WestConn vs. CSUMB

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

 WestConn CSUMB
Location Danbury, CT Seaside, CA
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,137 6,742
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #506 #835
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcsu.edu csumb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WestConn CSUMB
Tuition (In State) $6,664 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $9,996 $17,622
Room & Board $15,131 $16,413
Avg Net Price $16,527 $15,222
Avg Grant Aid $7,943 $10,480
% Receiving Grant Aid 63% 73%

Admission

 WestConn CSUMB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,457 11,769
Admitted 4,440 11,160
Acceptance Rate 81.4% 94.8%
Enrolled % 16% 8.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.38 3.45
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/27 17/23
SAT Range 840/1150 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

 WestConn CSUMB
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 WestConn CSUMB
Graduation Rate 40% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $144

Diversity

 WestConn CSUMB
% Men 4% 3%
% Women 10% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 61% 31%
% Black 12% 6%
% Hispanic 18% 43%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 7%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

 WestConn CSUMB
% In-State 71% 93%
% Out-of-State 29% 5%

Campus

 WestConn CSUMB
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Monterey Bay is larger than than WestConn based on total student enrollment (6,742 students vs. 4,137 students)

WestConn vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WestConn or CSUMB?

  • Western Connecticut State University is 16.1% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($6,664.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76.3% higher at CSUMB than Western Connecticut State University ($17,622.00 vs. $9,996.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Monterey Bay than WestConn ($15,222 vs. $16,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Connecticut State University are 8.5% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($15,131 vs. $16,413)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California State University Monterey Bay than Western Connecticut State University (73% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 31.9% larger than aid received Western Connecticut State University ($10,480 vs. $7,943)

WestConn vs. CSUMB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at WestConn (3.38)
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than WestConn (81.4%)

WestConn vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WestConn 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 WestConn.

  • The graduation rate at WestConn is higher than California State University Monterey Bay (40% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn on average $2,100 more per year than CSUMB graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $45,300)
  • California State University Monterey Bay students graduate with a $11,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WestConn graduates. ($14,000 vs. $25,000)
  • CSUMB graduates are paying $114 less per month on federal student loans than WestConn graduates. ($144 vs. $258)
  • More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WestConn students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 65%)

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