California State University-Monterey Bay prices access to a four-year degree at levels that reflect its public mission. Low-income families pay approximately $9,970 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,440, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $22,818.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $26,987 |
| Tuition and Fees | $20,379 |
| Room and Board | $17,234 |
| Books and Supplies | $899 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$13,324 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $13,663 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $9,970 |
| $30–48k | $9,981 |
| $48–75k | $12,440 |
| $75–110k | $16,281 |
| $110k+ | $22,818 |
California State University-Monterey Bay prices access to a four-year degree at levels that reflect its public mission. Low-income families pay approximately $9,970 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $12,440, and higher-income families pay correspondingly more at roughly $22,818. Azimuth ranks California State University-Monterey Bay #96 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay reflects the university's participation in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, which meaningfully reduce out-of-pocket costs for students who qualify for need-based support. Need-based aid plays a central role in how California State University-Monterey Bay prices access across income levels. As a California State University campus, students may draw on Cal Grants, federal Pell Grants, and institutional scholarships, with the combination often closing a substantial portion of the gap between the published cost of attendance of $26,987 and actual family cost. Middle-income families in particular benefit from the layered aid structure, which keeps net prices more predictable than at many private institutions. Families should review their specific aid eligibility carefully, as individual packages vary within each income band. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $12,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,836; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,324, median federal debt of $12,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $144 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
Graduates of California State University-Monterey Bay earn median earnings of $62,324 four years after enrollment, placing California State University-Monterey Bay in the 57.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Graduates earn about $15,435 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to CA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,672 (the state median earnings of working adults without a postsecondary credential). The degree mix at California State University-Monterey Bay is anchored in Business, which accounts for 15% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 5% and Arts at 4%. Computer Science combines the largest cohort scale with competitive earnings, making it a central contributor to the institution's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #72 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions , with 265 graduates earning median earnings of $72,558. The General Studies program graduates 242 students with median earnings of $59,017, and Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #68 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 231 graduates earning median earnings of $54,074.
