CSUMB vs. UWest

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Monterey Bay is larger than UWest based on total student enrollment (7,713 students vs. 138 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Monterey Bay is located in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of the West is in Rosemead, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the West is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Monterey Bay 24:1; University of the West 4:1.

CSUMB vs. UWest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSUMB or UWest? 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 UWest ($14,493 vs. $14,713).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the West are 17.3% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($14,244 vs. $17,234).
• University of the West is 98.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $7,667 more per year; $15,446.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at CSUMB than at University of the West (about $4,933 more per year; $20,379.00 vs. $15,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the West than at California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 29% larger than aid received by University of the West students ($12,185 vs. $9,445).

CSUMB vs. UWest Admissions comparison

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

• University of the West reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSUMB - Test-free; UWest - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUMB Jan 15, 2027; UWest Jun 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 1.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at UWest (2.43).
• UWest has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CSUMB (97.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at CSUMB vs. 25% at UWest.

CSUMB vs. UWest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSUMB and UWest? 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.