University of South Florida vs California State University-Long Beach

University of South Florida 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: University of South Florida is more selective with a 41.0% acceptance rate compared to California State University-Long Beach's 47.1%.

Cost: California State University-Long Beach offers a lower average net price at $8,931, which is $1,112 less than University of South Florida ($10,043). 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 $6,660 more than University of South Florida graduates ($57,743).

Graduation: University of South Florida leads with a 74.4% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 91.4% vs 85.3%.

Campus Size: University of South Florida is the larger campus with 36,299 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.