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California State University-Monterey Bay
California State University-Monterey Bay admits nearly everyone — 97.4% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether California State University-Monterey Bay is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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California State University-Monterey Bay occupies suburban Seaside, CA — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $134,489 four years out. Faculty pay averages $145,620 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 6,819 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 79.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
California State University-Monterey Bay won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
California State University-Monterey Bay does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 97.4% who got into California State University-Monterey Bay did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, California State University-Monterey Bay received 11,769 applications and admitted 11,160 (94.8%), with 943 enrolling.
How California State University-Monterey Bay compares
| California State University-Monterey Bay | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 97.4% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $7,779 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $59,247 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, California State University-Monterey Bay's median earnings are $59,247 — below the California benchmark of $64,778. Weigh that against the $7,779 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, California State University-Monterey Bay prices by residency: $7,779 in-state versus $20,379 out-of-state — a $12,600 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
California State University-Monterey Bay enrolls 6,819 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs California State University-Monterey Bay's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
59.1% graduate within six years. Roughly 41% don't — ask a California State University-Monterey Bay tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at California State University-Monterey Bay
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $134,489 |
| Computer Science | $101,787 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $74,298 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,558 |
| Mathematics | $62,943 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $61,480 |
| Marine Sciences | $59,782 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $59,017 |
| Social Sciences, General | $57,200 |
| Human Services, General | $56,719 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $55,856 |
| Biology, General | $55,654 |
| Psychology, General | $54,074 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $51,598 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $51,118 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $48,639 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $47,736 |
| Music | $40,077 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $39,954 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $39,824 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,006 |
Median earnings for these 21 California State University-Monterey Bay programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $59,247 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 8 additional California State University-Monterey Bay programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for California State University-Monterey Bay?
California State University-Monterey Bay doesn't look at test scores; its 97.4% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is California State University-Monterey Bay's acceptance rate?
94.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 11,160 admitted from 11,769 applicants.
How much does California State University-Monterey Bay cost?
In-state tuition is $7,779; out-of-state students pay $20,379. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do California State University-Monterey Bay graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $59,247 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- California State University-Channel Islands — 94.8% admitted
- University of California-Merced — 90.5% admitted
- Los Angeles College of Music — 87.7% admitted
- California State University-San Marcos — 95.1% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.