Concordia University-Irvine vs. CSUMB

Should I go to Concordia University Irvine or California State University Monterey Bay? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Concordia University-Irvine or CSUMB is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Concordia University Irvine vs. California State University Monterey Bay comparison
Concordia University Irvine California State University Monterey Bay College 3 College 4
Concordia University Irvine California State University Monterey Bay
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Overview

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
Location Irvine, CA Seaside, CA
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,481 6,742
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #466 #835
Religious Affiliation Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cui.edu csumb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
Tuition (In State) $40,510 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $40,510 $17,622
Room & Board $13,330 $16,413
Avg Net Price $29,413 $15,222
Avg Grant Aid $26,988 $10,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 73%

Admission

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,564 11,769
Admitted 2,732 11,160
Acceptance Rate 59.9% 94.8%
Enrolled % 10.6% 8.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/29 17/23
SAT Range 1030/1260 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (19%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
Graduation Rate 51% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,678 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $234 $144

Diversity

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
% Men 20% 3%
% Women 38% 9%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 45% 31%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 21% 43%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 14% 5%

Students

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
% In-State 72% 93%
% Out-of-State 24% 5%

Campus

Concordia University-Irvine CSUMB
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Monterey Bay is larger than than Concordia University-Irvine based on total student enrollment (6,742 students vs. 3,481 students)

Concordia University-Irvine vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Concordia University-Irvine or CSUMB?

  • Concordia University Irvine is 605.5% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($40,510.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 129.9% higher at Concordia University-Irvine than California State University Monterey Bay ($40,510.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Monterey Bay than Concordia University-Irvine ($15,222 vs. $29,413)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Concordia University Irvine are 23.1% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($13,330 vs. $16,413)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Concordia University Irvine than California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Concordia University Irvine students is 157.5% larger than aid received California State University Monterey Bay ($26,988 vs. $10,480)

Concordia University-Irvine vs. CSUMB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Concordia University-Irvine or CSUMB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSUMB or Concordia University-Irvine .

  • Accepted freshman Concordia University-Irvine students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at CSUMB (3.45)
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Concordia University-Irvine (59.9%)

Concordia University-Irvine vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Concordia University-Irvine or CSUMB? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSUMB and Concordia University-Irvine.

  • The graduation rate at Concordia University-Irvine is higher than California State University Monterey Bay (51% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Concordia University Irvine earn on average $3,000 more per year than CSUMB graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $45,300)
  • California State University Monterey Bay students graduate with a $8,678 lower median federal student loan debt than Concordia University-Irvine graduates. ($14,000 vs. $22,678)
  • CSUMB graduates are paying $90 less per month on federal student loans than Concordia University-Irvine graduates. ($144 vs. $234)
  • More Concordia University-Irvine 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/