- Acceptance rate: 97% for fall 2024
- Average net price: $15,222 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
California State University Monterey Bay reported an acceptance rate of 97% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. California State University Monterey Bay reviews each application.
California State University Monterey Bay GPA requirements
California State University Monterey Bay requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and California State University Monterey Bay hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
California State University Monterey Bay acceptance rate
California State University Monterey Bay admitted 14,545 of 14,933 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 97%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
California State University Monterey Bay is a public 4-year university in Seaside, California, with 6,907 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What California State University Monterey Bay looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
California State University Monterey Bay didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
California State University Monterey Bay awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $15,222 a year at California State University Monterey Bay in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into California State University Monterey Bay?
GPA alone can't tell you here. California State University Monterey Bay admitted 97% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Is California State University Monterey Bay test optional?
Check California State University Monterey Bay's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. California State University Monterey Bay was test blind: it didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
How much does GPA matter at California State University Monterey Bay?
A lot: California State University Monterey Bay requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How many applicants get into California State University Monterey Bay?
California State University Monterey Bay's acceptance rate was 97% for fall 2024: it admitted 14,545 of 14,933 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Is California State University Monterey Bay hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. California State University Monterey Bay admitted 97% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into California State University Monterey Bay?
California State University Monterey Bay requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Does it matter at California State University Monterey Bay if a parent went there?
No. California State University Monterey Bay doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does California State University Monterey Bay cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $15,222 a year at California State University Monterey Bay in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at California State University Monterey Bay?
Yes. California State University Monterey Bay awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does California State University Monterey Bay ask for a personal statement?
No. California State University Monterey Bay doesn't consider a personal statement or essay, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check California State University Monterey Bay's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: California State University-Monterey BayU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
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