Cal State University, Monterey Bay: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

California State University, Monterey Bay is a public university with an acceptance rate of 75%. Founded in 1994, CSUMB has a coastal setting in Seaside, California. Cal State Monterey Bay emphasizes hands-on, outcome-based learning and interaction between faculty and students. The CSUMB experience begins with a first-year seminar and concludes with a senior capstone project. In Athletics, the CSUMB Otters compete in the NCAA Division II California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Considering applying to Cal State Monterey Bay? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Cal State Monterey Bay had an acceptance rate of 75%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 75 students were admitted, making CSUMB's admissions process somewhat competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Cal State University Monterey Bay requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 92% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Cal State Monterey Bay's admitted students fall within the bottom 29% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to CSUMB scored between 490 and 600, while 25% scored below 490 and 25% scored above 600. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 470 and 570, while 25% scored below 470 and 25% scored above 570. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1170 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Cal State Monterey Bay.

Requirements

Cal State Monterey Bay does not require the SAT writing section. Note that CSUMB will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. SAT Subject test scores are not required, but if the score meets a benchmark, it may be used to fulfill certain core course requirements.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Cal State Monterey Bay requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 35% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of Cal State Monterey Bay's admitted students fall within the bottom 33% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to CSUMB received a composite ACT score between 17 and 23, while 25% scored above 23 and 25% scored below 17.

Requirements

Cal State Monterey Bay does not require the ACT writing section. Unlike many universities, CSUMB superscores ACT results; your highest subscores from multiple ACT sittings will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the average high school GPA for incoming Cal State Monterey Bay freshmen was 3.17. This data suggests that most successful applicants to CSUMB have primarily B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Cal State Monterey Bay. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Cal State Monterey Bay, which accepts three quarters of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. Unlike the University of California System, the California State University admission process is not holistic. Except for EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) students, applicants do not need to submit letters of recommendation or an application essay, and extracurricular involvement is not part of the standard application. Instead, admissions are based primarily on an eligibility index that combines GPA and test scores. Minimum high school course requirements (A-G college preparatory requirements) include four years of English; three years of math; two years of history and social science; two years of laboratory science; two years of a foreign language other than English; one year of visual or performing arts; and one year of a college preparatory elective. The reasons why an applicant with adequate scores and grades would be rejected tends to come down to factors such as insufficient college preparatory classes, high school classes that weren't challenging, or an incomplete application.

Be aware that California State University, Monterey Bay is designated as impacted because it receives more applications than can be accommodated. Impacted CSUSM majors include: Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science, Kinesiology, Marine Science, Psychology, and Undeclared. Each of the impacted programs have additional requirements for eligibility.

In the graph above, accepted students are represented by the blue and green dots. As you can see, the majority of admitted students had a high school average of "B" or better, SAT scores (ERW+M) of 950 or higher, and ACT scores of 18 or higher.

If You Like CSUMB, You May Also Like These Schools

• Occidental College
• California State University, Chico
• California State University, San Bernardino
• California State University, Los Angeles
• California State University San Marcos
• University of California, Santa Cruz

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and California State University, Monterey Bay Undergraduate Admissions Office.