California State University-Long Beach vs UC Santa Cruz
Cal State Long Beach offers easier admission with a 40% acceptance rate compared to UC Santa Cruz's 47% rate, though both are moderately selective. Cost differs significantly: Long Beach charges $7,008 in-state tuition versus Santa Cruz's $14,560, resulting in average net prices of $8,931 and $16,607 respectively.
Long Beach serves 34,131 students with a 19:1 student-faculty ratio, while Santa Cruz enrolls 17,812 students at 22:1. Santa Cruz achieves higher retention (90% vs 85%) and graduation rates (75% vs 70%), suggesting stronger academic support systems.
Long Beach excels in business, engineering, and arts programs, benefiting from proximity to Los Angeles job markets. Santa Cruz stands out in computer science, environmental studies, and research opportunities as part of the UC system. Both schools offer distinct campus experiences: Long Beach provides urban access and NCAA Division I athletics, while Santa Cruz delivers a forested campus setting with Division III sports.
Career outcomes favor Santa Cruz slightly, with graduates earning $68,396 median income after ten years compared to Long Beach's $64,403. However, Long Beach graduates carry less debt ($14,289 vs $16,666).
Long Beach produces strong employment rates in business and applied fields, while Santa Cruz graduates often pursue graduate school or tech careers. Both schools maintain solid alumni networks within California.
Students seeking affordable education with urban opportunities and practical career preparation fit well at Long Beach, while those prioritizing research experiences, environmental focus, and UC system prestige despite higher costs should consider Santa Cruz.
Cal State Long Beach offers easier admission with a 40% acceptance rate compared to UC Santa Cruz's 47% rate, though both are moderately selective. Cost differs significantly: Long Beach charges $7,008 in-state tuition versus Santa Cruz's $14,560, resulting in average net prices of $8,931 and $16,607 respectively.
Long Beach serves 34,131 students with a 19:1 student-faculty ratio, while Santa Cruz enrolls 17,812 students at 22:1. Santa Cruz achieves higher retention (90% vs 85%) and graduation rates (75% vs 70%), suggesting stronger academic support systems.
Long Beach excels in business, engineering, and arts programs, benefiting from proximity to Los Angeles job markets. Santa Cruz stands out in computer science, environmental studies, and research opportunities as part of the UC system. Both schools offer distinct campus experiences: Long Beach provides urban access and NCAA Division I athletics, while Santa Cruz delivers a forested campus setting with Division III sports.
Career outcomes favor Santa Cruz slightly, with graduates earning $68,396 median income after ten years compared to Long Beach's $64,403. However, Long Beach graduates carry less debt ($14,289 vs $16,666).
Long Beach produces strong employment rates in business and applied fields, while Santa Cruz graduates often pursue graduate school or tech careers. Both schools maintain solid alumni networks within California.
Students seeking affordable education with urban opportunities and practical career preparation fit well at Long Beach, while those prioritizing research experiences, environmental focus, and UC system prestige despite higher costs should consider Santa Cruz.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| California State University-Long Beach | University of California-Santa Cruz | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 40.0% | 46.9% |
| Enrollment | 34,131 | 17,812 |
| In-State Tuition | $7,008 | $14,560 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $18,888 | $45,337 |
| Net Price | $8,931 | $16,607 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 69.9% | 74.5% |
| Retention Rate | 85.3% | 89.7% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $64,403 | $68,396 |
| Median Debt | $14,289 | $16,666 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| California State University-Long Beach | University of California-Santa Cruz | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $85,795 | Computer Engineering. | $79,150 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | $81,175 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $69,338 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | $73,949 | Computer Science. | $63,530 |
| Computer Engineering. | $68,499 | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | $60,185 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $67,287 | Business/Managerial Economics. | $51,607 |
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