Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
California State University, Monterey Bay is a public regional university located in Seaside, California. CSUMB is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at CSUMB is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $53,190 10 years after enrolling, 66th in California, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, CSUMB bachelor students earn 2% more than the national average. CSUMB is ranked 33rd in California.
California State University, Monterey Bay’s median net annual cost of $13,597 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at CSUMB sorted by number of graduates - Psychology, Business Administration, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Computer Science, Health & Fitness, Biology - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$13,597
Average years to graduate
4.6
Registered Nursing
Rank: #19
Economic score: 0.58
Hospitality Mgmt.
Rank: #32
Economic score: 3.31
Social Sciences
Rank: #126
Economic score: 3.85
Mathematics
Rank: #203
Economic score: 4.73
Natural Resource Conservation
Rank: #70
Economic score: 4.75
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #109
Economic score: 5.18
Marine Sciences.
Rank: #1
Economic score: 5.44
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 5.65
Broadcast & Digital Comms
Rank: #36
Economic score: 5.87
International studies
Rank: #57
Economic score: 20.16
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 5 graduate programs at CSUMB - Business Administration, Education, Social Work, Educational media design, Natural Resources Mgmt. - are shown below.
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 73% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at CSUMB is 6% higher than the state average, and 16% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At CSUMB, Pell Grant recipients represent 45% of the measured graduating class, 10% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at CSUMB graduates within 4.7 years.
CSUMB is in the top 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California State University, Monterey Bay’s economic mobility score of 36.75 is calculated by adjusting the 1.71 economic score of lower-income students by the 45% pell grant recipients within the student body. CSUMB’s EMS of 36.75 ranks in the top 5% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 5%
The average Title IV recipient at California State University, Monterey Bay pays $13,597 a year, $10,588 less than the $24,185 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $13,597
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At CSUMB, 69% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $13,597 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 25% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $4,114. This is 29% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$3,379
Pell grants
$4,744
State grants
$2,770
Institutional grants
$5,603
California State University, Monterey Bay offers 1 hybrid bachelor program. At the master’s level CSUMB offers 2 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
3
Hybrid programs
2
Percentage of programs online
8%
California State University, Monterey Bay's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 93% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 10,026 applicants, of which 9,305 were admitted and 779 enrolled. CSUMB doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
95%
83%
Female
67%
59%
First time
46%
59%
In-state
97%
68%
1st generation
52%
35%
White
25%
52%
Black
3%
14%
Hispanic
51%
15%
Asian
6%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
14%
12%