What California State University, Monterey Bay costs
California State University, Monterey Bay charges $7,779 a year in published tuition and fees for California residents, about $3,890 a semester, and $20,379 a year for students from other states, about $10,190 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $26,987 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $11,649 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
California State University, Monterey Bay takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so students from other western states may pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. See the full WUE list →
Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
Getting into California State University, Monterey Bay
For fall 2024, California State University, Monterey Bay received 14,933 applications and admitted 14,545 students, and 1,419 enrolled as first-years.
What California State University, Monterey Bay students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at California State University, Monterey Bay (class of 2024, first majors only):
| Major | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Psychology | 250 |
| Business Administration and Management | 203 |
| Computer Science | 199 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education / Fitness | 145 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences / Liberal Studies | 131 |
| Humanities / Humanistic Studies | 107 |
| Marine Sciences | 99 |
| Biology / Biological Sciences | 93 |
Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.
Colleges near California State University, Monterey Bay
Other colleges within about an hour, by straight-line distance:
- University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California: about 28 miles away
- San Jose State University, San Jose, California: about 47 miles away
- Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California: about 49 miles away
- Stanford University, Stanford, California: about 57 miles away
- Menlo College, Atherton, California: about 60 miles away
Colleges like California State University, Monterey Bay
Smaller public universities with the same campus setting (suburban), closest in size and nearest in region:
- California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, California: 8,385 undergraduates
- University of Washington–Bothell, Bothell, Washington: 5,457 undergraduates
- Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California: 5,166 undergraduates
- California State University, East Bay, Hayward, California: 9,809 undergraduates
- California State University, San Marcos, San Marcos, California: 14,877 undergraduates
See more colleges like California State University, Monterey Bay in the College Filter →
Lists that include California State University, Monterey Bay
- Colleges in California: 61 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities: 242 Compared
- Smaller Public Universities on the West Coast: 15 Compared
- Division II Colleges: 151 Compared
- Division II Colleges on the West Coast: 21 Compared
- Suburban Colleges: 207 Compared
- Suburban Colleges on the West Coast: 27 Compared
FAQ
What is California State University, Monterey Bay's acceptance rate? 97.4% for fall 2024: 14,545 of 14,933 applicants were admitted.
How much is tuition at California State University, Monterey Bay? $7,779 a year for in-state students and $20,379 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Is California State University, Monterey Bay part of WUE? Yes. It is on WICHE's September 2026 list of Western Undergraduate Exchange colleges. Requirements vary by college, so check with California State University, Monterey Bay about how to apply and which programs qualify.
How many students go to California State University, Monterey Bay? About 6,800 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is the campus setting at California State University, Monterey Bay? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as suburban.
Sources
- College Navigator: California State University, Monterey Bay (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
- College Scorecard: California State University, Monterey Bay
- Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons
