Long Beach, CA · Private University
Is California State University-Long Beach Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$64,403
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$7,008
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$18,888
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$75,552
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
3.41x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
2.6 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
69.9%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$14,289
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$8,931
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
California State University-Long Beach graduates earn $19,403 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at California State University-Long Beach ranked by graduate earnings
306 graduates
59 graduates
69 graduates
198 graduates
70 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at California State University-Long Beach
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At California State University-Long Beach, the gap between the highest-earning major (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing: $106,552) and the lowest (Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication: $28,226) is $78,326/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBest ROI | $106,552 | 5.6x |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $100,265 | 5.3x |
| Computer Engineering | $94,641 | 5.0x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $88,978 | 4.7x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $87,463 | 4.6x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $85,474 | 4.5x |
| Computer Science | $84,658 | 4.5x |
| Civil Engineering | $83,849 | 4.4x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $77,649 | 4.1x |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $74,802 | 4.0x |
| Chemical Engineering | $74,366 | 3.9x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $70,860 | 3.8x |
| Chemistry | $66,742 | 3.5x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering(1yr data) | $66,090 | 3.5x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $64,908 | 3.4x |
| Economics | $62,301 | 3.3x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $60,567 | 3.2x |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $60,547 | 3.2x |
| Social Work | $59,826 | 3.2x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $59,383 | 3.1x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $59,051 | 3.1x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $58,879 | 3.1x |
| Physics | $58,587 | 3.1x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $58,055 | 3.1x |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $56,388 | 3.0x |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $56,104 | 3.0x |
| Biology, General | $56,054 | 3.0x |
| Mathematics | $55,381 | 2.9x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $54,749 | 2.9x |
| Marketing | $52,611 | 2.8x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $52,531 | 2.8x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,201 | 2.7x |
| Area Studies | $51,163 | 2.7x |
| Public Health | $50,030 | 2.6x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $49,313 | 2.6x |
| Journalism | $49,160 | 2.6x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $49,107 | 2.6x |
| Geography and Cartography | $49,077 | 2.6x |
| Political Science and Government | $47,695 | 2.5x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $46,751 | 2.5x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $45,596 | 2.4x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $45,576 | 2.4x |
| Psychology, General | $45,416 | 2.4x |
| Sociology | $45,282 | 2.4x |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $44,454 | 2.4x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $44,407 | 2.4x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $43,796 | 2.3x |
| History | $43,713 | 2.3x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $41,926 | 2.2x |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $41,642 | 2.2x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General(1yr data) | $41,552 | 2.2x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $40,003 | 2.1x |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $38,234 | 2.0x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,445 | 2.0x |
| Anthropology | $37,377 | 2.0x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $37,017 | 2.0x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $34,682 | 1.8x |
| International/Global Studies(1yr data) | $31,589 | 1.7x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $29,209 | 1.6x |
| Music | $28,306 | 1.5x |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationLowest(1yr data) | $28,226 | 1.5x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
California State University-Long Beach stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $64,403 10 years after starting, $19,403 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 2.6 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.