Cal U of Pa vs California State University-Monterey Bay (CSUMB)

California University of Pennsylvania and California State University-Monterey Bay, while sharing the "California" moniker, offer distinct educational experiences. Cal U, nestled in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring students. Cal State Monterey Bay, on the other hand, shines with its smaller class sizes, fostering a more personalized learning environment. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Cal U excelling in fields like Business, Education, and Health Professions, while Cal State Monterey Bay stands out in Environmental Science, Marine Science, and Hospitality Management. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including graduation rates, student demographics, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
California State University-Monterey Bay logo

California State University-Monterey Bay

California University of Pennsylvania logo

California University of Pennsylvania

Overview

Location Seaside, California California, Pennsylvania
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 81.0% 67.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.8% 97.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
SAT range N/A 940 - 1150
ACT range N/A 18 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 38.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0%
Total number of applicants 10,026 3,933
Total number of admissions given out 9,305 3,818
Admitted students who chose to enroll 779 815
Yield rate 8.4% 21.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $26,430

Out of state: $38,310
In state: $27,904

Out of state: $32,522
Average net price $6,085 $20,317
Tuition
In state: $5,742

Out of state: $17,622
In state: $7,716

Out of state: $11,574
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,642

Meal plan: $4,558
Room/dormitory: $6,822

Meal plan: $3,900
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

69.0%
Average amount $9,097
92.0%
Average amount $6,250
Students receiving federal student loan 25.0%
Average amount $3,379
62.0%
Average amount $4,982
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $11,953
8.0%
Average amount $9,920

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 6,692
Men 38.1% Women 61.9%
4,463
Men 43.3% Women 56.7%
Graduate students 811
Men 29.8% Women 70.2%
2,046
Men 30.4% Women 69.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 2.4% 13.0%
International students 4.8% 1.0%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Small
Dormitory capacity 3,565 2,075
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Colorado Hawaii Arizona Illinois Pennsylvania Ohio New York Maryland New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Liberal Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
Students to faculty ratio 23:1 19:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 60.2% 48.4%
Dropout rate 30.1% 23.8%
Transferred out 7.3% 26.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,260
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $110,683
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,700
  • Year 2: $79,389
  • Year 3: $83,389
Educational/Instructional Media Design (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,186
  • Year 2: $71,957
  • Year 3: $75,206
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,031
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $68,691
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,187
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $65,124
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,008
  • Year 2: $60,049
  • Year 3: $63,971
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,999
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $52,338
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,158
  • Year 2: $36,533
  • Year 3: $43,406
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,259
  • Year 2: $32,467
  • Year 3: $40,471
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,318
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $40,347
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,275
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $81,087
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,369
  • Year 2: $63,402
  • Year 3: $67,338
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,734
  • Year 2: $55,693
  • Year 3: $63,169
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,118
  • Year 2: $54,109
  • Year 3: $57,285
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,198
  • Year 2: $48,139
  • Year 3: $55,763
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,913
  • Year 2: $52,684
  • Year 3: $54,844
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $51,531
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,279
  • Year 2: $37,208
  • Year 3: $50,258
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,266
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $49,620
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,906
  • Year 2: $45,589
  • Year 3: $48,321

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