Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Cal State Monterey Bay graduates experience steady earnings growth throughout their early and mid-career periods. Median earnings rise from $48,648 six years after enrollment to $55,080 at eight years and $59,247 at ten years, representing consistent upward trajectory.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings exceed the peer average, indicating above-typical outcomes for this institution type.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $12,750 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Cal State Monterey Bay graduates maintain exceptionally low debt levels that support long-term financial health. Median student debt reaches just $12,750, significantly below the peer median of $21,105, representing $8,355 less borrowing than similar institutions.
California State University-Monterey Bay delivers above average return on educational investment, ranking at the 68.3rd percentile nationally. Graduates earn $12,341 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing the university in the 88.4th percentile for value-added performance and demonstrating well above average uplift.
Approximately 26.6% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce entry and ad...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing leads program outcomes with exceptional earnings of $122,142 among 68 graduates, ranking #5 nationally and demonstrating the transformational potential of healthcare education. Business Administration and Management produces $61,638 in median earnings among 262 graduates, while Computer Science generates $61,516 among 173 students.
These three programs anchor the university's strongest earning outcomes, though substantial variation exists across the 19 programs with available data. Human Services, General ranks #2 nationally with $52,771 earnings among 143 graduates, showing how public service fields can deliver competitive outcomes.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes span from $36,050 at the 25th percentile to $82,407 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.3:1 ratio that reflects meaningful variation in career outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $47,500, demonstrating solid mobility potential for students from lower-income backgrounds.
