Cal State East Bay vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, 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 East Bay is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (12,326 students vs. 7,713 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University East Bay is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University East Bay 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 East Bay 22:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Cal State East Bay vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State East Bay 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 East Bay than CSUMB ($9,850 vs. $14,493).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 3.3% lower than at California State University East Bay ($17,234 vs. $17,831).
• California State University Monterey Bay is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State East Bay (about $196 more per year; $7,779.00 vs. $7,583.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1% higher at CSUMB than at California State University East Bay (about $196 more per year; $20,379.00 vs. $20,183.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University East Bay than at California State University Monterey Bay (79% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University East Bay students is 1.5% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($12,369 vs. $12,185).

Cal State East Bay vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State East Bay or CSUMB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSUMB and Cal State East Bay.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State East Bay - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman CSUMB students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Cal State East Bay (3.2).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Cal State East Bay (97.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.9% at Cal State East Bay vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Cal State East Bay vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State East Bay and CSUMB? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California State University East Bay's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from California State University East Bay earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $2,332 lower median loan debt than Cal State East Bay graduates ($14,000 vs. $16,332).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cal State East Bay graduates ($144 vs. $168).
• More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State East Bay students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 61%)

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.