UHCL vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Houston Clear Lake in Houston, TX with California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Houston Clear Lake is larger than CSUMB based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 7,713 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Houston Clear Lake is located in Houston, TX (Large Suburban setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Houston Clear Lake 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: University of Houston Clear Lake 15:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

UHCL vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UHCL or CSUMB? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Houston Clear Lake than CSUMB ($14,059 vs. $14,493).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Clear Lake are 26.6% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($12,642 vs. $17,234).
• California State University Monterey Bay is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UHCL (about $9 more per year; $7,779.00 vs. $7,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at UHCL than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $735 more per year; $21,114.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Houston Clear Lake than at California State University Monterey Bay (76% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 3.7% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($12,630 vs. $12,185).

UHCL vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UHCL or CSUMB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSUMB and UHCL.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of Houston Clear Lake (1060) is the same as at CSUMB (1060).
• Incoming UHCL students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (22 vs. 20 at CSUMB).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Houston Clear Lake 970/1150; California State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Houston Clear Lake 20/25; California State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UHCL - Test optional; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman CSUMB students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at UHCL (3.39).
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than UHCL (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at UHCL vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

UHCL vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UHCL and CSUMB? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California State University Monterey Bay's six-year graduation rate is 38%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for UHCL.
• Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,700 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $3,150 lower median loan debt than UHCL graduates ($14,000 vs. $17,150).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UHCL graduates ($144 vs. $177).
• More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UHCL students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.