The college was established in 1949 by California governor Earl Warren, to serve the rapidly expanding post-World War II population of Orange and Southern Los Angeles counties.

[18] It offered 25 courses, taught by 13 faculty members, in two apartment buildings at 5381 Anaheim Road in Long Beach.

In June 1950, the a $1 million, 322 acres (130 ha) plot of land was purchased as a permanent campus for the renamed Long Beach State College, following an "overwhelming" vote from the city's population.

[20] Although the 1960s were a period of deep unrest on American college campuses, McIntosh's collegial governing style, gentle public demeanor, and willingness to permit peaceful protest on campus helped preserve Long Beach State College relatively serene social climate.

[22] In 1965, CSULB hosted the first International Sculpture Symposium to be held both at a higher education institution and in the United States.

Later that year, the campus opened the largest library facility in the then 19-campus CSU system: a modern six-story building with a seating capacity of nearly 4,000 students.

In 1995, President Robert Maxson initiated the privately funded President's Scholars Program, providing selected qualified California high school valedictorians and National Merit finalists and semi-finalists with a full four-year scholarship package, including tuition, a book stipend, and housing.

The university's registration offices are located in the open courtyard of Brotman Hall, which is "roofed" by a similar jungle-like canopy.

The three-story glass building occupies roughly 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2), housing numerous offices, and offering more casual attractions, including a study lounge, a ballroom, a food court, a bowling alley, an arcade, and a movie theater.

It includes facilities for fitness programs and aerobics classes, courts for volleyball, basketball, badminton, rock climbing walls, an indoor track, a student lounge, and much more.

[28] The Pyramid is home to the Southern California Summer Pro League, a noted showcase for current and prospective NBA basketball players.

The University Art Museum's permanent collection contains primarily abstract expressionist paintings, works on paper, and an outdoor sculpture garden that began in 1966.

[29] In addition, the museum's Gordon F. Hampton collection is housed at the Downtown Los Angeles law offices of Sheppard Mullin.

[31] From 1992 to 1995, CSULB attempted to challenge this designation in order to commercially develop the site into a strip mall and student housing.

[32] The Tongva people filed a lawsuit and initiated a protest, which involved physically occupying the land day and night to stave off bulldozers even while threatened with arrest by campus officials.

[32] In 2019, the university dumped dirt and debris onto the site and drove heavy equipment over the ground in the construction of a new student housing development.

The university, in its push to support climate sustainability, installed solar panels on the Brotman Hall building and the Facilities Management canopy parking in 2007.

[37] The ES&P Club hosts an annual Earth Week celebration each April, including documentary screenings, discussions, and speaker series.

The purpose of the center is to provide opportunities to conduct research, receive instruction and experience the Mojave Desert environment.

In the Fall 2023 cohort, California State University, Long Beach saw over 79,000 applications from first-time freshmen, while more than 37,000 were granted admission.

22 West Magazine, which is partially student-funded, and affiliated with ASI, publishes every month during fall and spring semesters.

The California State University Long Beach Foundation owns the KKJZ non-commercial broadcast license of 88.1 FM, a jazz and blues radio station.

In 2015, Global Jazz moved the station thirty miles from Long Beach to West Los Angeles.

The team's most famous alumna is Misty May-Treanor, who won three Olympic gold medals in Beach Volleyball in 2004, 2008, and 2012.

Actor Crispin Alapag notably on Big Time In Hollywood FL, Ray Donovan, General Hospital and VR Troopers Power Rangers.

Emmy Award-nominated director Chris Carter (BA 1979) created the series The X-Files, which garnered several awards during its nine seasons on television.

Former student Steve Martin, whose philosophy classes at the university inspired him to become a professional comedian,[74] is an Emmy Award winner and a Disney Legend.

High Jumper Dwight Stones set the World Record while a student at Cal State Long Beach, in addition to winning the bronze medal at both the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and 1976 in Montreal.

Track and Field athlete Bill Green (BA 1984) set the United States and NCAA record three times in the hammer throw, and placed 5th at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Carpenters sold over 100 million records,[73] won three Grammy Awards[73] out of eighteen nominations, and created numerous gold and platinum albums.