CMA vs. University of the People

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with University of the People in Pasadena, California on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of the People is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (41,961 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); University of the People is in Pasadena, California (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the People is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; University of the People 28:1.

CMA vs. University of the People Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or University of the People? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of the People than CMA ($1,575 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the People are 86.2% lower than at California State University Maritime Academy ($2,001 vs. $14,536).
• California State University Maritime Academy is 610.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of the People (about $8,544 more per year; $9,944.00 vs. $1,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1,510.3% higher at CMA than at University of the People (about $21,144 more per year; $22,544.00 vs. $1,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the People than at California State University Maritime Academy (74% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students is 975.8% larger than aid received by University of the People students ($11,038 vs. $1,026).

CMA vs. University of the People Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or University of the People? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of the People and CMA.

• University of the People reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; University of the People - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026.

CMA vs. University of the People Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and University of the People? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.