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California State University - Monterey Bay
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  • 4 Year
  • SEASIDE, CA

Monthly Update

9.12.2023

Register now for the October 21st Open House at Cal State Monterey Bay. Come see all the reasons why you should be an Otter. Learn More

Report Card

grade B
Overall Niche Grade
  1. Academics
    grade B minus
  2. Value
    grade A minus
  3. Diversity
    grade A
  4. Campus
    grade C+
  5. Athletics
    grade B minus
  6. Party Scene
    grade C+
  7. Professors
    grade B minus
  8. Location
    grade A
  9. Dorms
    grade B minus
  10. Campus Food
    grade C
  11. Student Life
    grade B
  12. Safety
    grade B minus

About

100 CAMPUS CENTER
SEASIDE, CA 93955
Athletic Division
NCAA Division II (without football)
Athletic Conference
California Collegiate Athletic Association
From California State University - Monterey Bay

One thing that makes CSUMB different from any other campus in the country is our location. Not only are we just one mile from the beach, we are on the site of a former Army base. Monterey Bay is on the central coast of California, just two hours south of San Francisco. The campus is close to pristine beaches, redwood forests, tidepools, and the Fort Ord National Monument.

The bay itself is one of the largest marine protected areas in the world and home to whales, deep sea anglerfish, and of course our mascot, sea otters. CSUMB sits halfway between the Monterey Peninsula, which features the coastal communities of Pacific Grove, Monterey, Seaside, Carmel, and the Salinas Valley, known as the "Salad Bowl of the World" for its abundant agricultural production. CSUMB is surrounded by amazing hiking trails, beaches, the Monterey Wharf, and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk!

Curious about how much all of this costs? Learn more and sign up for financial aid drop-in counseling in the link below.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

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

Application Deadline
December 15
Acceptance Rate
93%
SAT Range
960-1170
ACT Range
17-23
Application Fee
$70
SAT/ACT
Neither required nor recommended
High School GPA
Required
Accepts Common App
No

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Cost

Net Price
$6,085 / 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
$9,097 / year
National
$7,535
Students Receiving Financial Aid
75%

Scholarship

Academics

Professors
grade B minus
Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
Student Faculty Ratio
20:1
Evening Degree Programs
No
78%
of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes. 92 responses
49%
of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want. 115 responses
57%
of students agree that the workload is easy to manage. 114 responses

Majors

Close-knit Campus

academic spotlight

At CSUMB, we pride ourselves on our small class sizes and personal interactions between faculty and students. We think that is important to make sure that our students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, have the tools they need to thrive and to graduate. But we also have a remarkable academic culture that welcomes innovation and experimentation.

Online

Programs Offered Entirely Online
0
Offers Online Courses
Yes
Online Certificate Programs
0
Online Associates Programs
0
Online Bachelor's Programs
0
How Students Learn
  • Mix of Online and on Campus
    71%
  • On Campus
    13%
  • Online
    16%

Students

Full-Time Enrollment
5,848 Undergrads
Part-Time Undergrads
844
Undergrads Over 25
21%
Pell Grant
43%
Varsity Athletes
5%
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
Based on 88 responses
  • Friendly, independent and studious
    25%
  • Friendly
    24%
  • Friendly and independent
    20%
  • Independent
    11%
  • Friendly and community based
    9%
  • Everyone I talk to wants to transfer
    5%
  • Outgoing
    3%

Campus Life

Freshmen Live On-Campus
No data available  
Poll
48%
of students say Greek life is pretty low-key and has little effect on the social scene. 142 responses
Poll
63%
of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life. 166 responses
Poll
What one word or phrase best describes your school?
Based on 85 responses
  • Sustainability and environmentally friendly
    26%
  • Perfect for my situation and location.
    21%
  • Opportunities are endless
    20%
  • School is the cheapest out of all CSUs
    20%
  • Home away from home
    7%
  • Location, location, location
    2%
  • Underrated
    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%
66%
of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation. 59 responses

California State University - Monterey Bay Reviews

Rating 3.51 out of 5  1,744 reviews
Rating 5 out of 5  
Rating 5 out of 5  
Rating 5 out of 5  

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