Menlo vs. CSUMB

Should I go to Menlo College or California State University Monterey Bay? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Menlo 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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Menlo College vs. California State University Monterey Bay comparison
Menlo College California State University Monterey Bay College 3 College 4
California State University Monterey Bay
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Overview

 Menlo CSUMB
Location Atherton, CA Seaside, CA
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 840 6,742
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #835
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website menlo.edu csumb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Menlo CSUMB
Tuition (In State) $50,190 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $50,190 $17,622
Room & Board $15,537 $16,413
Avg Net Price $28,158 $15,222
Avg Grant Aid $41,775 $10,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 73%

Admission

 Menlo CSUMB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,041 11,769
Admitted 2,062 11,160
Acceptance Rate 67.8% 94.8%
Enrolled % 8.6% 8.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 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 Apr 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Menlo CSUMB
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (67%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Psychology (1%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 Menlo CSUMB
Graduation Rate 34% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,900 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,062 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $217 $144

Diversity

 Menlo CSUMB
% Men 1% 3%
% Women 0% 9%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 29% 31%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 22% 43%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 2% 0%
% Two or More Races 8% 7%
% International 14% 2%
% Unknown Race 9% 5%

Students

 Menlo CSUMB
% In-State 49% 93%
% Out-of-State 22% 5%

Campus

 Menlo 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 Menlo based on total student enrollment (6,742 students vs. 840 students)

Menlo vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo or CSUMB?

  • Menlo College is 774.1% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($50,190.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 184.8% higher at Menlo than California State University Monterey Bay ($50,190.00 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 Menlo ($15,222 vs. $28,158)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 5.6% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($15,537 vs. $16,413)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Menlo College than California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 298.6% larger than aid received California State University Monterey Bay ($41,775 vs. $10,480)

Menlo vs. CSUMB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Menlo (3.3)
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Menlo (67.8%)

Menlo vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Menlo 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 Menlo.

  • The graduation rate at CSUMB is higher than Menlo College (38% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Menlo College earn on average $8,600 more per year than CSUMB graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $45,300)
  • California State University Monterey Bay students graduate with a $7,062 lower median federal student loan debt than Menlo graduates. ($14,000 vs. $21,062)
  • CSUMB graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Menlo graduates. ($144 vs. $217)
  • More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/