CSU vs. CSUMB

Deciding between California State University Chico and California State University Monterey Bay? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Chico
California State University Monterey Bay

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CSU Chico, CA
  • CSUMB Seaside, CA
  • Setting
  • CSU Small City
  • CSUMB Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • CSU 15,257
  • CSUMB 7,713
  • Type
  • CSU Public 4 Year
  • CSUMB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CSU #675
  • CSUMB #867
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CSU -
  • CSUMB -
  • Status
  • CSU Non-profit
  • CSUMB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CSU
  • CSUMB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CSU $8,472
  • CSUMB $7,779
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CSU $21,072
  • CSUMB $20,379
  • Room & Board
  • CSU $16,500
  • CSUMB $17,234
  • Average Net Price
  • CSU $14,630
  • CSUMB $14,493
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CSU $11,509
  • CSUMB $12,185
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CSU 66%
  • CSUMB 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CSU 23,322
  • CSUMB 14,933
  • Admitted
  • CSU 21,623
  • CSUMB 14,545
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CSU 92.7%
  • CSUMB 97.4%
  • Enrolled
  • CSU 10.2%
  • CSUMB 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CSU 1070
  • CSUMB 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • CSU 21
  • CSUMB 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • CSU 3.37
  • CSUMB 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CSU B+
  • CSUMB B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CSU Very Easy
  • CSUMB Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • CSU
  • CSUMB
  • ACT Range
  • CSU 18/24
  • CSUMB 17/23
  • SAT Range
  • CSU 970/1170
  • CSUMB 960/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CSU Test-free
  • CSUMB Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CSU Dec 15, 2026
  • CSUMB Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CSU 23:1
  • CSUMB 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • CSUMB
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CSU 59%
  • CSUMB 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CSU $52,400
  • CSUMB $45,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CSU 70%
  • CSUMB 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CSU $17,000
  • CSUMB $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CSU $175
  • CSUMB $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CSU 43%
  • CSUMB 39%
  • % Women
  • CSU 57%
  • CSUMB 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CSU High
  • CSUMB High
  • HBCU
  • CSU No
  • CSUMB No
  • % White
  • CSU 46%
  • CSUMB 31%
  • % Asian
  • CSU 6%
  • CSUMB 5%
  • % Black
  • CSU 2%
  • CSUMB 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • CSU 29%
  • CSUMB 43%
  • % Native American
  • CSU 1%
  • CSUMB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CSU 0%
  • CSUMB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CSU 5%
  • CSUMB 7%
  • % International
  • CSU 3%
  • CSUMB 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CSU 7%
  • CSUMB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CSU 98%
  • CSUMB 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CSU 1%
  • CSUMB 4%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CSU Yes
  • CSUMB Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CSU No
  • CSUMB No
  • Meal Plan
  • CSU Yes
  • CSUMB Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CSU No
  • CSUMB No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CSU Yes
  • CSUMB Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 7,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

CSU vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or CSUMB? 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 California State University Monterey Bay than CSU ($14,493 vs. $14,630).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 4.3% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($16,500 vs. $17,234).
  • California State University Chico is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $693 more per year; $8,472.00 vs. $7,779.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.4% higher at CSU than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $693 more per year; $21,072.00 vs. $20,379.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Monterey Bay than at California State University Chico (71% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 5.9% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($12,185 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or CSUMB? 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 CSUMB and CSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State University Chico (1070) is 10 points higher than at CSUMB (1060).
  • Incoming CSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at CSUMB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at CSU (3.37).
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than CSU (92.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

CSU vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and CSUMB? 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).

  • California State University Chico's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
  • Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than CSU graduates ($14,000 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU graduates ($144 vs. $175).
  • More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 66%)

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.