USD vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Diego in San Diego, 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 San Diego is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 7,713 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of San Diego 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: University of San Diego 13:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

USD vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD 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 USD ($14,493 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 13.5% lower than at University of San Diego ($17,234 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 664.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $51,707 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 191.9% higher at USD than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $39,107 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at California State University Monterey Bay (84% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 236.2% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($40,965 vs. $12,185).

USD vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD 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 USD.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at CSUMB (3.45).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

USD vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $24,900 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $8,904 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($14,000 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($144 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.