CSU Stanislaus vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, 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 Stanislaus is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (9,724 students vs. 7,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 18:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus than CSUMB ($7,433 vs. $14,493).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Stanislaus are 23.8% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($13,126 vs. $17,234).
• California State University Stanislaus is 6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $467 more per year; $8,246.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at CSU Stanislaus than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $467 more per year; $20,846.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Stanislaus than at California State University Monterey Bay (86% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Stanislaus students is 2.5% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($12,492 vs. $12,185).

CSU Stanislaus vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Stanislaus - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CSU Stanislaus students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at CSUMB (3.45).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than CSUMB (97.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

CSU Stanislaus vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from California State University Stanislaus earn a median of about $600 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than CSU Stanislaus graduates ($14,000 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSU Stanislaus graduates ($144 vs. $155).
• More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Stanislaus students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

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.