California State University, Fullerton is a large public university in Fullerton, California, in Orange County and the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is among the largest institutions in the California State University system, with around 36,943 undergraduate students. Admissions are not competitive, with an acceptance rate of 87%. Business Administration, Psychology, and Communications are popular major programs. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 69–78%, and graduates earn a median income of approximately INR 51,00,000 (converted from $62,700 five years after graduation). The affordability is moderate, with an annual tuition fee of $5,742 and the average net price after financial aid around INR 5,20,000 (converted from $6,283). Cal State Fullerton is known nationally for being affordable, for its engineering and business schools, and for its high social mobility record.
California State University, Long Beach is a large public university in Long Beach, California, also in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It is among the most competitive campuses in the CSU system, enrolling approximately 40,278 undergraduate students. Admissions are fairly competitive, with an acceptance rate of approximately 47%. Students have a variety of majors to select from in Liberal Arts, Business, Engineering, Education, and Health Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is better at 73–81%, and graduates have a median income of approximately INR 51,50,000 (converted from $62,000–$64,400 five years after graduation). The tuition is the same as Fullerton at $5,742, though the average net price after financial aid is greater at approximately INR 8,10,000 (converted from $9,731). CSULB routinely receives designation as a top value university with excellent graduation rates and value scores in national rankings.
| California State University | California State University Fullerton | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 5 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1553 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 105 US News 2024 # 1790 US News 2024 | # 1377 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 133 US News 2024 # 1067 US News 2024 |
| Programs | UG Programs -117 PG Programs -61 Doctorate Programs -2 | UG Programs -106 PG Programs -65 |
| Acceptance Rate | 91.0 % | 86.7 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-115 IELTS-6.5 PTE-58 TOEFL-80 | IELTS-5.5 SAT-1020 TOEFL-61 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 9130 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 13090 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 40134 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 16399 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 19327 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 33068 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Bachelor of Science: $105,000 Bachelor of Arts: $40,000 | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: Masters in Science: $140,000 Masters of Arts: $109,000 Bachelor of Science: $105,000 Bachelor of Arts: $65,000 |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts, Submit LORs, Submit writing sample, Submit English language proficiency, Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts, Submit LORs, Submit English language proficiency, Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.0/10 Read 7 reviews | 7.4/10 Read 9 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| exam scores | GMAT - 530/800IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 53/90TOEFL - 79/120 | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7.0/9PTE - 65/90TOEFL - 88/120 |
| application dates | Nov 30, 2023 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake) Feb 28, 2024 (Application Deadline For Summer Intake) | Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | California State University | California State University Fullerton |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1857 | 1957 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 24:1 | 23:1 |
| Male:Female | 44% Male, 56% Female | 44% Male, 56% Female |
| Location Facts | The university is part of the California state university system and is located in Long Beach.The campus spans 323 acres (131 ha) across 84 buildings, and is located 3 miles (5 km) from the Pacific Ocean. | The campus is on the site of former citrus groves in northeast Fullerton. It is bordered on the east by the Orange Freeway, on the west by State College Boulevard, on the north by Yorba Linda Boulevard, and on the south by Nutwood Avenue. |
| Library | The CSULB library’s mission is to foster an inclusive environment for our community to engage in curiosity, innovation, and creative activities. | Pollak Library offers eBooks, streaming video, a wide range of databases, as well as Interlibrary Loan service for anything that it does not owns. |
| Campus Life | CSULB’s diverse and active campus life reflects its student body. With restaurants, student organizations, and hundreds of small and large events, the University offers various programs and services to help students feel engaged and supported throughout their academic careers. CSULB has four convenience stores on campus: the Convenience & Snack Shop; the Beach Hut; the Outpost Convenience Store; and the Corner Market, which accepts CalFresh. Stop in for pre-packaged sandwiches, soups, snacks, beverages, over-the-counter medication, and school supplies. Food carts near Brotman Hall and the College of Business Administration also sell light refreshments. Students are encouraged to apply for University Housing (on-campus housing) once they have been admitted to the University. The Student Wellness and Recreation Center oversees several intramural sports for student recreation. The home of Long Beach State basketball and volleyball for over 20 years, the Walter Pyramid has become a nationally recognized venue for the University and the city of Long Beach. Through practical experience in performance, the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music educates and inspires students for rewarding careers as artists, teachers, and scholars. | our top priority at college is academic success, and you’ll find supportive staff, educational resources and wellness offerings at Cal State Fullerton to help you achieve that. Outside of the classroom, you’ll enjoy a choice of more than 375 clubs and organizations, study abroad, Division I sports, cultural pursuits and much more! |
| Hostel | #Living Expenses (housing and food) - $22752 | #Off campus (not with family) - $14502 #On campus - $15642 #Off campus (with family) - $2924 |
| Famous Alumni | Millicent Borges Accardi: poet and writer, NEA winner Arleen Auger: opera singer | Actor and filmmaker, Kevin Costner Astronaut ,Tracy Caldwell Dyson Speaker of the California State Assembly and former professor, Anthony Rendon Actor, David Castañeda |
| City Life | A coastal city only 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach is a renowned shipping port in southern California. Long Beach is the sixth-largest city in California that is famous for its multiple popular attractions near the waterfront. With almost 500,000 people, the city offers its residents an urban yet small-town feel with friendly neighbors and diverse culture. Long Beach is a coastal gem of California, and the city has a robust shopping and dining scene, exciting nightlife, and an abundance of things to do indoors and outdoors. The cost of living in Long Beach, in particular, is known to be 43% higher than the national average. While it may not be the most expensive city in California, Long Beach is not considered cheap either. Though a little less costly than living in Los Angeles and 29% cheaper than living in New York City, Long Beach is still known to be among the highest-priced cities in the United States due to its location in southern California and proximity to high-end other towns. Future job growth is expected to increase by 32.5%. With such a diverse economy, the city's job market is expected to grow, stabilize, and strengthen sooner rather than later. With top industries in aerospace, healthcare, financial services, tourism, hospitality, technology, trade, and oil, there is something for everyone. | Located in North Orange County, Fullerton is approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles and less than 20 minutes away from Disneyland. Fullerton has over 280+ days of sunshine and a diverse blend of amenities with abundant cultural, educational and entertainment resources. Boasting a population of approximately 140,000 citizens, Fullerton is a community with a strong sense of tradition, and takes pride in providing an atmosphere that allows both for preservation of its historic past and opportunities to meet the challenges of the future. Fullerton’s offerings are not just confined to the Downtown. Other popular destinations are the award-winning Fullerton Museum Center, home of the Leo Fender Gallery; the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, which offers fine art exhibitions; the Fullerton Arboretum, on campus of California State University at Fullerton, which presents a stunning array of plant and garden ideas, plus is home to Heritage House, a beautifully restored Victorian residence; two championship golf courses and a driving range; an Olympic-sized swim complex; and more than 40 parks, plus recreation and equestrian trails. |
| Weather |
Cal State Fullerton vs Cal State Long Beach
Subject Strength & Rankings (2025/2026)
Neither Cal State Fullerton nor Cal State Long Beach features in global rankings among top research universities, but both do well within regional and national public university rankings. CSULB tends to be rated somewhat higher overall, especially in graduation performance and best-value rankings, with CSUF being a national leader in social mobility. On program strength, both campuses are strong in Business and Engineering, with CSULB also being well-represented in the arts and health sciences, and CSUF features strong programs in communications and education.
General Information
CSUF admits a few fewer students than CSULB and has a less competitive admissions profile, so it is an option for more applicants. CSULB, with its larger enrollment, is more competitive and focuses on high academic achievement for admission. Both schools have large suburban campuses close to Los Angeles, providing students with access to career opportunities throughout Southern California.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Fullerton's acceptance rate of around 87% makes it one of the more liberal CSU campuses, whereas Long Beach accepts fewer than half its applicants, with an acceptance rate of around 47%. CSULB's admitted freshmen tend to have higher GPAs, averaging close to 3.9, compared to the wider range at CSUF. Students at both campuses can anticipate competitive admissions to individual programs like Business and Nursing, even though the overall admissions are more open.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both campuses pursue a teaching-first agenda instead of international research supremacy. Nevertheless, CSULB possesses more comprehensive facilities in a wider program scope, such as arts and health sciences, while CSUF is highly praised for its research in areas such as engineering, communications, and education. Both institutions provide applied research opportunities related to industries in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both schools charge the same base tuition, $5,742 for state students, but the net cost varies greatly: Fullerton sits at around $6,283 after aid is applied, while Long Beach is more like $9,731. Room and board fees are a bit higher at Fullerton, although CSULB boasts a slight advantage in total graduation rates that can be considered a trade-off for the more expensive option. Both offer access to state and federal aid, with Pell Grants being used across their varied populations.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Achievement
Career outcomes are similar across both universities, with median salaries of around $62,000 five years post-graduation. CSULB alumni have a slight edge in graduation rates and a strong reputation for professional readiness, especially in the arts and health sciences. CSUF graduates are highly regarded for social mobility and career advancement, especially in business, education, and engineering. On the whole, both schools are good investments for public university fees, with CSULB providing a more selective setting and CSUF offering wider accessibility and affordability.
