Saint Mary's College of California vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, 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 Monterey Bay is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (7,713 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California 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 Monterey Bay than Saint Mary's College of California ($14,493 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 2.1% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($17,234 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 643.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $50,024 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 183.6% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $37,424 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 248% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($42,407 vs. $12,185).

Saint Mary's College of California vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's College of California 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 Saint Mary's College of California.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 100 points higher than at CSUMB (1060).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 20 at CSUMB).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at CSUMB (3.45).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Saint Mary's College of California (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $21,500 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $11,000 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($14,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($144 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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.