Cal State University, Long Beach: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public university with an acceptance rate of 39%. Established in 1949, Cal State Long Beach is the third largest university by enrollment in the California State University system. The most popular undergraduate majors at CSULB are engineering and health and human services.

Considering applying to Cal State Long Beach? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why CSU Long Beach?

• Location: Long Beach, California
• Campus Highlights: CSU Long Beach's 322-acre campus sits just a few miles from sand beaches and the Pacific Ocean. CSULB's athletic facilities include the iconic Walter Pyramid.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 23:1
• Athletics: The Long Beach State 49ers compete in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference.
• Highlights: Students at "The Beach" can choose from over 150 academic programs.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Cal State Long Beach had an acceptance rate of 39%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 39 students were admitted, making CSULB's admissions process competitive.

Long Beach Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph." width="1018" height="650" />

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to California State University, Long Beach. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Cal State Long Beach, which accepts fewer than half of applicants, has a competitive admissions process. What makes the difference between an acceptance and a rejection? Unlike the University of California System, the California State University admission process is not holistic. Except for EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) students, applicants do not need to submit letters of recommendation or an application essay, and extracurricular involvement is not part of the standard application.

Admissions are based primarily on an eligibility index that combines GPA and test scores. To be admitted, you must have completed and achieved a "C" grade or higher in required college preparatory courses which include two years of history and social science, four years of college prep English, three years of math, two years of laboratory science, one year of visual or performing arts, and one year of a college preparatory elective. Additionally, a separate STEM eligibility index is calculated for admission to science, technology, engineering, and math majors. Applicants should be aware that California State University, Long Beach is designated as impacted because it receives more applications than can be accommodated.

In the scattergram above, the green and blue dots represent accepted students. The majority of students accepted to California State University, Long Beach had GPAs of 3.0 or higher, SAT scores (ERW+M) of 950 or higher, and ACT scores of 18 or higher. Chances of acceptance are best for students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and a combined SAT score of 1100 or above. In the middle of the graph, note that there is some red (rejected students) hidden behind the blue and green. Some students with grades and test scores on target for CSULB still get rejected.