Cal State East Bay vs. CSUMB vs. UC Merced vs. UCI

California State University East Bay, California State University Monterey Bay, University of California Merced, and University of California Irvine side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

California State University East Bay
California State University Monterey Bay
University of California Merced
University of California Irvine

At a glance

  • Lowest net price: Cal State East Bay ($9,850 a year). Next is UC Merced at $13,690, about $3,840 more.
  • Hardest to get into: UCI (28.6% admitted, typical SAT 1330). UC Merced is close behind (90.5%, SAT 1050); Cal State East Bay 97.4%, CSUMB 97.4%.
  • Highest graduation rate: UCI (85%). Then UC Merced 58%, Cal State East Bay 43%, CSUMB 38%.
  • Highest median earnings: UCI ($61,800 ten years after starting college). Then Cal State East Bay $55,300, CSUMB $45,300. not reported for UC Merced.
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Swipe to see all 4 ->
Measure Cal State East Bay CSUMB UC Merced UCI
Acceptance rateUCI most selective 97.4% 97.4% 90.5% 28.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)UCI highest - 960-1160 960-1140 1230-1430
Average net priceCal State East Bay lowest $9,850 $14,493 $13,690 $15,889
In-state tuitionCal State East Bay lowest $7,583 $7,779 $15,623 $15,722
Out-of-state tuitionCal State East Bay lowest $20,183 $20,379 $49,823 $49,922
Graduation rateUCI highest 43% 38% 58% 85%
Median earnings (10 years)UCI highest $55,300 $45,300 - $61,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Cal State East Bay, CSUMB, UC Merced, and UCI with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Cal State East Bay Check my chances at CSUMB Check my chances at UC Merced Check my chances at UCI
  • Applied
  • Cal State East Bay 11,867
  • CSUMB 14,933
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • UCI 122,699
  • Admitted
  • Cal State East Bay 11,557
  • CSUMB 14,545
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • UCI 35,054
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cal State East Bay 97.4%
  • CSUMB 97.4%
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • UCI 28.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cal State East Bay 6.9%
  • CSUMB 9.8%
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • UCI 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State East Bay
  • CSUMB 1060
  • UC Merced 1050
  • UCI 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State East Bay
  • CSUMB 20
  • UC Merced 21
  • UCI 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cal State East Bay 3.2
  • CSUMB 3.45
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • UCI 3.75
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cal State East Bay B+
  • CSUMB B+
  • UC Merced A-
  • UCI A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Cal State East Bay Unavailable
  • CSUMB Very Easy
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • UCI Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Cal State East Bay
  • CSUMB
  • UC Merced
  • UCI High
  • SAT range
  • Cal State East Bay
  • CSUMB 960-1160
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • UCI 1230-1430
  • ACT range
  • Cal State East Bay
  • CSUMB 17-23
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • UCI 26-33
  • Submit test scores
  • Cal State East Bay Test-free
  • CSUMB Test-free
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • UCI Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026
  • CSUMB Jan 15, 2027
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cal State East Bay $7,583
  • CSUMB $7,779
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • UCI $15,722
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cal State East Bay $20,183
  • CSUMB $20,379
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • UCI $49,922
  • Room & board
  • Cal State East Bay $17,831
  • CSUMB $17,234
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • UCI $18,991
  • Average net price
  • Cal State East Bay $9,850
  • CSUMB $14,493
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • UCI $15,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Cal State East Bay $12,369
  • CSUMB $12,185
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • UCI $23,110
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cal State East Bay 79%
  • CSUMB 71%
  • UC Merced 89%
  • UCI 55%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cal State East Bay 43%
  • CSUMB 38%
  • UC Merced 58%
  • UCI 85%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cal State East Bay $55,300
  • CSUMB $45,300
  • UC Merced N/A
  • UCI $61,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cal State East Bay 61%
  • CSUMB 66%
  • UC Merced 64%
  • UCI 76%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cal State East Bay $16,332
  • CSUMB $14,000
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • UCI $17,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Cal State East Bay $168
  • CSUMB $144
  • UC Merced $205
  • UCI $175
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cal State East Bay 22:1
  • CSUMB 24:1
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • UCI 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cal State East Bay
    • Business (30%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)
    • Psychology (5%)
  • CSUMB
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Location
  • Cal State East Bay Hayward, CA
  • CSUMB Seaside, CA
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal State East Bay Midsize City
  • CSUMB Rural Fringe
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State East Bay 12,326
  • CSUMB 7,713
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • UCI 37,297
  • Type
  • Cal State East Bay Public 4 Year
  • CSUMB Public 4 Year
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cal State East Bay
  • CSUMB #867
  • UC Merced #642
  • UCI #98

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, CA, California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA, University of California Merced in Merced, CA, and University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

By total student enrollment, University of California Irvine is the largest of the four (37,297 students), followed by Cal State East Bay (12,326), UC Merced (9,110), and CSUMB (7,713).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Settings: Hayward, CA (Midsize City); Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe); Merced, CA (Rural Fringe); Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe).
  • All four are public, non-profit 4-year institutions.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cal State East Bay 22:1; CSUMB 24:1; UC Merced 20:1; UCI 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are lowest at CSUMB ($17,234) and highest at UC Merced ($21,445); Cal State East Bay $17,831, UCI $18,991.
  • The largest share of students receiving grant aid is at UC Merced (89%), then Cal State East Bay (79%), CSUMB (71%), and UCI (55%).
  • Average grant aid: UC Merced $27,292; UCI $23,110; Cal State East Bay $12,369; CSUMB $12,185.

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate): UCI 29; UC Merced 21; CSUMB 20.
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Cal State East Bay, CSUMB, UC Merced, and UCI.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026; UCI Nov 30, 2026; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
  • Average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen: UCI 3.75; UC Merced 3.55; CSUMB 3.45; Cal State East Bay 3.2.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield): UCI 19.2%; CSUMB 9.8%; UC Merced 7.2%; Cal State East Bay 6.9%.

Loans and repayment

  • Median federal loan debt among borrowers: CSUMB $14,000; Cal State East Bay $16,332; UCI $17,000; UC Merced $19,899.
  • Median monthly federal loan payment: CSUMB $144; Cal State East Bay $168; UCI $175; UC Merced $205.
  • Share of former students actively paying back federal loans three years after graduation: UCI 76%; CSUMB 66%; UC Merced 64%; Cal State East Bay 61%.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You are comparing the maximum of four schools. Remove a college to add another.

California State University East Bay
California State University Monterey Bay
University of California Merced
University of California Irvine