California State University, Long Beach is one of the largest campuses in the California State University system, on a coastal campus in southern Los Angeles County. It is best known for engineering, business, computer science, nursing, the arts and film, with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, aerospace firms and the entertainment industry nearby. Choose it for a Los Angeles-area degree at CSU prices near the beach.
Long Beach, United States
Official website: csulb.edu
#1401
Top 5 public (U.S. News)
Among the top 10 US universities (U.S. News)
Around 40,000 students — one of the largest CSU campuses
$20,000 – $26,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$18,000 – $23,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on csulb.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (College of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
College of Engineering — one of the largest in California, with aerospace and port industry links.
Film and the arts — a well-known film school and the largest arts college in the CSU system.
Walter Pyramid — a blue campus arena visible across Long Beach.
Coast — beaches two miles from campus and a mild climate year-round.
Graduates join Boeing, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Disney, the Port of Long Beach and Los Angeles's tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 70,000-80,000.
Nursing graduates enter Los Angeles County's hospital systems.
Undergrad
30 Nov 2026
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 320-acre campus sits in east Long Beach, with the University Student Union and library at its centre, the engineering and business buildings nearby and residence halls and the Walter Pyramid arena on the north side.
Long Beach is a coastal city of about 460,000 people with beaches, a waterfront and lower rent than central Los Angeles. Downtown Los Angeles is 30 minutes away by car or Metro.
Form I-20 issued by Cal State Long Beach
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduate applications for fall 2027 go through Cal State Apply between 1 October and 30 November 2026, with no late applications accepted, as every major is impacted. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computing master's closing between 1 March and 15 April for fall.
Undergraduates start in the fall (late August), as spring admission is closed for almost all majors. Computer science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering master's admit for both fall and spring, while the MBA and information systems master's are fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Center for International Education issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, the MBA, information systems and mechanical engineering attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree in a related field with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE or GMAT for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is competitive, with an acceptance rate around 40%.
Cal State Long Beach offers limited merit scholarships to international students through its online scholarship application after admission; need-based aid is not available, though tuition is low for the Los Angeles area. Graduate students can apply for teaching assistantships and grant-funded research roles in engineering and computer science.
