Public · Not ranked by US News
California State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA
Figures on this page come from U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data. This school has not been individually reviewed, so there is no ranking, aid-policy, or GPA guidance below.
What it may cost by family income
Estimated average net price — what families actually pay after grants and scholarships — by annual household income. Net price matters far more than the $39,587 sticker price. All figures are the full cost of attendance — housing, food, and books included, not just tuition.
| Household income | Est. net price / year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $9,970 |
| $30k–$48k | $9,981 |
| $48k–$75k | $12,440 |
| $75k–$110k | $16,281 |
| Over $110k | $22,818 |
Sticker cost of attendance: $39,587 (out-of-state) · $26,987 in-state.
What the whole degree costs
Every cost figure above is one year. A bachelor's degree is four — sometimes five. Today's-prices makes no assumptions; the second column assumes prices rise ~3.5% a year, in line with recent averages.
| Household income | 4 yrs, today's prices | 4 yrs with increases |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $39,880 | $42,023 |
| $30k–$48k | $39,924 | $42,069 |
| $48k–$75k | $49,760 | $52,434 |
| $75k–$110k | $65,124 | $68,623 |
| Over $110k | $91,272 | $96,177 |
59% of students here graduate within six years. If the degree takes a fifth year, budget roughly one more year at the prices above — ask the school what share of students finish in four.
First-year aid is not guaranteed to repeat — ask California State University-Monterey Bay how grants change after year one. That answer moves these numbers more than anything else on this page.
Applying to a specific major at California State University-Monterey Bay
97% is the acceptance rate for the whole university — not for every major. For the programs below, admission is usually decided separately and is harder than that number suggests. Almost no university publishes a by-major admission rate, and neither does the federal government, so we do not show one: any site that does is estimating.
To find the real figure for your major, check California State University-Monterey Bay's Common Data Set and its admissions page, or ask an admissions officer directly — that question gets answered more often than students expect.
At California State University-Monterey Bay: 207 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $61,516 median earnings (Computer Science.)
Applicant demand has grown far faster than faculty and seats, so many universities cap CS enrollment, admit to it directly, or require a competitive internal application after enrolling.
Check: Whether the school admits to CS directly, and whether switching into CS later is restricted — the answer changes your real odds more than your test scores do.
At California State University-Monterey Bay: 59 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $76,460 median earnings (Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.)
Clinical placement requirements hard-cap how many students a nursing program can take, which routinely makes direct-entry nursing among the most selective programs on a campus.
Check: Whether the program is direct-entry or requires applying again in sophomore year, and how many seats it takes per cohort.
At California State University-Monterey Bay: 241 bachelor's degrees awarded a year · $46,087 median earnings (Business Administration, Management and Operations.)
Many undergraduate business schools admit their own cohort at application time and are more selective than the university overall; others admit only after two years of coursework.
Check: Whether the business school is direct-admit for first-years, and if not, what GPA the internal application actually requires.
Federal data shows no bachelor's completions at California State University-Monterey Bay in engineering, architecture or visual & performing arts, so those are not listed above. Small or new programs can be missing from federal reporting — confirm with the school before ruling one out.
What graduates earn, by major
Median earnings and median federal loan debt for bachelor's graduates of California State University-Monterey Bay, by field of study, from the U.S. Department of Education. Earnings differ far more between majors at one school than between schools.
| Major | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. · Social Sciences | $28,895 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | $32,467 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. · Business | $46,087 | — |
| Computer Science. · Computer Science | $61,516 | — |
| Biology, General. · Biological Sciences | $28,236 | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. | $27,822 | — |
| Social Sciences, General. · Social Sciences | $34,603 | — |
| Human Services, General. | $36,533 | — |
| Marine Sciences. | $29,995 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | $32,569 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. · Nursing | $76,460 | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication. | $26,739 | — |
Largest programs shown. Earnings are measured a few years after graduation and reflect who enrolls as much as what is taught.
Is California State University-Monterey Bay a reach, target, or safety for you?
Ladder2College models your personal admission odds and net cost here — based on your GPA, scores, and family income — and shows how it fits alongside the rest of your list.
Model my odds & cost — freeFigures are estimates modeled on U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data and recent reporting, provided for guidance only. Always confirm cost with California State University-Monterey Bay’s official net price calculator and admissions figures with the school directly.