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California State University - Monterey Bay

#59 in Best Value Colleges in California
  • 4 Year
  • Seaside, CA
  • 1,559 reviews
    How to Apply
    B-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      B-
    2. Value
      B+
    3. Diversity
      A
    4. Campus
      C+
    5. Athletics
      B-
    6. Party Scene
      B-
    7. Professors
      B-
    8. Location
      A-
    9. Dorms
      B-
    10. Campus Food
      C+
    11. Student Life
      B-
    12. Safety
      B-
    View Full Report Card
    Cal State Monterey Bay is a public university located in Seaside, California. It is a mid-size institution with an enrollment of 6,109 undergraduate students. Admissions is fairly competitive as the Cal State Monterey Bay acceptance rate is 53%. Popular majors include Psychology, Business, and Liberal Arts and Humanities. Graduating 60% of students, Cal State Monterey Bay alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $32,200.
    About California State University - Monterey Bay...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division II (without football)
    Athletic Conference
    California Collegiate Athletic Association
    Address
    100 Campus Center
    Seaside, CA 93955
    Website
    csumb.edu

    California State University - Monterey Bay Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    53%
    Application Deadline
    November 30
    SAT Range
    970-1170
    ACT Range
    18-24
    Application Fee
    $70
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Required
    Early Decision/Early Action
    No

    Cost

    Net Price
    $11,233/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $9,397/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    88%

    Academics

    Professors
    B-
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    25:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    No
    77%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.88 responses
    47%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.96 responses
    56%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.95 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Psychology
      244 Graduates
    • Business
      235 Graduates
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
      235 Graduates
    • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
      188 Graduates
    • Human Services
      117 Graduates
    • Biology
      108 Graduates
    • Environmental Science
      81 Graduates
    • Social Science Research Methods
      74 Graduates
    • Computer Science
      71 Graduates
    • Marine Science
      62 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    6,109Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    655
    Undergrads Over 25
    16%
    Pell Grant
    57%
    Varsity Athletes
    4%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 72 responses
    Report
    • Friendly
      26%
    • Friendly, independent and studious
      24%
    • Friendly and independent
      22%
    • Independent
      11%
    • Friendly and community based
      7%
    • Everyone I talk to wants to transfer
      6%
    • Diverse
      3%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    —
    Poll
    46%
    of students say Greek life is pretty low-key and has little effect on the social scene.123 responses
    Poll
    63%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.147 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 66 responses
    Report
    • Opportunities are endless
      26%
    • School is the cheapest out of all CSUs
      23%
    • Sustainability and environmentally friendly
      23%
    • Perfect for my situation and location.
      20%
    • Home away from home
      5%
    • Location, location, location
      2%
    • Only school that offers my program
      2%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $44,800/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    60%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    90%
    National
    83%
    65%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.57 responses
    Colleges like California State University - Monterey Bay
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    California State University - Monterey Bay Reviews

    1,559 reviews
    All Categories
    CSUMB is a small but up and coming university! In every class I had the ability to get one on one time with my professors which was so incredibly valuable to my learning experience. There are some fantastic undergraduate research opportunities and some fun clubs to check out. The price you pay for tuition is relatively cheap compared to a lot of other universities and overall I would say it is definitely worth it for the education you get! Definitely take note that Monterey is a quiet area so there isn't much partying, but the beautiful beaches and overall chill vibes of the campus make up for it. One more thing is that the housing is great for freshman year because the dorms are relatively spacious, but I would recommend trying to live off campus after that so you don't have to pay for the meal plan! The food there is not too amazing.
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    My college experience has been far better than I had ever expected, and much of it has to do with the college itself. The campus is small so the classes are typically tiny - even tinier than any of my high school classes ever were. The teachers are kind-hearted and have the best interest of the students in mind. My work load is enough to where I am learning but I still have time for leisure. The student body is really amazing, too! Everyone is super nice and easy going. Living on campus is awesome, too, because everything is within a 5 minute walk due to the small size of the developing campus. My only issue with this school is that the housing staff don't seem to be very great at communicating with each other or informing the rest of the student body about important things.
    Great School! The professors here really care about their students, if they see you're struggling they will reach out to you and offer you their help or give you the resources you need. The classes have a great student to professor ratio so you really get the help you need from your professor and they all offer pretty flexible office hours and they are willing to work with you.The overall atmosphere of the school is very welcoming. The campus is pretty small so you don't feel overwhelmed.