California State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, California · Public, 4-year
At a glance
Average net price
$13,663
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
59.1%
Admission rate
97%
Undergrad size
6,819
In-state tuition
$7,779
Out-of-state tuition
$20,379
Cost of attendance
$26,987
Median earnings (10y)
$59,247
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 79.9%
- Locale
- Suburb
Programs breakdown
18 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by social sciences (27%), humanities & arts (26%), stem (22%).
- STEM22%
- Health3%
- Business12%
- Humanities & arts26%
- Social sciences27%
- Trades & services10%
- Psychology14.1%~959 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Liberal arts13.4%~913 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Business12.3%~840 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Computer science11.2%~764 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~556 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- ~426 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~357 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Social sciences4.7%~318 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~273 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~273 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~265 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~234 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~200 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- Agriculture1.8%~123 students/yr · Trades & servicesCompare schools
- Communication1.8%~123 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~92 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics1.4%~92 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~12 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
33 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 524 | $28,861 | $12,366 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 506 | $45,999 | $13,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor's | 492 | $29,259 | $13,750 |
| Computer Science. | Bachelor's | 398 | $59,412 | $16,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor's | 304 | $26,320 | $13,750 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 255 | $31,700 | $19,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master's | 201 | $80,700 | — |
| Social Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | 198 | $31,594 | $11,000 |
| Human Services, General. | Bachelor's | 186 | $35,158 | $14,480 |
| Marine Sciences. | Bachelor's | 159 | $27,607 | $17,800 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor's | 148 | $28,908 | $16,806 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | Bachelor's | 130 | — | $12,408 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor's | 111 | $109,260 | $9,489 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | Bachelor's | 107 | $21,242 | $15,074 |
| Education, General. | Master's | 98 | $58,031 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor's | 97 | $24,612 | $14,827 |
| Social Work. | Master's | 93 | $61,187 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master's | 55 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 53 | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design. | Master's | 52 | $69,186 | — |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 49 | $37,318 | $18,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor's | 44 | $26,319 | $15,063 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master's | 34 | — | — |
| Plant Sciences. | Bachelor's | 33 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Master's | 33 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | Bachelor's | 31 | $44,151 | $11,000 |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 26 | — | — |
| Music. | Bachelor's | 25 | — | $18,920 |
| International/Globalization Studies. | Bachelor's | 21 | $29,340 | $14,093 |
| Marine Sciences. | Master's | 19 | — | — |
| Statistics. | Bachelor's | 11 | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy. | Master's | — | $38,346 | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor's | — | $55,008 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About California State University-Monterey Bay
California State University-Monterey Bay is a large institution located in Seaside, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 6,819 undergraduate students in a suburb setting. The most popular fields of study include Psychology, Liberal arts, Business.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at California State University-Monterey Bay — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $13,663 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $7,779 for in-state students and $20,379 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $26,987 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 59.1%, a above-average completion outcome. 79.9% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $59,247 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
California State University-Monterey Bay confers degrees and certificates across 18 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Psychology, Liberal arts, Business. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by social sciences (27% of credentials), humanities & arts (26% of credentials), stem (22% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
California State University-Monterey Bay accepts 97% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission.
Location & campus
Set in Seaside, California (suburb), California State University-Monterey Bay draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about California State University-Monterey Bay
Q.How much does California State University-Monterey Bay cost?
The average net price at California State University-Monterey Bay is $13,663 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $26,987.
Q.What is the graduation rate at California State University-Monterey Bay?
California State University-Monterey Bay has a 6-year graduation rate of 59.1% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into California State University-Monterey Bay?
California State University-Monterey Bay admits 97% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do California State University-Monterey Bay graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median California State University-Monterey Bay graduate earns $59,247 per year.
Q.What is tuition at California State University-Monterey Bay?
Published tuition is $7,779 in-state and $20,379 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is California State University-Monterey Bay located?
California State University-Monterey Bay is located in Seaside, California (ZIP 93955).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with California State University-Monterey Bay at their official website.