Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsPublicHSI

California State University - Monterey Bay

Seaside, California·Public, 4-year or above·Far West·csumb.edu
Acceptance
97.4%
+16.3pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
6-yr Graduation
59%
+11.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Total enrollment
7,713
peer median 7,713
Avg net price
$13,663
+$67 vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
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AboutAdmissionsOutcomesProgram outcomesAccreditationCostFederal aidLoan defaultsAcademic programsEnrollment trendsAthleticsCampus safetyFacultyPeersIR OfficeDocumentsAlumni

About

California State University, Monterey Bay is a public university located in Monterey County, California, United States. The main campus is situated on the site of the former military base Fort Ord, spanning the cities of Seaside and Marina, approximately one mile inland from Monterey Bay along the Central Coast of California. CSUMB also maintains locations in the cities of Monterey and Salinas. Founded in 1994, CSUMB is part of the California State University system and is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The university is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

IPEDS
Applied
14,933
14,933 candidates competed
Admitted
14,545
97.4% acceptance rate
Enrolled
1,419
9.8% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

IPEDS
Overall completion
59%+11.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
4-year graduation
39%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
59%
Full-time retention
80%

Pell equity

5.8pp gap
Pell recipients
56%270 of 480
Non-Pell (all)
62%315 of 510
Subsidized loan, no Pell
60%79 of 132
No Federal Aid
62%236 of 378

Non-Pell students graduate at a 5.8-point higher rate than Pell recipients.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

FVT/GE

Of 49 Title IV programs, 24 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 24 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
49
Passing
24
49.0% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
1
2.0% of portfolio
Fail rate
2.0%
+1.4pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

49programs
  • Passing24 · 49.0%
  • No Data24 · 49.0%
  • Failing1 · 2.0%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
1
Recoverable
0
At Risk
0
Watch
3
Safe
21
No data
24

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

25
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-5.8%
$34,006 vs $36,082
Romance Languages Literatures and Linguistics
Bachelor Degree · Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
+10.4%
$39,824 vs $36,082
Radio Television and Digital Communication
Bachelor Degree · Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs
+10.7%
$39,954 vs $36,082
Music
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+11.1%
$40,077 vs $36,082
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness
Bachelor Degree · Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies
+32.3%
$47,736 vs $36,082
Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+34.8%
$48,639 vs $36,082
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
Master's Degree · Natural Resources And Conservation
+37.7%
$73,905 vs $53,672
Human Development Family Studies and Related Services
Bachelor Degree · Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
+41.7%
$51,118 vs $36,082

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

21
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
54%
$18,500 debt · $34,006 earn
Radio Television and Digital Communication
Bachelor Degree · Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs
40%
$16,090 debt · $39,954 earn
Business Administration Management and Operations
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
36%
$41,255 debt · $115,179 earn
Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
34%
$16,375 debt · $48,639 earn
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
Bachelor Degree · Natural Resources And Conservation
31%
$16,000 debt · $51,598 earn
Biology General
Bachelor Degree · Biological And Biomedical Sciences
30%
$16,500 debt · $55,654 earn
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness
Bachelor Degree · Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies
27%
$13,000 debt · $47,736 earn
Human Services General
Bachelor Degree · Public Administration And Social Service Professions
26%
$14,500 debt · $56,719 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

DAPIP
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

WASC Senior College and University Commission

Accredited since 2003Next review Jun 2029
PreaccreditedInstitutional accreditor

WASC Senior College and University Commission

Accredited since 1998Next review Mar 2019

Programmatic accreditations · 5

Action history · 7

  1. Apr 2023Grant Substantive Change: Program
    WASC Senior College and University Commission
  2. Jul 2022Initial Accreditation
    American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation · Professional Psychology (IPSY) - Predoctoral internship programs
  3. Apr 2021Renewal of Accreditation
    Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
  4. Jun 2019Renewal of Accreditation
    WASC Senior College and University Commission
  5. Jun 2019Grant Substantive Change: Degree
    WASC Senior College and University Commission

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

College Scorecard

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$9,970
$30–48k$9,981
$48–75k$12,440
$75–110k$16,281
$110k+$22,818

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price
$13,663
vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs median $13,596
Federal loans
28.5%
In-state tuition
$7,779
Out-of-state
$20,379

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

Federal Student Aid

In AY 2024–25, 3,672 students received $20.9M in Pell grants, alongside $20.5M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
3,672
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$20.9M
$20,935,026 total
Direct Loans
$20.5M
3,135 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

3k
’20
3k
’21
3k
’22
3k
’23
4k
’24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$6.5M
1,618 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$3.6M
817 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$4.7M
367 loan awards
Parent PLUS$4.3M
265 loan awards
Grad PLUS$1.4M
68 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Cohort Default Rate

Of 1,649 borrowers who entered repayment, 29 (1.7%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
1.7%
-0.6pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
1,649
Defaulted
29
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
5.6%
2017
5.0%
2018
2.9%
2019
1.7%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at CSUMB

Top program areas ranked by completions.

IPEDS
Distinct CIP programs42
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

1,711 total completions
01Business
37321.8%
02Psychology
24814.5%
03Liberal Arts
22813.3%
04Computer Sciences
21712.7%
05Multi/Interdisciplinary
1287.5%
06Public Admin
1247.2%
07Parks/Recreation
1066.2%
08Health Professions
1036.0%
09Biological Sciences
945.5%
10Natural Resources
905.3%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

IPEDS
Fall total
7,713
12-mo unduplicated
8,522
Undergraduate
7,616
Graduate
906

Gender split

Men
40%3,397
Women
60%5,125

Race / ethnicity composition

Hispanic
55.9%
White
26.2%
Asian
6.0%
Two or more
5.7%
Black
2.2%
Unknown
2.2%
Non-resident
1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.3%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

EADA
Athletes
289
138 M · 151 W
Women athletes
52.2%
Athletic aid
$933K
Total student aid
Budget
$6.9M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$413K
$520K
Recruiting expense
$15K
$25K
Head-coach salaries
$98K
$92K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 8

Soccer
30 M · 34 W
$874K
Baseball
64 M · —
$695K
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
27 M · 34 W
$508K
Softball
— · 36 W
$617K
Basketball
16 M · 15 W
$1.1M
Water Polo
— · 25 W
$333K

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Clery Act
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
3.11
21 offenses · 6,742 students

3-year trend

2.802 yrs ago2.271 yr ago3.11Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
58
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
102
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
5
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
11

Criminal offenses by type

Fondling
8
Rape
5
Aggravated assault
4
Burglary
3
Motor vehicle theft
1

By location

21total
  • On campus17
  • Non-campus3
  • Public property1

Includes 15 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

19
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
17
Stalking
36 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

  • Race2

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons30
Drugs515
Liquor118

Residence-hall fires

  • Sanderling Hall1 fire
    CookingDamage $0-$99
  • Frederick Park 12 fires
    CookingDamage $1,000-$9,999
  • Frederick Park 12 fires
    CookingDamage $100-$999
  • Promontory1 fire
    CookingDamage $0-$99

Data quality: 3 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

IPEDS
Student-to-faculty
24.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
221

CSUMB vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions CSUMB selected for federal comparison reporting.

IPEDS
GraduationRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectCalifornia State University-Monterey Bay
59%97.4%7,713$13,663Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Colorado State University Global
Not reported98.4%10,257$16,510Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Columbus State University
43%99.1%7,913$13,115Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Eastern Illinois University
47%65.3%8,505$12,786Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Empire State University
36%81.1%10,469$11,676Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Georgia College & State University
64%78.2%7,097$20,686Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
54%90.8%7,467$21,331Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
38%50.5%10,749$7,022Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
58%86.2%6,975$20,787Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Morehead State University
52%77.2%8,791$9,793Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
North Carolina Central University
42%87.0%8,579$15,359Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
45%92.5%8,523$13,606Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Purdue University Northwest
43%72.4%9,051$6,079Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Saginaw Valley State University
48%72.1%6,822$10,775Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Saint Cloud State University
39%94.8%10,732$13,529Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Salisbury University
68%87.5%7,025$17,743Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Sonoma State University
58%93.4%5,891$12,885Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
State University of New York at New Paltz
72%61.6%7,898$18,809Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
State University of New York at Oswego
60%80.5%6,715$16,236Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
SUNY Brockport
55%70.7%7,482$16,353Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
SUNY Buffalo State University
33%72.9%6,188$11,346Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Alaska Anchorage
28%66.5%10,493$15,301Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Michigan-Dearborn
58%55.6%8,104$9,492Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
44%93.3%7,674$10,260Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Southern Indiana
48%95.8%9,488$12,923Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Southern Maine
40%79.2%7,604$13,596Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
61%89.4%6,389$16,032Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
University of Wisconsin-Stout
55%87.7%6,926$17,490Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Western Illinois University
45%71.2%6,332$12,937Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Peer group median48%81.1%7,713$13,596

Institutions like CSUMB

Explore the federal data for institutions in CSUMB's comparison group.

IPEDS

CSUMB Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Office of Institutional Assessment and Research
Email
iar [at] csumb.edu
Address
3054 Divarty St, Seaside, CA 93955

The office's mission is guided by a question-driven approach that values reflection, transparency and evidence-based action, which are key components of CSUMB’s commitment to educational effectiveness and regional stewardship.

Visit IR office page

Reports & documents (3)

Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.

Notable alumni of CSUMB (8)

A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.

  • Jimmy Anderson
    Politics
  • Brooke E. Flammang
  • Susan Gerbic
  • Lydia Jennings
  • Jane Kim
    Art
  • Walmer Martínez
    Athletics
  • Nate Northup
  • Marcus Vaughn

Frequently asked questions about California State University-Monterey Bay

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about CSUMB.

What is the acceptance rate at California State University-Monterey Bay?

California State University-Monterey Bay's acceptance rate is 97.4% (14,545 admitted from 14,933 applicants), based on the latest IPEDS.

What is the graduation rate at California State University-Monterey Bay?

California State University-Monterey Bay reports a 6-year graduation rate of 59% per the latest IPEDS.

How many students attend California State University-Monterey Bay?

California State University-Monterey Bay reports a total enrollment of 7,713 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at California State University-Monterey Bay?

The average net price at California State University-Monterey Bay is $13,663 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at California State University-Monterey Bay?

California State University-Monterey Bay's yield rate is 9.8%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is California State University-Monterey Bay located?

California State University-Monterey Bay is located in Seaside, California 93955-8001.

Who runs Institutional Research at California State University-Monterey Bay?

California State University-Monterey Bay's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Assessment and Research.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
U.S. Department of Education
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
U.S. Department of Education
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →

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