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California State University Long Beach sits on a 322-acre campus in eastern Long Beach, roughly two miles from the Pacific Ocean. Known informally as The Beach, it enrolls over 37,000 students across colleges covering engineering, business, arts, and health. On-campus housing is heavily oversubscribed, so most students rent privately in the University District, Belmont Shore, or East Long Beach. The Metro A Line light rail connects Long Beach to Los Angeles, and the city's beach path and bikeable streets make car-free living realistic for students near campus. Long Beach itself is a genuine city with a working port, a thriving arts scene, and neighborhoods distinct enough to offer real variety in how students spend time outside class.
CSULB does not require freshmen to live on campus, and on-campus housing is significantly oversubscribed. Students who want a dorm room must apply early and understand that many will not receive an offer. The university recommends applying for housing before the May priority deadline to maximize chances.
All students are eligible to live off campus from their first semester. Because on-campus housing is so limited, the majority of CSULB students rent privately throughout their enrollment. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors almost universally live off campus in the surrounding Long Beach neighborhoods.
The most desirable units within a short walk of campus are listed as early as January for the following fall. Students who wait until April or May will find fewer options and higher prices in the University District. Signing a lease in February or March is the safest approach for fall move-in.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with California State University - Long Beach before signing a lease.
Students who begin their search in November or December get the widest selection of off-campus housing near CSULB. Landlords in the University District and Belmont Shore sometimes post units six months out. Touring in person during winter break, when the area is quieter, gives students a real feel for commute times and neighborhood character. Locking in a signed lease by January is an exceptional position to be in.
February through late March is when the bulk of returning students renew or sign new leases near campus. Units within a ten-minute walk of the main Bellflower Boulevard entrance fill fastest during this window. Students searching in this period still have good options but should be prepared to decide quickly when they find something suitable. Delaying past mid-March means competing for what remains rather than choosing from the full market.
Students still searching in May, June, or July will find a thinner inventory but not an empty market. New listings continue to appear in Bixby Knolls and East Long Beach through the summer as tenants break leases or graduate. Short-term sublets from departing seniors are a reliable last-minute source. Expect higher prices for the convenience of a late signing.
The blocks immediately surrounding campus on Clark Avenue, Pasadena Avenue, and adjacent streets house the densest concentration of student rentals at CSULB. Studios and shared houses here rent quickly because the walk to class takes under ten minutes.
About two miles west of campus, Belmont Shore offers walkable shops on Second Street, proximity to the beach, and a lively social scene popular with upperclassmen. Rents run higher than the University District, but many students consider the beach access worth the premium.
Located north of campus along Atlantic Avenue, Bixby Knolls has a quieter residential character with larger apartments and houses at relatively moderate rents. The tradeoff is a longer commute, typically requiring a car or the Long Beach Transit bus.
The broader East Long Beach area east of campus along Stearns Street and Spring Street offers more affordable options for students who do not mind driving or biking a mile or two. Large complexes and single-family rentals both appear here regularly.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Shared bedrooms in houses near campus run roughly $800 to $1,100 per person per month. Private studios in the University District start around $1,400 and climb higher in Belmont Shore. Utilities and renter's insurance add to the monthly total.