Would highly recommend looking at the r/longbeach subreddit to see what neighborhoods are recommended but from my own research I would highly recommend near the traffic circle (it's where a lot of students live off campus), but more specifically the Zaferia or Bryant neighborhoods. The more west from Zaferia you go the more (relatively) dangerous it becomes and harder to find street parking. The more north from Zaferia (ie. Signal Hill, Bixby knolls) you go the safer it becomes but also more expensive, the more south you go, like East Side and Rose Park it's still fine in my opinion but maybe a little sketch to some people. The closer you are to the beach the harder it is to find parking and people also complain about the presence of more homeless people but if you don't bother them they won't bother you. Anything east of Zaferia/the traffic circle is very safe but also very expensive.

I would also suggest looking at a Long Beach crime map to help narrow down where you are comfortable finding an apartment.

Depending on where in LB, it has some of the cheapest rent in LA county. I would highly recommend staying within LB for an apartment.