What Is It Known For?
Long Beach City College began as Long Beach Junior College, first holding classes at Woodrow Wilson High School. The 1933 earthquake destroyed that building, forcing classes to move outside to tents at Recreation Park. Students and teachers persevered until the college found its permanent home in 1935 at Carson Street and Clark Avenue, where the Liberal Arts Campus stands today.
Now one of the largest among California’s 116 community colleges, LBCC serves as the sole college in the Long Beach Community College District. The school reported 24,425 students enrolled in 2023, making it a major educational hub for the region.
Degrees & Certifications
Some of the programs offered at Long Beach City College include:
- Computer Science
- Nursing
- Horticulture
- Architecture
- Social Work
- Welding Technology
- And Much More!
Class Schedules
The college provides online classes and hybrid options alongside traditional in-person instruction. Day and evening programs run based on course availability each term. Schedule options change by semester, so check current offerings when planning your enrollment.
Healthcare programs incorporate externships and clinical experiences. Nursing students complete hospital rotations while other medical programs arrange hands-on training in professional settings. Contact the school or review their current catalog for specific clinical requirements in your program of interest.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. Long Beach City College holds accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Acceptance Rate
LBCC maintains an open admission policy with a 100% acceptance rate for eligible students.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
Annual tuition costs at Long Beach City College depend on your residency status:
- California residents: $1,560
- Non-residents: $13,336
Additional expenses include food, transportation, books, and supplies. Financial aid can help offset these costs. The college doesn’t currently offer a net price calculator, so contact their financial aid office directly for personalized cost estimates based on your situation.
Programs & Courses
Business
- Admin Assistant
- Accounting
- Hospitality
- Management
- Marketing
Criminal Justice & Law
- Criminal Justice
- Social Work
Healthcare
- Radiology
- EMT
- Medical Assistant
- LVN
- RN
- Nursing
- Public Health
Professional Services
- American Sign Language
- Architecture
- Baking and Pastry Arts
- Business Administration
Skilled Trades
- Advanced Manufacturing Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Construction Technolog
- Electrical Technology
- Fire
- Welding
Technology
- Computer Science
- Computer Technology
- Cyber Security
- Database Management
- Game Design
- Web Development
Campus Locations
Long Beach 4901 East Carson Street, Long Beach CA 90808
Long Beach 1305 East Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach CA 90806
Reviews
Based on local Google reviews, Long Beach City College (LBCC) is seen as a beautiful, well-maintained, and supportive community college with dedicated faculty and helpful staff. While praised for its physical environment and the quality of instruction, the primary frustration point for students is the complicated administrative process of registration.
Overall Score: 4.5/5 Stars
Common Praises
Positive and Clean Campus Environment: Reviewers consistently describe the campus as “great,” “very nice,” “clean and quiet,” and having a “wonderful area” with “beautiful gardens.” Specific praise is given to the new Liberal Arts campus and updated sports facilities.
Dedicated and Kind Faculty: Most of the professors are rated highly, being called “amazing and kind,” and the overall faculty is described as “dope.”
Helpful Support Staff: While there are administrative frustrations (see below), individual staff members—including those at the bookstore and general staff—are noted as being “very helpful and welcoming” with processes like class registration and navigating the campus.
Strong Community Feeling: Former students express deep gratitude, noting that the “supportive environment” and “invaluable opportunities” transformed their educational journey. Many people noted using the campus for community events like high school graduations.
Common Criticisms
Difficult Registration Process: The “registration process is so difficult” is the most significant negative critique. Reviewers mention a frustrating loop of being sent to different departments, with the perception that staff in the process “nobody knows what they are doing.” This is a major friction point in an otherwise positive experience.
Administrative Confusion: One reviewer noted that they “hate this school” due to the difficulty of navigating the required steps to enroll, even while acknowledging the staff are “pretty nice.”
Momentum
The momentum for Long Beach City College is steady and positive, anchored by the high quality of its physical campus and the strong relationships students have with their instructors and counselors. The consistent mention of a supportive and clean environment indicates a positive institutional direction. To improve, the college would need to focus solely on streamlining and clarifying its administrative enrollment and registration processes, which is the clear and singular point of recurring frustration among prospective and current students.