What rank is Cal State Long Beach?

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) consistently ranks as a strong public university, with recent placements like #127 in National Universities (U.S. News 2026), placing it high among other schools, especially for social mobility. It's also recognized as a top public university in the U.S. and noted for student outcomes in newer rankings, like 43rd by the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse in 2026, highlighting salary impact and career prep.

What is CSU Long Beach ranked?

In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, California State University, Long Beach is ranked No. #127 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #3 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

What is the highest ranked Cal state?

*Acceptance rates on our list of the Best CSU Schools Ranked are from the Class of 2028, unless otherwise noted.

• 1) Cal Poly SLO.
• 2) San Diego State University.
• 3) Cal State Long Beach.
• 4) Cal Poly Pomona.
• 5) San Jose State University.
• 6) Cal State Fullerton.
• 7) CSU Fresno.
• 8) CSU Chico.

What is the #1 csu?

There isn't one single "#1 Cal State," as different campuses excel in different areas, but Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (SLO) is frequently ranked highest overall within the California State University (CSU) system for things like graduate employment and academics. However, Cal State LA is #1 nationally for upward economic mobility, and Cal Poly Pomona is a top polytechnic for diversity. 

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.

Cal State Long Beach - Rankings and Distinctions (2022)

Is CSU Long Beach hard to get into?

Yes, CSULB is moderately selective/somewhat competitive to get into, with an acceptance rate around 47%, meaning strong grades (around a 3.67 average GPA) and test scores (SAT 1020-1240 or ACT 20-26) are important, but the difficulty varies significantly by major, with highly impacted fields like Engineering and Business requiring higher stats, portfolios, or interviews for admission. 

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 are the big 3 UC schools?

Three University of California (UC) campuses are UC Berkeley, UCLA (Los Angeles), and UC San Diego, with other major ones including UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and the graduate-only UC San Francisco. These campuses offer diverse academic programs and unique campus cultures across California, from the Bay Area (Berkeley) to Southern California (UCLA, UCSD).
 

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 colleges in California?

The top 3 universities in California consistently include Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), often alongside the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), depending on the ranking system (U.S. News, QS, Forbes) and whether public or private institutions are prioritized, with Stanford and Caltech usually leading private, and UC Berkeley and UCLA leading public rankings. 

Is Cal State an Ivy League?

Although California isn't home to any official Ivy League schools, many of the Golden State's institutions of higher education boast exceptional academics and highly selective admissions policies, ranking them alongside the nation's most prestigious institutions, including those of the Ivy League.

Is it harder to get into CSU or UC?

Generally speaking, California State University schools tend to be easier to get into than the University of California schools. So if you're looking for the easiest UCs to get into, you might consider applying to one or two CSU schools as well.

Is Cal State, LA better than UCLA?

Neither Cal State LA (CSULA) nor UCLA is inherently "better"; they serve different strengths, with UCLA generally having higher global prestige, research focus, and tougher admissions, while CSULA excels in applied, teaching-focused programs and community service, often with a lower cost and more accessible admission, making the "better" choice depend on a student's career goals, budget, and learning style. UCLA offers deep theoretical understanding and higher rankings, while CSULA provides practical skills and strong regional networking, especially in fields like Health Professions or Education. 

What is the best CSU in California?

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo ranks as the top school in the California State University (CSU) system — 95% of its students are employed or in grad school within nine months of graduation. The school also has a 30% acceptance rate.

What are the top 3 majors at CSULB?

CSULB's top majors by popularity consistently include Business (General Business Administration & Management), Psychology (General Psychology), and Communications (Speech Communication & Rhetoric), with other highly popular fields being Computer Science, Biology, and Family & Consumer Sciences, according to data from sources like Data USA, Niche, and U.S. News & World Report.
 

Is it better to go to a UC or Cal State?

Although on average, the UC schools outrank Cal State schools in CollegeVine's rankings, many of the CSU system schools place highly overall. Notable CSU institutions include Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is positioned at number 132 on our list, ahead of four of the UC institutions.

What's the easiest university to get into in California?

Easiest colleges to get into in California

• Ashford University acceptance rate.
• California State University Bakersfield acceptance rate.
• Sonoma State University acceptance rate.
• Marymount California University acceptance rate.
• Mills College acceptance rate.
• California State University Stanislaus acceptance rate.

Which is harder to get into, Csulb or SDSU?

Is San Diego State University (SDSU) or California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) is more difficult to get into.

What is the #1 ranked school in California?

There's no single "number 1 school" as rankings vary by source and focus (public/private, high school/elementary/university), but top contenders often include California Academy of Mathematics & Science (CAMS) and Whitney High School for public high schools, while institutions like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Stanford lead university rankings, with specific elementary schools like Duveneck also praised.
 

What is the safest UC campus in California?

The University of California, Merced, reported just 24 criminal offenses on its campus in 2022, making it the safest University of California (UC) System institution that year. The safest private school on our list is St. Joseph's College of Nursing, which had one reported criminal offense in 2022.

What's the hardest University to get into in California?

The hardest school to get into in California is often cited as the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), known for its extremely low acceptance rates (around 2-4%) and intense focus on science and engineering, followed closely by Stanford University, Minerva University, and the selective liberal arts colleges in the Claremont Colleges (like Pomona, Harvey Mudd, CMC). Other top contenders include the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for public universities, and the University of Southern California (USC). 

Is Long Beach, CA a wealthy area?

Long Beach, CA isn't uniformly rich or poor; it's a diverse city with pockets of significant wealth (like Naples and Belmont Shore) featuring high-end homes, alongside areas with higher poverty rates, though its overall cost of living and median incomes are above national averages, making it generally upper-middle income with diverse neighborhoods.
 

Why is Long Beach called the 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 played on an all-dirt practice field (a local Pony Field) and became covered in dirt, earning the nickname from an assistant coach. The name signifies an "us-against-the-world" underdog mentality and dedication, as the team famously went to the College World Series that first year despite lacking a proper home field, embracing the label as a badge of honor. 

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.