California State University-Monterey Bay
Seaside, California · Public · 97.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Cal State Monterey Bay scores 76 (Strong Value). The earnings premium score of 86 reflects strong outcomes relative to cost - average 6-year earnings of $35,100 rise to a median $59,247 at 10 years, driven by California's strong wage ladder. The 8-year payback period is reasonable given the low net price. CSUMB's debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.363 (score 90) is the second-strongest sub-score, reflecting low median debt of $12,750 against an affordable tuition. The 59.1% completion rate is the main weakness.
California State University-Monterey Bay scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
California State University-Monterey Bay
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,779/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,379/yr |
| Average net price | $13,663/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $54,652 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,247 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,750 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $135 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,819 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,779/year ($20,379/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,663/year, or roughly $54,652 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,970/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,818/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $12,750, which works out to about $135 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,100) and comes to 0.36, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,970 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,981 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,440 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,281 |
| $110,001+ | $22,818 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $9,970 per year at CSUMB - $39,880 over four years. Against $35,100 average 6-year earnings and an 8-year payback, the case for completers is strong. CSUMB's 43.2% Pell rate means the majority of its lowest-income students are receiving substantial federal and state (Cal Grant) aid. At $9,970 net price, this is an affordable four-year degree pathway for Pell-eligible students in engineering, CS, or nursing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $12,440 per year ($49,760 over four years) and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $16,281 ($65,124 over four years). CS and nursing students in these income brackets have a clear financial case; Liberal Arts and general studies students face a more stretched payback.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $22,818 per year - $91,272 over four years. Nursing and CS graduates at $91,272 total cost and $71-117k year-one earnings reach payback in under 2 years. The full-pay case is weakest for Liberal Arts or social science majors.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State University-Monterey Bay with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $54,074 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $59,017 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,558 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $101,787 | A |
| Biology | $55,654 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $47,736 | C+ |
| Social Sciences, General | $57,200 | B+ |
| Human Services, General | $56,719 | B |
| Marine Sciences | $59,782 | C |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $51,118 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is CSUMB's top program by a wide margin: 59 graduates, $117,088 at year one, $134,489 at year four. Median debt of just $9,489 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.081 earn an A grade - outstanding performance. The high year-one earnings reflect California's premium nursing wages, and the near-zero debt reflects the CSU tuition advantage.
Computer Science
Computer Science (207 graduates) is CSUMB's largest tech program and earns $71,458 at year one and $101,787 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.231 (ROI grade A). At $16,500 median debt and $71k year-one earnings, CS graduates start with an exceptionally clean debt load relative to earnings. The 4-year trajectory to $101k reflects the regional Silicon Valley and Monterey Bay tech employer presence. With 207 graduates, this is a high-volume, high-ROI program at an affordable public price.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (241 graduates) is CSUMB's largest program by volume and earns $47,825 at year one and $72,558 at year four, with a B+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.282. At $13,500 median debt, the payback is comfortable for completers. Business graduates from CSUMB place into regional Monterey County employers, Central Valley businesses, and the broader California professional services market.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences (250 graduates) is CSUMB's largest single program and earns $30,413 at year one and $59,017 at year four, with a C+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.452. Despite the lower grade, the low debt load ($13,750 median) and California's strong wage trajectory over time make the 4-year figure more reassuring than the year-one figure. This program likely serves students who are undecided or pursuing interdisciplinary work; the 4-year earnings jump from $30k to $59k reflects career sorting over time.
Psychology
Psychology (293 graduates) is CSUMB's second-largest program and earns $29,168 at year one and $54,074 at year four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.424. At only $12,366 median debt, the B grade despite modest year-one earnings reflects the low-cost CSU structure. The B grade here would be C or D at a private institution charging $40,000 in net price.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University-Monterey Bay’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.4% |
| Enrollment | 6,819 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,135 |
CSUMB's 97.4% admission rate is effectively open enrollment within the CSU guaranteed admission framework. No SAT or ACT data is reported. The admissions signal here is that completion - not admission - is the challenge. With a 59.1% completion rate, students should evaluate CSUMB's academic support infrastructure, not its selectivity, when making their enrollment decision.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CSUMB (76) has a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.363.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Monterey Bay (this school) | 76 | $13,663 | $59,247 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Wyoming | 77 | $13,599 | $56,880 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| Metropolitan State University | 72 | $16,863 | $64,705 |
| The University of Texas at Tyler | 72 | $13,323 | $57,053 |
Who Thrives Here
CSUMB admits 97.4% of applicants and does not report test score data. The Pell grant rate is 43.2%, reflecting the campus's mission to serve the Salinas Valley and Monterey Peninsula's working-class and agricultural-worker families. Students in computer science and nursing will find the strongest program-level returns; Liberal Arts and Sciences (250 graduates) is the largest program but has slower payback.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, California State University-Monterey Bay pays off. You'd pay about $13,663 a year after aid ($54,652 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,247 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $12,750 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State University-Monterey Bay: Common Questions
Is California State University-Monterey Bay worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University-Monterey Bay pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,663 a year after aid ($54,652 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $59,247 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 8 years to earn back.
How much does California State University-Monterey Bay cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,663 a year, or roughly $54,652 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State University-Monterey Bay graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,247 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,447 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State University-Monterey Bay?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8 years for California State University-Monterey Bay. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University-Monterey Bay graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $12,750, against average earnings of $35,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State University-Monterey Bay?
The six-year graduation rate is 59.1%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.