Back to Colleges
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA 34,131 Undergrads 83.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$20,310
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$8,931
After Aid
Median Earnings
$64,403
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$8,931
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$64,403
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate83.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients49.7%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time84.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS73.7%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
47.1%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$551k
+$154k
+$67k
Median Cost$9k/yr
+$519k
+$122k
+$34k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$478k
+$81k
-$7k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$9k/yr
44
107%
Full Cost$20k/yr
Never
-9%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return85%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-22%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$14,551
Earnings (5yr)
$78,508
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
BachCIP: 1402
Median Debt
$25,775
Earnings (5yr)
$99,098
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$11,229
Earnings (5yr)
$39,659
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,683
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
$15,348
Earnings (5yr)
$51,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$61k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,989
Lifetime Value Added
+$79k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$12,994
Earnings (5yr)
$65,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$15,500
Earnings (2yr)
$73,949
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$66,801
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
$18,329
Earnings (5yr)
$66,980
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$16,248
Earnings (5yr)
$91,493
Lifetime Value Added
+$248k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$12,430
Earnings (5yr)
$80,456
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$15,850
Earnings (5yr)
$98,200
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$13,766
Earnings (5yr)
$58,497
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,231
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Computer Engineering
BachCIP: 1409
Median Debt
$17,129
Earnings (5yr)
$108,748
Lifetime Value Added
+$377k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$14,885
Earnings (5yr)
$93,142
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$116,039
Lifetime Value Added
+$431k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,999
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$27,350
Lifetime Value Added
-$263k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$67,824
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
BachCIP: 5131
Median Debt
$13,151
Earnings (5yr)
$66,995
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$26,450
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,969
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (5yr)
$66,961
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$80,484
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (5yr)
$101,607
Lifetime Value Added
+$323k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$14,400
Earnings (5yr)
$53,709
Lifetime Value Added
-$41k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
$12,337
Earnings (5yr)
$50,464
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1901
Median Debt
$12,956
Earnings (5yr)
$47,210
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$14,650
Earnings (5yr)
$68,305
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (5yr)
$42,341
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,468
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$50,856
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,179
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$14,016
Earnings (5yr)
$56,995
Lifetime Value Added
-$14k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,804
Earnings (5yr)
$48,818
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$46,668
Lifetime Value Added
-$99k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$13,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$65,611
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
International Relations and National Security Studies
BachCIP: 4509
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$40,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,294
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$52,433
Lifetime Value Added
-$51k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
$11,543
Earnings (5yr)
$40,052
Lifetime Value Added
-$154k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$82,271
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$13,750
Earnings (5yr)
$62,561
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$59,026
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$16,616
Earnings (5yr)
$97,895
Lifetime Value Added
+$296k
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
BachCIP: 2605
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,860
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,050
Earnings (2yr)
$15,552
Lifetime Value Added
-$357k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$68,028
Lifetime Value Added
+$72k
Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
BachCIP: 3101
Median Debt
$14,750
Earnings (5yr)
$47,459
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$12,919
Earnings (5yr)
$46,835
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$18,654
Earnings (5yr)
$79,330
Lifetime Value Added
+$157k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$14,236
Earnings (5yr)
$59,758
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$11,952
Earnings (5yr)
$55,066
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$13,200
Earnings (5yr)
$61,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$41,621
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$16,743
Earnings (5yr)
$113,863
Lifetime Value Added
+$415k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (5yr)
$43,603
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$48,906
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$11,716
Earnings (5yr)
$64,415
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$12,713
Earnings (5yr)
$53,402
Lifetime Value Added
-$43k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Curriculum and Instruction
PB-CertCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$90,043
Lifetime Value Added
+$419k
Public Administration
PB-CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$89,626
Lifetime Value Added
+$415k
Master's Degrees
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$27,285
Earnings (5yr)
$102,189
Lifetime Value Added
+$442k
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
MastCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$59,045
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$100,443
Lifetime Value Added
+$427k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,275
Lifetime Value Added
+$425k
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Lifetime Value Added
-$38k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$21,738
Earnings (5yr)
$83,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$138k
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
MastCIP: 5131
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$61,516
Lifetime Value Added
+$124k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
MastCIP: 1410
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$121,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$611k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$25,197
Earnings (5yr)
$64,601
Lifetime Value Added
+$118k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$47,000
Earnings (5yr)
$45,947
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (2yr)
$53,775
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$31,281
Earnings (5yr)
$109,267
Lifetime Value Added
+$502k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,602
Earnings (5yr)
$74,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$83,637
Lifetime Value Added
+$282k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$70,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$202k
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$39,106
Earnings (5yr)
$74,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Public Administration
MastCIP: 4404
Median Debt
$23,136
Earnings (5yr)
$89,371
Lifetime Value Added
+$332k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$26,210
Earnings (5yr)
$84,760
Lifetime Value Added
+$292k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$139,337
Lifetime Value Added
+$758k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$79,284
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$46,087
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education
MastCIP: 1309
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,818
Lifetime Value Added
+$207k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$30,414
Earnings (5yr)
$84,404
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$17,157
Earnings (2yr)
$71,575
Lifetime Value Added
+$216k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$28,000
Earnings (5yr)
$79,331
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$76,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$261k
Graduate Certificates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$30,500
Earnings (5yr)
$145,444
Lifetime Value Added
+$931k
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$125,689
Lifetime Value Added
+$450k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$75,421
Earnings (5yr)
$90,553
Lifetime Value Added
+$195k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.