California State University Long Beach Scholarships & Costs (2025–2026)

California State University, Long Beach Scholarships (2025–2026)

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Thinking about CSULB? This guide breaks down what it really costs to attend, the scholarships you can tap into, and the programs that make The Beach stand out. We’ve pulled everything into one place so you can plan ahead, compare options, and feel confident about your next steps.

💰 Cost of Attendance at California State University, Long Beach

Before you can figure out which scholarships to target, it helps to know the real price tag. This breakdown shows the big-ticket costs—tuition, housing, and more—so you can see the difference between in-state and out-of-state rates and start planning with clear numbers.

Expense Category In-State (CA Resident) Out-of-State (Non-Resident)
Tuition & Mandatory Fees $8,312 $19,856
Housing & Meals (On-Campus) $17,382 $17,382
Total (Before Aid) $31,822 $43,366

Other estimated yearly costs: Books & Supplies – $1,590; Transportation – $1,252; Personal/Miscellaneous – $3,286.

FAQ

Who qualifies for in-state rates? California residents who meet state residency requirements.

How much more do non-residents pay? About $12,500 more per year than in-state students.

Is there a way to reduce non-resident tuition? No automatic waivers or regional programs are offered at CSULB.

✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships

CSULB does not offer automatic, GPA/test-based institutional scholarships like you’ll find at some other universities. Most CSULB awards require a separate application through the BeachScholarships portal or via the University Honors Program.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
Middle Class Scholarship (State of California) Varies — typically $1,000–$5,000/year California residents with family income/asset levels that meet CA Student Aid Commission guidelines; must file FAFSA or CA Dream Act by the state deadline No (automatic if eligible) Yes (up to 4 years, must maintain eligibility) Middle-income CA residents who file on time and meet state requirements

Note: This is a state-funded award that applies automatically if you meet the criteria — it is not a CSULB institutional scholarship. For more on California state aid programs, visit our California State Aid Guide. CSULB does not have automatic merit tiers for incoming freshmen; all other awards require an application.

FAQ

How do I get the Middle Class Scholarship? File your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by the state deadline and meet California Student Aid Commission eligibility rules.

Does CSULB give automatic merit aid based on GPA/test scores? No — all CSULB merit aid is competitive or departmental and requires an application.

What is BeachScholarships? CSULB’s internal scholarship portal — one application lets you be considered for many awards, but you must still submit it.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships

CSULB’s flagship merit award is the President’s Scholarship, administered through the University Honors Program. It’s selective, has extra steps, and funds go beyond tuition.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
President’s Scholarship Individualized package up to 4 years:
• Tuition waiver
• Campus housing allowance
• Textbook/course-materials subsidy 		New first-year or transfer applicant
Must apply to University Honors Program in the spring window
FAFSA or CA Dream Act also required for scholarship consideration 		Yes — the Honors application doubles for Honors admission and President’s Scholarship consideration
First Round: Feb 1–Mar 1
Decisions: April 		Yes — up to 4 years
Maintain Honors good standing (incl. ≥3.0 GPA) and required Honors coursework 		Honors-caliber students with very strong GPAs/rigor, leadership & engagement
When GPAs are published, winners typically show ~3.8–4.0 unweighted or top-of-class profiles*
Strong essays and fit with Honors matter

FAQ

  • Do I need a separate application? No separate scholarship app — submit the University Honors application during the First Round (Feb 1–Mar 1) to be considered for the President’s Scholarship; you’ll be notified in April.
  • What are the key deadlines? Apply to CSULB via Cal State Apply by Nov 30; then apply to University Honors during the First Round (Feb 1–Mar 1). A Second Round (mid-March to May) may open for Honors admission, typically without President’s consideration.
  • Are transfer students eligible? Yes — open to new incoming first-year and transfer students.
  • How competitive is it? Very. Awards are limited and tied to Honors selection. Think top GPAs, rigorous coursework, strong essays, and campus/community leadership.
  • Renewal rules? Up to 4 years while remaining in Honors good standing (including completing Honors coursework and maintaining ~3.0+ GPA in Honors and overall).
  • Can it stack with other awards? The package includes a tuition waiver and housing allowance; stacking rules vary by funding source. Confirm interactions with need-based aid and any tuition-specific awards with Financial Aid.

*GPA/test bands shown here are general indicators based on typical Honors-caliber profiles; CSULB does not publish fixed GPA cutoffs for the President’s Scholarship.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These awards fly under the radar but can meaningfully cut costs—especially for first‑gen, undocumented, foster‑youth, ROTC, study‑abroad, and department‑specific students. Most live in the campus portals below and open on predictable cycles.

Scholarship / Program Award Amount Eligibility (plain English) Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
Long Beach State Promise Award $500 (one‑time) For CSULB students who are Long Beach College Promise eligible (LBUSD/LBCC pipeline). Apply during the BeachScholarships window. Yes — BeachScholarships No Local Promise students who complete the short app on time; participation in Promise programming helps.
Dream Success Center (DSC) Scholarships (e.g., Breaking Fronteras Undocu5k; Shonnardo Bodie) $500–$2,250 (range based on fund) Undocumented/AB 540 students; some funds open to grad programs (check descriptions). All CSULB scholarships welcome undocumented students. Yes — DSC/BeachScholarships or listed form No (most are one‑time) Students who engage with DSC, meet fund criteria, and submit brief statements; leadership/service with undocumented communities is a plus.
Guardian Scholars (Former Foster Youth) Annual scholarship support (typically four‑figure aid to cover basic needs) Current or former foster youth enrolled at CSULB; must submit Guardian Scholars application and verification. Yes — Guardian Scholars app Yes — while meeting program criteria Foster‑youth students who engage with advising and programming; consistent academic progress and need documentation.
Army ROTC Scholarships (CSULB Army ROTC) Covers tuition & fees or room & board, plus book allowance and monthly stipend ROTC cadets who meet academic, medical, and fitness standards; open to most majors. Yes — ROTC scholarship boards Yes — must remain contract‑eligible and in good standing Committed cadets who maintain required GPA/fitness and complete training milestones; leadership evaluation matters.
Study/Intern Abroad — Career Development Center Scholarships $1,000 (semester) / $750 (short‑term) CSULB students accepted to a CSULB study or internship abroad program; brief essay and meeting with Career Center required. Yes — CDC submission (per call) No Students with clear goals for abroad experience and timely apps; strong fit to career exploration.
College of Education Study Abroad Travel Stipend Up to $1,000 College of Education majors participating in eligible CSULB study‑abroad (summer, winter, semester, or short‑term). Yes — College of Education process No Teacher‑prep students with financial need and a confirmed program itinerary; earlier applicants fare best.
Chicano & Latino Studies Scholarships (e.g., CHLS Award; Gloria Z. Pacho Memorial) $500–$1,000 (per award) CHLS majors/minors; some awards prioritize health‑related career interests. Yes — BeachScholarships/Dept. No (typically one‑time) Students active in CHLS with faculty references and clear academic/professional goals.
Journalism & Public Relations Department Scholarships $250–$5,000 (multiple awards annually) Journalism/PR majors and minors; portfolio and faculty references often requested. Yes — BeachScholarships No (most are one‑time) Students with clips/portfolio, student media involvement, and faculty endorsements.
College of Education Donor‑Funded Scholarships $500–$5,000 (historical range) Undergrad/grad students in College of Education programs; single app considers many donor funds. Yes — BeachScholarships (Jan–Mar) No/Varies by fund Education majors with solid GPA, service in schools, and faculty references; earlier and complete apps do best.
Sally Casanova Pre‑Doctoral Scholars (CSU‑wide, hosted at CSULB) $5,000 stipend (+ optional funded summer research) Upper‑division undergraduates and graduate students exploring Ph.D. pathways; mentorship and research plan required. Yes — CSU application (campus‑coordinated) No (one‑year award) Research‑oriented students with strong faculty mentorship and clear doctoral goals; competitive personal statement and plan.

FAQ

  • Where do we apply for most campus scholarships? Start at BeachScholarships (January–March cycle). Some programs (Dream Success Center, Career Center study‑abroad) use their own short forms—follow each page’s instructions.
  • Can undocumented students apply? Yes. CSULB states that campus scholarships welcome undocumented students; the Dream Success Center also runs dedicated funds and book grants.
  • Do these awards stack with financial aid? Usually, yes—most stack with grants and outside scholarships. Tuition‑specific awards (e.g., ROTC tuition) may affect other tuition waivers; check with Financial Aid when an offer posts.
  • When should we start? Aim to line up materials by winter break. BeachScholarships opens early spring; study‑abroad awards often close about a month before departure; ROTC scholarships run on set board timelines.

⭐ College Specialty

  • #1 in the U.S. for Social Mobility among national universities (U.S. News & World Report, 2024).
  • Top Gets in Engineering (non-PhD institutions) — undergrad #20 nationwide; civil engineering #8, computer engineering #10, electrical engineering #12 (U.S. News).
  • Exceptional diversity and inclusion metrics — ranked #6 in the nation for awarding engineering degrees to Hispanic students; #5 for female tenure-track engineering faculty; #3 nationally for minority engineering degrees.
  • Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) excellence — ranked #11 of 377 Best HSIs and #14 of 181 Best AANAPISI schools (Niche).
  • Top-ranked programs by College Factual:
    • Consumer Sciences: #1 of 31
    • Health Sciences & Services: #2 of 231
    • Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies: #3 of 47
    • Computer Engineering Technology: #4 of 22
    • Textile & Apparel Studies: #8 of 51

🎖️ Honors College

CSULB’s University Honors Program (UHP) is a campus-wide honors experience featuring small seminars, faculty mentorship, and a required senior thesis/project. It’s the path to CSULB’s top merit award and a tighter academic community inside a large public university.

Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins?
President’s Scholarship (via University Honors Program) Up to 4 years:
• Tuition waiver
• Housing allowance
• Books/course‑materials subsidy 		New first‑year or transfer admitted to CSULB;
must apply to University Honors Program during spring window;
complete FAFSA or CA Dream Act for need coordination. 		Yes — the Honors application doubles as scholarship consideration.
First Round typically opens Feb 1 and closes Mar 1; decisions in April. 		Yes — up to 4 years with Honors good standing
(maintain ≈3.0+ GPA and make timely Honors progress). 		• GPA around 3.8–4.0* (unweighted) or top‑10% profile
• High rigor (AP/IB/DE or advanced courses in context)
• Leadership & impact across school/community/research
• Excellent essays showing intellectual curiosity and fit with Honors

*CSU is test‑free for admission; SAT/ACT (and superscoring) are not used for selection. GPA ranges marked * are estimates based on typical Honors‑caliber profiles because CSULB does not publish fixed minimums. CSULB historically names a limited cohort of President’s Scholars each year (often on the order of a few dozen); verify the current year’s count on the Honors site before publishing.

FAQ

  • Is admission to Honors automatic? No. You must submit the University Honors application; the First Round window typically runs Feb 1–Mar 1, with President’s decisions released in April.
  • Do test scores help? No. The CSU system is test‑free for admission; CSULB does not use SAT/ACT or superscoring for Honors or the President’s Scholarship. Scores, if submitted, are for placement only.
  • Can transfers apply? Yes. High‑achieving transfer applicants are eligible for UHP and may be considered for the President’s Scholarship when timelines align.
  • Does Honors add time to graduation? No. Honors coursework and the thesis/project are designed to fit within a standard four‑year plan.
  • Can the President’s Scholarship stack with other aid? The package includes a tuition waiver and a housing allowance, which may limit stacking with other tuition‑specific awards. Confirm interactions with Financial Aid after your offer posts.
  • What do I need to renew? Stay in good standing: complete Honors milestones on schedule and maintain roughly a 3.0+ GPA.

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Final Thoughts

You’ve got a clear roadmap through CSULB’s costs, top scholarships, and standout programs. The Beach is rich with opportunities—from the academic boost of Honors to the unique hands-on strength of Marine Biology. Breathe easy knowing there are real pathways to reduce costs and power up your college journey.

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