Florida International University vs California State University-Long Beach

Florida International University and California State University-Long Beach are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: California State University-Long Beach is more selective with a 47.1% acceptance rate compared to Florida International University's 58.8%.

Cost: California State University-Long Beach offers a lower average net price at $8,931, which is $202 less than Florida International University ($9,133). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from California State University-Long Beach earn a median salary of $64,403 ten years after enrollment, which is $4,154 more than Florida International University graduates ($60,249).

Graduation: California State University-Long Beach leads with a 71.3% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 91.6% vs 85.3%.

Campus Size: Florida International University is the larger campus with 38,761 total students, while California State University-Long Beach has 34,131.

Bottom Line: California State University-Long Beach stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.