California State University, Long Beach
(Long Beach State)
California State University, Long Beach (known as "The Beach" or "Long Beach State") is one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, enrolling over 42,000 students on a 320-acre campus about two miles from the Pacific coast. CSULB is best known for its School of Nursing — consistently ranked #1 in California and among the top BSN programs nationally — along with strong programs in engineering, business, and the College of the Arts, which houses the nationally recognized Film & Electronic Arts department (alum: Steven Spielberg). The campus is instantly recognizable for the purple Walter Pyramid athletics facility and the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden.
Mascot: Elbee the Shark
Notable Alumni
Steven Spielberg (Oscar-winning director (completed BA in 2002))•Steve Martin (Emmy and Grammy-winning comedian and actor (philosophy major))•Karen Carpenter (Grammy-winning singer of The Carpenters)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
CSULB is overwhelmingly a commuter school — roughly 90% of students live off campus, which shapes the social vibe. There is no football team (dropped in 1991) and Greek life is modest (~4% participation), so the traditional big-state-school social machine doesn't really exist here. What you get instead is a diverse, low-pressure LA-adjacent campus where students build their own scenes through the College of the Arts, 300+ student orgs, and the beach lifestyle. Academics are manageable in most majors, with nursing and engineering being the clear exceptions.
CSULB's campus is a mix of mid-century modern buildings, mature trees, and genuinely distinctive architectural landmarks — the blue Walter Pyramid, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, and the University Library's brutalist mass. The hilly topography and eucalyptus-lined walkways give it more character than most CSUs, though some academic buildings are dated concrete blocks. The Southern California climate and proximity to the coast do most of the heavy lifting.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
CSULB's University Police Department provides 24/7 patrol of the 320-acre campus, with a network of blue-light emergency phones, a safety escort program, and the LiveSafe app. On-campus violent crime is rare; most reported incidents are property-related (bike and vehicle theft).
The campus sits in the quiet, residential Los Altos neighborhood of East Long Beach — one of the safer parts of the city. Downtown Long Beach and areas further west have higher crime rates, but the immediate campus vicinity is comparable to a suburban LA community.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Weekdays year-round; Saturday tours on select dates
Duration: About 90 minutes (student-led walking tour + admissions Q&A)
Advance registration required through the Outreach & School Relations office. Self-parking validation provided with the tour confirmation. Specialized college/department tours are available by appointment.
Book a TourDownload the CSULB visitor map and follow a self-guided route covering the Walter Pyramid, University Library, Japanese Garden, and Friendship Walk. Allow 90 minutes.
Tour ResourcesSeptember–November and March–May are ideal — warm but not hot, full campus activity, and Japanese Garden at peak. Avoid mid-summer (campus quiet) and finals weeks in December and May.
Visitor parking is available in Parking Structure G2 (east entrance off Bellflower Blvd) and Lot 14 near the Welcome Center; $10 daily permits via the ParkMobile app (zone 4321). Long Beach Airport (LGB) is 10 minutes away; LAX is 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. The Long Beach Transit Passport and MetroLink connect campus to downtown Long Beach and the LA Metro system.
Location
Similar Colleges
Find the right college for you
Explore 161 colleges by degree, filter by acceptance rate, SAT range, and more.
Explore Colleges