PUC vs. CSUMB

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

 PUC CSUMB
Location Angwin, CA Seaside, CA
Setting Rural Fringe Rural Fringe
Enrollment 870 7,045
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #861
Religious Affiliation Seventh Day Adventists - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website puc.edu csumb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 PUC CSUMB
Tuition (In State) $32,655 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $32,655 $17,622
Room & Board $9,273 $16,262
Avg Net Price $21,841 $11,435
Avg Grant Aid $23,383 $8,702
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 66%

Admission

 PUC CSUMB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,364 12,568
Admitted 661 11,611
Acceptance Rate 48.5% 92.4%
Enrolled % 16.9% 7.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.24 3.45
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/23 17/23
SAT Range 990/1200 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 PUC CSUMB
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (41%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 PUC CSUMB
Graduation Rate 45% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $59,200 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $30,000 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $310 $144

Diversity

 PUC CSUMB
% Men 37% 38%
% Women 63% 62%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 26% 31%
% Black 9% 6%
% Hispanic 28% 43%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 2% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 7%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 5%

Students

 PUC CSUMB
% In-State 77% 96%
% Out-of-State 21% 2%

Campus

 PUC 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 PUC based on total student enrollment (7,045 students vs. 870 students)

PUC vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PUC or CSUMB?

  • Pacific Union College is 468.7% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($32,655.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 85.3% higher at PUC than California State University Monterey Bay ($32,655.00 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 PUC ($11,435 vs. $21,841)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Union College are 75.4% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($9,273 vs. $16,262)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Union College than California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Union College students is 168.7% larger than aid received California State University Monterey Bay ($23,383 vs. $8,702)

PUC vs. CSUMB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at PUC (3.24)
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than PUC (48.5%)

PUC vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PUC 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 PUC.

  • The graduation rate at PUC is higher than California State University Monterey Bay (45% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Pacific Union College earn on average $13,900 more per year than CSUMB graduates after ten years. ($59,200 vs. $45,300)
  • California State University Monterey Bay students graduate with a $16,000 lower median federal student loan debt than PUC graduates. ($14,000 vs. $30,000)
  • CSUMB graduates are paying $166 less per month on federal student loans than PUC graduates. ($144 vs. $310)
  • More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PUC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 57%)

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