Colorado Mesa vs. CSUMB

Colorado Mesa University and California State University Monterey Bay side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Colorado Mesa University
California State University Monterey Bay

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Colorado Mesa (82% admitted vs 97.4%). Typical SAT 1050 vs 1060.
  • Cheaper after aid: CSUMB. Average net price is $14,493 vs $15,590 at Colorado Mesa.
  • Graduation: Colorado Mesa 25% vs CSUMB 38%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colorado Mesa $40,000 vs CSUMB $45,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Colorado Mesa University California State University Monterey Bay
Acceptance rate
Colorado Mesa more selective
Colorado Mesa82%
CSUMB97.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
CSUMB higher
Colorado Mesa930-1160
CSUMB960-1160
Average net price
CSUMB $1,097 less
Colorado Mesa$15,590
CSUMB$14,493
In-state tuition
CSUMB $2,148 less
Colorado Mesa$9,927
CSUMB$7,779
Out-of-state tuition
CSUMB $4,745 less
Colorado Mesa$25,124
CSUMB$20,379
Graduation rate
CSUMB +13 pts
Colorado Mesa25%
CSUMB38%
Median earnings (10 years)
CSUMB +$5,300
Colorado Mesa$40,000
CSUMB$45,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Colorado Mesa and CSUMB with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Colorado Mesa Check my chances at CSUMB
  • Applied
  • Colorado Mesa 12,465
  • CSUMB 14,933
  • Admitted
  • Colorado Mesa 10,225
  • CSUMB 14,545
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colorado Mesa 82%
  • CSUMB 97.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colorado Mesa 23.1%
  • CSUMB 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado Mesa 1050
  • CSUMB 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado Mesa 21
  • CSUMB 20
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colorado Mesa 3.28
  • CSUMB 3.45
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colorado Mesa B+
  • CSUMB B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Colorado Mesa Very Easy
  • CSUMB Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Colorado Mesa
  • CSUMB
  • SAT range
  • Colorado Mesa 930-1160
  • CSUMB 960-1160
  • ACT range
  • Colorado Mesa 18-24
  • CSUMB 17-23
  • Submit test scores
  • Colorado Mesa Test optional
  • CSUMB Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Colorado Mesa
  • CSUMB Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colorado Mesa $9,927
  • CSUMB $7,779
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colorado Mesa $25,124
  • CSUMB $20,379
  • Room & board
  • Colorado Mesa $12,209
  • CSUMB $17,234
  • Average net price
  • Colorado Mesa $15,590
  • CSUMB $14,493
  • Average grant aid
  • Colorado Mesa $8,285
  • CSUMB $12,185
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colorado Mesa 84%
  • CSUMB 71%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colorado Mesa 25%
  • CSUMB 38%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colorado Mesa $40,000
  • CSUMB $45,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colorado Mesa 48%
  • CSUMB 66%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colorado Mesa $21,750
  • CSUMB $14,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Colorado Mesa $224
  • CSUMB $144
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colorado Mesa 18:1
  • CSUMB 24:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colorado Mesa
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • CSUMB
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Location
  • Colorado Mesa Grand Junction, CO
  • CSUMB Seaside, CA
  • Setting
  • Colorado Mesa Small City
  • CSUMB Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado Mesa 9,785
  • CSUMB 7,713
  • Type
  • Colorado Mesa Public 4 Year
  • CSUMB Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colorado Mesa #908
  • CSUMB #867

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO with California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Colorado Mesa University is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (9,785 students vs. 7,713 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colorado Mesa University is located in Grand Junction, CO (Small City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Colorado Mesa University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colorado Mesa University 18:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Mesa University are 29.2% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($12,209 vs. $17,234).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.3% higher at Colorado Mesa than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $4,745 more per year; $25,124 vs. $20,379).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado Mesa University than at California State University Monterey Bay (84% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 47.1% larger than aid received by Colorado Mesa University students ($12,185 vs. $8,285).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Colorado Mesa than at CSUMB (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Colorado Mesa, test-free at CSUMB.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at CSUMB average a 3.45 high school GPA, 0.17 higher than at Colorado Mesa (3.28).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Colorado Mesa vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $7,750 lower median loan debt than Colorado Mesa graduates ($14,000 vs. $21,750).
  • Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colorado Mesa graduates ($144 vs. $224).
  • More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado Mesa students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 48%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Colorado Mesa University
California State University Monterey Bay
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges