cal State LA excels in applied learning, regional focus, and accessibility (CSU system), making the best choice dependent on your career goals, learning style, and financial situation. UCLA provides deep theoretical understanding and broader national recognition, whereas Cal State LA offers practical skills, community engagement, and a lower cost. 

How safe is Csu Long Beach?

What measures does CSULB have in place to ensure student safety on campus? Safety on campus is generally viewed positively, with many emergency phones and police presence making students feel secure.

What are the top 10 engineering schools in California?

Top Engineering Colleges in California

• Stanford University.
• University of California, Berkeley.
• 3. California Institute of Technology.
• University of California, San Diego.
• University of California, Los Angeles.
• San Diego State University.
• Santa Clara University.
• 8. California Polytechnic State University.

What GPA do I need to get into Cal State Long Beach?

CSULB requires a minimum 3.0 GPA for general admission, but competitive GPAs are often higher, around 3.5-3.7, with STEM majors sometimes needing higher indices, and transfer students often needing 2.5+ with major-specific requirements. Actual admission depends on your major, overall applicant pool, and the CSULB Index (a formula using GPA and test scores/courses). 

What's the hardest Cal state to get into?

The hardest CSU to get into is consistently Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO), often cited for its low acceptance rates (around 30% or less) and high academic standards, rivaling some University of California campuses. Other highly competitive CSUs include San Diego State (SDSU) and CSU Long Beach (CSULB), with particularly difficult-to-enter programs like Nursing, Engineering, and Computer Science being extremely selective across the system. 

What are the top 3 UC schools?

The top 3 University of California (UC) campuses consistently ranked highest are UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, often trading spots as the top public universities in national rankings, focusing on strong academics, research, and return on investment. While rankings vary slightly by publication, Berkeley and UCLA generally lead, with UCSD following closely behind.
 

Is Cal State Long Beach a top school?

Cal State Long Beach has ranked in the top 10 in a best-value rating among colleges and universities across the nation, according to Washington Monthly. The ranking underscores CSULB's stature as a top educational institution that promotes social mobility and achievement.

Is Long Beach, CA a wealthy area?

Long Beach isn't uniformly rich or poor; it's a diverse city with pockets of significant wealth, especially in areas like Naples, Belmont Shore, and Park Estates, which feature luxury homes and waterfront living, but also has many middle-class residents and areas with higher poverty rates, contrasting with its higher cost of living and proximity to wealthier regions.
 

What is California State Long Beach known for?

CSULB (California State University, Long Beach), also known as "The Beach," is known for its strong social mobility, diverse student body, and value as a public university, offering affordable, high-quality education with strong programs in fields like business, engineering, nursing, and public administration, plus unique facilities like the Walter Pyramid and Japanese Garden. It's recognized for empowering students, fostering community impact, and being a hub for innovation in the growing "Space Beach" industry.
 

What was filmed at Long Beach?

Showbiz website IMDB lists 2,386 film and TV titles shot in Long Beach – which actually sounds a little light – including such classics as “Titanic,” “Clueless,” “Lethal Weapon,” “Airplane!” and “Ferris Bueller's Day Off.” Filming in Long Beach is commonplace to this day.

What are the top 5 majors at Cal State Long Beach?

The top majors at Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) by popularity often include Business Administration, Psychology, Computer Science, Communications, and various Health Sciences, with Engineering also being a strong, highly-ranked field, reflecting a blend of high enrollment and notable program strength. 

What MLB players are from Long Beach State?

Long Beach State has sent quite a few prominent players to the major leagues, including Jason Giambi, Chris Gomez, Bobby Crosby, Jeremy Reed and Troy Tulowitzki, all with over 1,000 major league at-bats.

What do you call CSULB students?

'49ers. “'49er” remains an informal nickname and identifier of choice for some of our alumni, employees, students, supporters, and fans.