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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 school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 97%. The freshman retention rate at California State University, Monterey Bay is 80% and the six-year graduation rate is 59%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is July 16. The transfer application deadline is January 15.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about California State University, Monterey Bay.
Quick Facts
6,910
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
26:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
59%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Discover some essential information about admission policy and requirements at California State University, Monterey Bay.
In 2025, the school accepted 14,545 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
4% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 24% between 1,200 and 1,399, 28% between 1,000 and 1,199, 36% between 800 and 999, and 8% between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 25, 25 between 24-29, 50 in the range between 18-23, and 14 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.33. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is July 16. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is January 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for California State University, Monterey Bay was 80% in 2025, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 59%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the best match for you is not simple. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school had an enrollment of 7,713 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 2% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 6,910, 214 of which were international students. The school reported to have a total of 1,323 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,558 male and 4,115 female full-time students in 2025. 172 full-time graduate men and 439 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at California State University, Monterey Bay.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 495, and the number of Black American students was 219. 3,162 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 570 as multirace. The school also had 51 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 53 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 165 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some important information on California State University, Monterey Bay costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about California State University, Monterey Bay estimated tuition costs.
According to the reports from public county and municipal institutions, tuition fees were $6,450 for area residents. Tuition fees were $19,770 for students coming from a different state. If you are an international student at California State University, Monterey Bay, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $19,770, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $1,695 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $19,770 | $1,695 | $21,465 |
| In-State | $6,450 | $1,695 | $8,145 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $921.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
At California State University, Monterey Bay, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $17,514.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 6,450 |
| Room and Board | $ 17,514 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 921 |
| Total Expense | $ 24,885 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial help in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at California State University, Monterey Bay.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 925 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $13,934.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 3,511 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 ended up being 4,095. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution totaled $20,549,602, and state $24,945,491.
$2,132
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 10 students overall (including freshmen) at California State University, Monterey Bay in 2025. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $5,132,463. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $850,884 USD.
Majors
Faculty
26:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at California State University, Monterey Bay was 26:1: that means 26 students per one teacher. The faculty of this school consists of 489 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 191 male and 296 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has 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. Find out some details about students' life at California State University, Monterey Bay.
Its campus is 1,387 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. Interested in media and communication? California State University, Monterey Bay publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
California State University, Monterey Bay offers a number of services vital for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical 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 everything most students need.
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 97%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for California State University, Monterey Bay is 80%.
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.
