UCSC vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 7,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

UCSC vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 UCSC ($14,493 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 13.6% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($17,234 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 105.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $8,226 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 146.4% higher at UCSC than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $29,826 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Monterey Bay than at University of California Santa Cruz (71% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 86.9% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($22,774 vs. $12,185).

UCSC vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 200 points higher than at CSUMB (1060).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 20 at CSUMB).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at CSUMB (3.45).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

UCSC vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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).

• University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $5,959 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($14,000 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($144 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.