UHCL vs. CSUMB

University of Houston Clear Lake and California State University Monterey Bay side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Houston Clear Lake
California State University Monterey Bay

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UHCL (90.5% admitted vs 97.4%). Typical SAT 1060 vs 1060.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $14,059 at UHCL vs $14,493 at CSUMB. CSUMB in-state tuition is about $9 more per year.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UHCL $53,700 vs CSUMB $45,300 (median).
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Key differences

University of Houston Clear Lake California State University Monterey Bay
Acceptance rate
UHCL more selective
UHCL90.5%
CSUMB97.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
CSUMB higher
UHCL970-1150
CSUMB960-1160
Average net price
About even
UHCL$14,059
CSUMB$14,493
In-state tuition
UHCL $9 less
UHCL$7,770
CSUMB$7,779
Out-of-state tuition
CSUMB $735 less
UHCL$21,114
CSUMB$20,379
Graduation rate
CSUMB +38 pts
UHCL-
CSUMB38%
Median earnings (10 years)
UHCL +$8,400
UHCL$53,700
CSUMB$45,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UHCL 2,352
  • CSUMB 14,933
  • Admitted
  • UHCL 2,129
  • CSUMB 14,545
  • Acceptance rate
  • UHCL 90.5%
  • CSUMB 97.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UHCL 22.2%
  • CSUMB 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UHCL 1060
  • CSUMB 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • UHCL 22
  • CSUMB 20
  • Average high school GPA
  • UHCL 3.39
  • CSUMB 3.45
  • Typical high school grades
  • UHCL B+
  • CSUMB B+
  • Admissions standards
  • UHCL Very Easy
  • CSUMB Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • UHCL
  • CSUMB
  • SAT range
  • UHCL 970-1150
  • CSUMB 960-1160
  • ACT range
  • UHCL 20-25
  • CSUMB 17-23
  • Submit test scores
  • UHCL Test optional
  • CSUMB Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • UHCL Jun 1, 2027
  • CSUMB Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UHCL $7,770
  • CSUMB $7,779
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UHCL $21,114
  • CSUMB $20,379
  • Room & board
  • UHCL $12,642
  • CSUMB $17,234
  • Average net price
  • UHCL $14,059
  • CSUMB $14,493
  • Average grant aid
  • UHCL $12,630
  • CSUMB $12,185
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UHCL 76%
  • CSUMB 71%
  • Graduation rate
  • UHCL -
  • CSUMB 38%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UHCL $53,700
  • CSUMB $45,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • UHCL 56%
  • CSUMB 66%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UHCL $17,150
  • CSUMB $14,000
  • Median loan payment
  • UHCL $177
  • CSUMB $144
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UHCL 15:1
  • CSUMB 24:1
  • Popular majors
  • UHCL
  • CSUMB
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Location
  • UHCL Houston, TX
  • CSUMB Seaside, CA
  • Setting
  • UHCL Large Suburban
  • CSUMB Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UHCL 8,137
  • CSUMB 7,713
  • Type
  • UHCL Public 4 Year
  • CSUMB Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UHCL
  • CSUMB #867

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 tables 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.

Cost details

  • 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).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at UHCL than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $735 more per year; $21,114 vs. $20,379).
  • 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).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at UHCL than at CSUMB (22 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at UHCL, test-free at CSUMB.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UHCL Jun 1, 2027; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at CSUMB average a 3.45 high school GPA, 0.06 higher than at UHCL (3.39).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at UHCL vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Loans and repayment

  • 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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