About

About California State University-Monterey Bay

public masters universityhigh acceptance ratebusiness and tech focustest optional admissions

California State University-Monterey Bay is a public university in Seaside, CA, known for its public masters university, high acceptance rate, and business and tech focus. With an acceptance rate of 92%, California State University is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 904 students each year. California State University is test optional; submitting a strong score can strengthen an application, though it is not required for consideration. California State University offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $8,792 per year; the sticker price of $33,348 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

California State University-Monterey Bay acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

92%
Overall Accept Rate

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to California State University-Monterey Bay

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Application Strategy
CSUMB was founded with a mission around service learning and community impact, so highlight any volunteer work, community projects, or service-oriented experiences prominently in your application because this directly aligns with the campus culture.
Test Score Strategy
CSUMB is test optional and accepts over 90 percent of applicants, so withhold your score and let your GPA, activities, and personal story carry the application instead.

Get a tailored strategy for California State University-Monterey Bay. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What California State University-Monterey Bay actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$33k/yr$10.0k
30k-48k~$33k/yr$10.0k
48k-75k~$33k/yr$12.4k
75k-110k~$33k/yr$16.3k
110k+~$33k/yr$22.8k

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Personalize this page

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

63%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$49k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
23:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
5,901
Undergrad Enrollment
California State University-Monterey Bay Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch