California State University-Monterey Bay
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 6,819 students.
About This School
California State University-Monterey Bay is a public institution located in Seaside, California with approximately 6,819 undergraduate students enrolled. California State University-Monterey Bay has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 97%. The average net price after financial aid is $13,663 per year. The graduation rate is 59%, and the typical graduate earns $47,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
California State University, Monterey Bay is a public university located in Monterey County, California, United States. The main campus is situated on the site of the former military base Fort Ord, spanning the cities of Seaside and Marina, approximately one mile inland from Monterey Bay along the Central Coast of California. CSUMB also maintains locations in the cities of Monterey and Salinas. Founded in 1994, CSUMB is part of the California State University system and is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The university is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the 95% acceptance rate and $14,487 average net price make this one of the more accessible and affordable CSU options, and the relatively low median debt of $11,000 at graduation is genuinely encouraging. However, the 63% graduation rate means more than one in three students don't finish, which is worth taking seriously before enrolling. Worth considering if you're drawn to the Central Coast, want to keep costs down, and have a clear plan to stay on track — but go in with eyes open about the completion challenge.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 11% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
California State University-Monterey Bay graduates earn most above the national rate in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($134,489 vs $88,910 nationally), and most below it in Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($47,736 vs $54,562).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 293 | $54,074 | $50,706 | +$3,368 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 250 | $59,017 | $53,072 | +$5,945 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 241 | $72,558 | $68,257 | +$4,301 |
| Computer Science | 207 | $101,787 | $107,009 | −$5,222 |
| Biology, General | 133 | $55,654 | $57,214 | −$1,560 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 132 | $47,736 | $54,562 | −$6,826 |
| Social Sciences, General | 109 | $57,200 | $53,366 | +$3,834 |
| Human Services, General | 90 | $56,719 | $48,597 | +$8,122 |
| Marine Sciences | 84 | $59,782 | $52,667 | +$7,115 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 69 | $51,118 | $48,568 | +$2,550 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 68 | $51,598 | $55,012 | −$3,414 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 59 | $134,489 | $88,910 | +$45,579 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (6,819 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
California State University-Monterey Bay
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955-8001
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
California State University-Monterey Bay is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Monterey Bay?
California State University-Monterey Bay has an acceptance rate of 97%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is California State University-Monterey Bay hard to get into?
Not especially. California State University-Monterey Bay has an acceptance rate of 97%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does California State University-Monterey Bay cost?
The average net price at California State University-Monterey Bay is about $13,663 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Monterey Bay?
California State University-Monterey Bay has a graduation rate of 59%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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