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Sonoma State University San Francisco State San Jose State Humboldt State University CSU UCSC UC Merced Sacramento State Cal State Long Beach CSU Channel Islands Cal State East Bay California State University-Fresno| Pacific Union College | California State University Monterey Bay | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
PUC | CSUMB | ||
| Location | Angwin, CA | Seaside, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 938 | 6,742 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #835 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Seventh Day Adventists | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | puc.edu | csumb.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PUC | CSUMB | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $34,191 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,191 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,471 | $16,413 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,799 | $15,222 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,423 | $10,480 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 73% |
Admission |
PUC | CSUMB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,323 | 11,769 | ||
| Admitted | 562 | 11,160 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 42.5% | 94.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24.7% | 8.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.45 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/24 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 930/1190 | 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, 2026 |
Academics |
PUC | CSUMB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
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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 | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 2% | 9% | ||
| 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% | 93% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 5% | ||
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 (6,742 students vs. 938 students)
PUC vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PUC or CSUMB?
- Pacific Union College is 495.5% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($34,191.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 94% higher at PUC than California State University Monterey Bay ($34,191.00 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 ($15,222 vs. $22,799)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Union College are 73.3% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($9,471 vs. $16,413)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Union College than California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Union College students is 133% larger than aid received California State University Monterey Bay ($24,423 vs. $10,480)
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 (94.8%) than PUC (42.5%)
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/