Long Beach City College
- Graduation Rate
- 28% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,870 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $6,202 A-
- 64% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 22,427
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 41.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $41.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $41.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,008,601.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduation of 28% — 50% below the national average.
-
Social mobility rate of 3.31% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $41.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 98%
- Patents
- 37
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 399
- Downstream influence
Why Long Beach City College Matters
Long Beach City College is a public college in Long Beach, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 22,427
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology
Why students choose Long Beach City College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,202 a year after grants and scholarships — 64% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,870 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $10,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 7% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.13 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly 22,500 students choose Long Beach City College each year, making it a significant hub for community college education in California. With a net price of $6,202, it offers an affordable option for students looking to further their education without incurring overwhelming debt.
Long Beach City College's graduates earn a median salary of $38,870 after ten years. While the graduation rate stands at 28%, the data suggests that many students who enroll may not complete their degrees in the traditional timeframe. For those who do, the financial outlook can be supportive, especially for those who take advantage of the 37% of students receiving Pell Grants.
Students who thrive here often pursue programs in Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Psychology, and Social Sciences. The college caters well to those looking for a strong foundation before transferring to a four-year institution or entering the workforce with marketable skills.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Long Beach City College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Long Beach City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Long Beach, California, Long Beach City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
- Retention Rate
- 71%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 33%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,152
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 26:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 56%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Long Beach City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Long Beach City College is $12,544, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,202. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,505 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $1,556
- Out-of-State
- $12,544
- Avg Net Price
- $6,202
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,505
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,412
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,180
- Family Income $110K+
- $10,089
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Long Beach City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Long Beach City College report median earnings of $38,870, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,118
- 8 Years
- $35,346
- 10 Years
- $38,870
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 41%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (199)
- 9%
- 100% (199)
- 9%
- 100% (199)
- 9%
- 100% (199)
- 9%
How Long Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Long Beach City College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Long Beach City College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,202/year ($24,808 total). Graduates earn $38,870 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,033,409 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,008,601 (41.7× your investment). The median debt is $10,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 28% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,808
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,033,409
- Net Return
- $1,008,601
- ROI Multiple
- 41.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,202
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 28%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Long Beach City College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Long Beach City College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.31%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.31%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 24.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $49,900
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Long Beach City College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 37 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.08%
- Top 98% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 37
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 399
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.06%
- Bottom-20% families
Top Programs
The fields Long Beach City College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 32%
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Health Professions 6%
- Psychology 5%
- Social Sciences 5%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Communications 4%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Long Beach City College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Long Beach City College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Long Beach, California, Long Beach City College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 28%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Long Beach City College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Long Beach City College is $12,544, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,202. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,505 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
Is Long Beach City College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Long Beach City College report median earnings of $38,870, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Long Beach City College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Long Beach City College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.31%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $49,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Long Beach City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Long Beach City College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Long Beach City College.
- Palomar CollegeSan Marcos, CA · Close peer36% grad $42,300 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cerritos CollegeNorwalk, CA · Close peer30% grad $41,156 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Close peer40% grad $45,805 earnWhy: similar size · same state
- Pima Community CollegeTucson, AZ · Close peer25% grad $39,810 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central New Mexico Community CollegeAlbuquerque, NM · Close peer30% grad $36,869 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh, NC · Close peer32% grad $41,769 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Long Beach City College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Long Beach City College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.05), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note