About California State University-Long Beach
California State University-Long Beach is a public university in Long Beach, California, in a large city. It enrolls roughly 35,920 undergraduates, most of them full time. The federal student-to-faculty ratio is about 23 to 1.
Nursing programs at California State University-Long Beach
Federal completion data shows nursing credentials awarded at these levels: bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and master’s degree in nursing (MSN). In the most recent reporting year, the school reported about 157 bachelor’s-level nursing graduates and about 94 master’s-level nursing graduates. A bachelor’s program is the traditional four-year route to RN licensure and the usual starting point for later graduate study; see our ADN vs. BSN guide if you are still deciding on a degree level. The MSN option is aimed at licensed nurses moving into advanced practice, leadership, or teaching.
Cost and student outcomes
Published tuition and fees are about $8,300 a year for in-state students and $21,700 for out-of-state students. The average net price (what students receiving federal aid pay after grants and scholarships) is about $9,400 a year. About 54% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Students who finish the bachelor’s level and borrow leave with median federal loan debt of about $13,000. Federal earnings data puts median pay for those bachelor’s-level nursing graduates at roughly $104,900 one year after finishing and $111,700 four years out. These are estimates for graduates with reported earnings, not a promise. Schoolwide, about 70% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time and 87% return for a second year.
Applying and licensure
Admission is moderately selective, with about 46% of applicants admitted overall, so a solid academic record helps. Admission to the nursing major or program is often a separate, competitive step with prerequisites, minimum grades, and capped enrollment. Check deadlines with the nursing department, and read our nursing school requirements guide to prepare. To work as a nurse in California, graduates apply for a license with the California Board of Registered Nursing (for RN licensure) or the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (for LVN licensure) and pass the NCLEX. Before you commit, verify the program’s ACEN or CCNE accreditation and state approval, and compare it with other options on our California nursing schools page.
Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and can change. Confirm current details with the school.
