Head-to-head comparison
California State University-Long Beach vs San Diego State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Long Beach, CA
California State University-Long Beach
- Net price / year
- $10,440
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,403
- Payback
- 2.6 yrs
Option B San Diego, CA
San Diego State University
- Net price / year
- $15,364
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,909
- Payback
- 3.7 yrs
California State University-Long Beach has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $41,760 in 2.6 years versus 3.7 years at San Diego State University, on median earnings of $64,403 vs $64,909 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | California State University-Long Beach | San Diego State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,440 | $15,364 |
| Total net cost | $41,760 | $61,456 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $64,403 | $64,909 |
| Median debt | $14,289 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 2.6 yrs | 3.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $279,100 | $269,524 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, California State University-Long Beach or San Diego State University?
California State University-Long Beach, at $10,440 a year after aid versus $15,364 — a gap of $4,924 a year, or $19,696 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do California State University-Long Beach or San Diego State University graduates earn more?
San Diego State University graduates report a median $64,909 ten years after entry, $506 more than the $64,403 at California State University-Long Beach. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, California State University-Long Beach or San Diego State University?
California State University-Long Beach: its completers carry a median $14,289 in federal loans versus $15,000 at San Diego State University, a difference of $711. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at San Diego State University, against 69% at California State University-Long Beach. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.