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California State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA
California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) is a public university located in the beautiful coastal city of Seaside, California. Established in 1994, CSUMB is known for its strong commitment to environmental sustainability and social justice. The university offers a diverse range of academic programs, with particular emphasis on marine sciences, environmental studies, business, and education.
CSUMB boasts a stunning campus that is nestled on the former Fort Ord military base, surrounded by spectacular views of the Monterey Bay. The university prides itself on its small class sizes and strong faculty-student relationships, providing a personalized education experience for its students. With a current student population of over 7,000, CSUMB offers a tight-knit community where students can easily collaborate with professors and peers.
In addition to its academic offerings, CSUMB provides numerous opportunities for student engagement and personal development. The university hosts a variety of extracurricular activities, including clubs, organizations, and intercollegiate sports teams. Students can also take advantage of the university's location to participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and exploring the nearby marine ecosystems.
Overall, California State University, Monterey Bay is recognized as an innovative institution that prepares students for successful careers in various fields, while also promoting a sense of social responsibility and environmental consciousness. With its scenic location, rigorous academic programs, and vibrant campus community, CSUMB remains a highly regarded choice for students seeking a unique and impactful college experience.
Located in Seaside, CA, California State University, Monterey Bay is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 93%. The freshman retention rate at California State University, Monterey Bay is 79% and the six-year graduation rate is 63%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is December 16. The transfer application deadline is January 15.
Read more about what you can expect if you get into California State University, Monterey Bay.
Quick Facts
5,919
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
93%
Acceptance Rate
21:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
63%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Knowing as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most essential facts you need to know about admission at California State University, Monterey Bay.
In 2024, the school accepted 11,160 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
1% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 30% between 1,200 and 1,399, 44% between 1,000 and 1,199, 20% of the students between 800 and 999, and 4% between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 5, 38 between 24-29, 43 in the range between 18-23, and 14 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.45. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is December 16. For transfer students, the application deadline is January 15.
93%
Acceptance Rate
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for California State University, Monterey Bay was 79%, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 63%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at California State University, Monterey Bay in 2024 was 6,742.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 2% for that year. There was a total of 5,919 those pursuing undergraduate studies, including 228 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 857.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,191 male and 3,575 female full-time students in 2024. 172 full-time graduate men and 439 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at California State University, Monterey Bay.
This school had 433 Asian students and 201 Afro-American students in 2024. 2,610 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 479 identified with more than one race. The school also had 43 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 36 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 180 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some important facts on California State University, Monterey Bay costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at California State University, Monterey Bay? Here is what you need to know.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $5,742. Tuition fees were $17,622 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at California State University, Monterey Bay, you should know that the 2024 tuition came to $17,622, as well. Full-time students in 2024 were mandated to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,695.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $17,622 | $1,695 | $19,317 |
| In-State | $5,742 | $1,695 | $7,437 |
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important expense. Most students have to give about $864 for books and supplies during their time at California State University, Monterey Bay.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
At California State University, Monterey Bay, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $14,102.
| Tuition | $ 5,742 |
| Room and Board | $ 14,102 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 864 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,708 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial support can be a great deal for most students. If you wish to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at California State University, Monterey Bay, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 579 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $13,273.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
2,611 students were awarded some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at California State University, Monterey Bay isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need came to be 3,456. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $14,085,600, and state $8,951,869.
$3,450
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
2,720 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 501 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $14,085,600 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $19,544. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,846,247. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $955,683 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
21:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2024, this ratio at California State University, Monterey Bay was 21:1. That means that there were 21 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 535. Out of that number, there were 206 men and 328 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at California State University, Monterey Bay.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at California State University, Monterey Bay is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at California State University, Monterey Bay.
Its campus is 1,387 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, California State University, Monterey Bay publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At California State University, Monterey Bay, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of California State University, Monterey Bay.
All in all, campus life at California State University, Monterey Bay is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at California State University, Monterey Bay.
Career Counselling
At California State University, Monterey Bay, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
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California State University, Monterey Bay is located in Seaside, CA.
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California State University, Monterey Bay doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for California State University, Monterey Bay is 93%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for California State University, Monterey Bay is 79%.
Contact Information
California State University-Monterey Bay,
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA
93955-8001
831 582-3000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.