Cal State Long Beach vs Chico State

California State University-Long Beach (CSULB) and California State University-Chico (CSUC) are two esteemed public universities in California, each offering unique educational experiences. CSULB, located in the vibrant city of Long Beach, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, while CSUC, nestled in the picturesque town of Chico, is known for its strong focus on undergraduate education and its beautiful campus. With acceptance rates of 36% and 73%, respectively, these universities cater to students with varying academic backgrounds. While CSULB excels in fields like business, engineering, and nursing, CSUC shines in areas such as agriculture, business, and education. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, student demographics, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.

	California State University-Chico	California State University-Long Beach
Overview
Location	Chico, California	Long Beach, California
Campus setting	City: Midsize	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	81.0%	87.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	85.5%	46.9%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70
SAT range	N/A	N/A
ACT range	N/A	N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants	19,990	67,122
Total number of admissions given out	17,086	31,448
Admitted students who chose to enroll	1,929	4,865
Yield rate	11.3%	15.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Not required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $23,984 Out of state: $35,864	In state: $24,912 Out of state: $36,792
Average net price	$13,749	$9,171
Tuition	In state: $5,742 Out of state: $17,622	In state: $5,742 Out of state: $17,622
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,609 Meal plan: $3,881	Room/dormitory: $8,590 Meal plan: $4,324
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	63.0% Average amount $8,691	75.0% Average amount $9,433
Students receiving federal student loan	29.0% Average amount $4,637	19.0% Average amount $4,565
Students taking out private loans	1.0% Average amount $11,369	0.0% Average amount $15,875

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	14,462 Men 45.5% Women 54.5%	33,897 Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
Graduate students	1,240 Men 33.6% Women 66.4%	6,293 Men 37.5% Women 62.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	1.3%	1.4%
International students	2.9%	6.1%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	2,323	3,206
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	California Oregon Washington Arizona Colorado	California Texas Washington Pennsylvania Illinois

Academics
Popular study areas	Liberal Arts Health Professions Public Administration and Social Service Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Engineering Technologies	Health Professions Engineering Visual & Performing Arts Kinesiology & Leisure Studies Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio	22:1	23:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	65.4%	75.5%
Dropout rate	27.4%	19.7%
Transferred out	4.8%	1.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $94,107 Year 2: $95,797 Year 3: $96,478 Construction Management (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $78,190 Year 2: $83,091 Year 3: $93,961 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $72,808 Year 2: $74,241 Year 3: $91,563 Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $71,244 Year 2: $70,176 Year 3: $79,499 Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,761 Year 2: $69,617 Year 3: $79,308 Engineering, Other (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $68,803 Year 2: $66,355 Year 3: $76,389 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $63,879 Year 2: $59,350 Year 3: $74,258 Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $68,880 Year 2: $66,222 Year 3: $74,116 Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $67,298 Year 2: $68,499 Year 3: $69,321 Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $60,812 Year 2: $57,318 Year 3: $68,680	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $118,210 Year 3: $114,438 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $114,350 Year 2: $111,435 Year 3: $111,518 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $91,030 Year 2: $106,421 Year 3: $105,845 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $83,777 Year 2: $85,795 Year 3: $94,848 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $81,997 Year 3: $89,816 Construction Engineering Technologies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $83,666 Year 2: $81,175 Year 3: $89,338 Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $69,765 Year 2: $76,930 Year 3: $82,103 Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $76,747 Year 2: $79,755 Year 3: $81,071 Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $61,730 Year 2: $63,005 Year 3: $80,992 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $77,447 Year 2: $67,660 Year 3: $79,909

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico?

CSU Long Beach is a large, urban university located in Southern California, known for its diverse student body and strong programs in the arts, engineering, and business. CSU Chico is a mid-sized, more traditional campus in Northern California, known for its strong sense of community, outdoor recreation opportunities, and programs in agriculture, education, and communication.
Which university is larger, CSU Long Beach or CSU Chico?

CSU Long Beach is significantly larger than CSU Chico. CSU Long Beach typically has an enrollment of over 38,000 students, while CSU Chico's enrollment is usually around 16,000. This difference in size impacts class sizes, campus atmosphere, and the availability of resources.
Where are CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico located?

CSU Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California, a large coastal city in Los Angeles County. CSU Chico is located in Chico, California, a smaller city in the Sacramento Valley, about 90 miles north of Sacramento.
How do the campus environments differ between CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico?

CSU Long Beach offers a more urban and diverse campus environment, reflecting the vibrant city of Long Beach. CSU Chico provides a more traditional college town atmosphere with a strong sense of community and easy access to outdoor activities like hiking and biking.
Which university is known for its arts programs?

CSU Long Beach is particularly well-regarded for its arts programs, including visual arts, performing arts, and design. It offers a wide range of art-related majors and has excellent facilities.
Which university is known for its agriculture programs?

CSU Chico is known for its strong agriculture programs, offering a variety of specializations and hands-on learning opportunities at its University Farm.
How do the costs of attending CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico compare?

The cost of attendance is generally similar between CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico for tuition and fees. However, the overall cost of living may be higher in Long Beach due to its location in Southern California, particularly for housing.
What types of extracurricular activities are available at each university?

Both CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico offer a wide range of extracurricular activities, including clubs, organizations, sports, and volunteer opportunities. CSU Long Beach has a larger number of clubs and organizations due to its larger student body. CSU Chico has a strong emphasis on outdoor recreation and activities related to its rural location.
Which university is better for students interested in engineering?

CSU Long Beach has a well-established and respected engineering program with various specializations. While CSU Chico also offers engineering programs, CSU Long Beach's program is generally considered more comprehensive and benefits from its proximity to the aerospace and technology industries in Southern California.
Which university is better for students interested in a smaller, more close-knit community?

CSU Chico is generally considered to have a stronger sense of community due to its smaller size and more traditional college town setting. Students often find it easier to connect with faculty and peers at CSU Chico.
What are the career opportunities like after graduating from CSU Long Beach versus CSU Chico?

CSU Long Beach benefits from its location in a major metropolitan area, offering graduates access to a wide range of job opportunities in various industries. CSU Chico graduates often find opportunities in Northern California, particularly in fields related to agriculture, education, and government.
Do both universities offer on-campus housing?

Yes, both CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico offer on-campus housing options. However, due to CSU Long Beach's larger size and location in a densely populated area, on-campus housing can be more competitive to secure.
How do the acceptance rates compare between CSU Long Beach and CSU Chico?

Acceptance rates can fluctuate, but generally CSU Long Beach tends to have a slightly more competitive acceptance rate than CSU Chico due to its higher demand and larger applicant pool.

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