California State University, Monterey Bay
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:02:50 AM Wikipedia source
California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB or Cal State Monterey Bay) is a public university located in Monterey County, California, United States. The main campus is situated on the site of the former military base Fort Ord, spanning the cities of Seaside and Marina, approximately one mile inland from Monterey Bay along the Central Coast of California. CSUMB also maintains locations in the cities of Monterey and Salinas. Founded in 1994, CSUMB is part of the California State University system and is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The university is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
Infobox
Type
Public university
Established
1994; 31 years ago (1994)
Parent institution
California State University
Accreditation
WSCUC
Endowment
$43.5 million (2023-24)
President
Vanya Quiñones
Academic staff
489 (Fall 2024)
Students
7,713 (Fall 2024)
Undergraduates
6,836 (Fall 2024)
Postgraduates
877 (Fall 2024)
Location
Seaside, California, United States 36°39′12″N 121°47′47″W / 36.6534°N 121.7964°W / 36.6534; -121.7964
Campus
Midsize suburb, 1,350 acres (550 ha) (5% of the former Fort Ord)
Other campuses
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Newspaper
The Lutrinae
Colors
Blue, green, and sand
Nickname
Otters
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II – CCAA
Mascot
Monte Rey Otter
Website
csumb.edu
Tables
· History › Presidents
Peter Plympton Smith
Peter Plympton Smith
Col 1
1.
Name
Peter Plympton Smith
Commenced term
1994
Ended term
2005
Diane Cordero de Noriega (Interim)
Diane Cordero de Noriega (Interim)
Col 1
2.
Name
Diane Cordero de Noriega (Interim)
Commenced term
2005
Ended term
2006
Dianne F. Harrison
Dianne F. Harrison
Col 1
3.
Name
Dianne F. Harrison
Commenced term
2006
Ended term
2012
Eduardo M. Ochoa
Eduardo M. Ochoa
Col 1
4.
Name
Eduardo M. Ochoa
Commenced term
2012
Ended term
2022
Vanya Quiñones
Vanya Quiñones
Col 1
5.
Name
Vanya Quiñones
Commenced term
2022
Ended term
N/A
| Name | Commenced term | Ended term | |
| 1. | Peter Plympton Smith | 1994 | 2005 |
| 2. | Diane Cordero de Noriega (Interim) | 2005 | 2006 |
| 3. | Dianne F. Harrison | 2006 | 2012 |
| 4. | Eduardo M. Ochoa | 2012 | 2022 |
| 5. | Vanya Quiñones | 2022 | N/A |
Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023 · Demographics
Hispanic
Hispanic
Race and ethnicity
Hispanic
Total
54%
White
White
Race and ethnicity
White
Total
27%
Asian
Asian
Race and ethnicity
Asian
Total
6%
Two or more races
Two or more races
Race and ethnicity
Two or more races
Total
5%
Black
Black
Race and ethnicity
Black
Total
3%
Unknown
Unknown
Race and ethnicity
Unknown
Total
3%
Foreign national
Foreign national
Race and ethnicity
Foreign national
Total
2%
Economic diversity
Economic diversity
Race and ethnicity
Economic diversity
Low-income
Low-income
Race and ethnicity
Low-income
Total
44%
Affluent
Affluent
Race and ethnicity
Affluent
Total
56%
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
| Hispanic | 54% | ||
| White | 27% | ||
| Asian | 6% | ||
| Two or more races | 5% | ||
| Black | 3% | ||
| Unknown | 3% | ||
| Foreign national | 2% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 44% | ||
| Affluent | 56% | ||
Fall freshman profile[15] · Academics
Applicants
Applicants
Col 1
Applicants
2024
14,943
2023
11,965
2022
12,582
2021
10,026
2020
11,461
2019
12,327
2018
12,423
2017
13,112
2016
16,258
Admits
Admits
Col 1
Admits
2024
14,545
2023
11,160
2022
11,611
2021
9,305
2020
9,813
2019
9,280
2018
7,270
2017
6,976
2016
5,729
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
Col 1
Acceptance Rate
2024
97.3%
2023
93.3%
2022
92.3%
2021
92.8%
2020
85.6%
2019
75.3%
2018
58.5%
2017
53.2%
2016
35.2%
Enrolled
Enrolled
Col 1
Enrolled
2024
1,419
2023
943
2022
904
2021
779
2020
879
2019
1,046
2018
1,000
2017
926
2016
802
Avg GPA
Avg GPA
Col 1
Avg GPA
2024
3.33
2023
3.45
2022
3.47
2021
3.45
2020
3.41
2019
3.42
2018
3.39
2017
3.41
2016
3.33
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| Applicants | 14,943 | 11,965 | 12,582 | 10,026 | 11,461 | 12,327 | 12,423 | 13,112 | 16,258 |
| Admits | 14,545 | 11,160 | 11,611 | 9,305 | 9,813 | 9,280 | 7,270 | 6,976 | 5,729 |
| Acceptance Rate | 97.3% | 93.3% | 92.3% | 92.8% | 85.6% | 75.3% | 58.5% | 53.2% | 35.2% |
| Enrolled | 1,419 | 943 | 904 | 779 | 879 | 1,046 | 1,000 | 926 | 802 |
| Avg GPA | 3.33 | 3.45 | 3.47 | 3.45 | 3.41 | 3.42 | 3.39 | 3.41 | 3.33 |
2024-2025 USNWR Best Regional Colleges West Rankings[17]
Top Public Schools
Top Public Schools
Top Performers on Social Mobility
Top Public Schools
1
5
Nursing
Nursing
Top Performers on Social Mobility
Nursing
1
254
| Top Performers on Social Mobility | 1 |
| Top Public Schools | 5 |
| Nursing | 254 |
2025 USNWR Graduate School Rankings[18]
142
142
Program
Social Work
Ranking
142
| Program | Ranking |
| Social Work | 142 |
References
- The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
- The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.
- www.nacubo.orghttps://www.nacubo.org/Research/2024/Public-NCSE-Tables
- "Common Data Set 2024-2025, California State University, Monterey Bay"https://csumb.edu/iar/common-data-set/
- "Enrollment Fast Facts for 2024 Fall"https://csumb.edu/iar/enrollment-fast-facts-most-recent-term/
- calstate.eduhttps://web.archive.org/web/20150923195906/http://www.calstate.edu/cpdc/Facilities_Planning/2013-14-Five-Yr-CapImprovementPgmBk.pdf
- "IPEDS-California State University, Monterey Bay"https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Monterey&s=all&id=409698
- "Color Palette; California State University Monterey Bay"https://csumb.edu/communications/brand-visual-identity/color-palette/
- csumb.eduhttps://csumb.edu/about
- "Office of the President"https://csumb.edu/president/office-of-the-president/presidents-bio/
- "CSin3"https://csin3.wordpress.com/
- "News and donations"http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20171102/NEWS/171109957
- "College Scorecard: California State University-Monterey Bay"https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?409698-California-State-University-Monterey-Bay
- www.csumb.eduhttps://csumb.edu/iar/enrollment-fast-facts-most-recent-term
- www.calstate.eduhttps://web.archive.org/web/20191025201228/https://www.calstate.edu/as/stat_reports/2018-2019/feth02.htm
- CSUMB Residential Housing Association. Retrieved 2017-07-15https://csumb.edu/rha
- www.csusm.eduhttps://www.csusm.edu/ipa/campus-data/common-data-set.html
- csumb.edu/iarhttps://csumb.edu/iar/enrollment/major-enrollment/
- U.S. News & World Reporthttps://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/csumb-32603/overall-rankings
- U.S. News & World Reporthttps://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/california-state-university-monterey-bay-409698/overall-rankings
- U.S. News & World Reporthttps://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities
- University Corporation at Monterey Bay NASA. nasa.gov (2011-08-29). Retrieved on 2017-07-15.https://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/researchpark/partners/academic/ucmb.html
- The Monterey County Heraldhttp://www.montereyherald.com/social-affairs/20120315/csumb-earns-32m-nasa-grant-to-aid-study-of-irrigation-wildfires-crops-floods
- [1] Archived March 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machinehttp://www.goccaa.org/index.aspx?path=monterey
- "The Official Site of California State University Monterey Bay Otters Athletics"http://www.otterathletics.com
- Western Water Polo Associationhttp://www.thewwpa.com/The_WWPA/The_WWPA.html
- "Championships Summary"https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185655/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf
- The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Collegeshttp://www.princetonreview.com/uploadedFiles/Sitemap/Home_Page/Green_Guide_and_Green_OA/Green_Guide/Guide%20to%20Green%20Colleges.pdf
- "CSU Monterey Bay Dining Commons"http://www.sbibuilders.com/csu-monterey-bay-dining-commons/
- Monterey County Weeklyhttp://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/new-student-housing-at-csumb-replaces-blight-and-makes-a/article_aa7f4254-eece-11e4-9cc0-3b7a63333e32.html
- ehdd.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170730132052/http://www.ehdd.com/4862
- TheCalifornian.comhttps://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/2016/02/09/csumb-broadens-reach-salinas/80078930/