Vanguard University of Southern California vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

Compare Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, CA with California State University Monterey Bay in Seaside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Monterey Bay is larger than Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (7,713 students vs. 2,246 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Vanguard University of Southern California is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Vanguard University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Vanguard University of Southern California 13:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 22% lower than at California State University Monterey Bay ($13,450 vs. $17,234).
• Out-of-state tuition is 104.6% higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $21,321 more per year; $41,700 vs. $20,379).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than at California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 144.9% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($29,847 vs. $12,185).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at CSUMB (22 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Vanguard University of Southern California and CSUMB.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vanguard University of Southern California Aug 1, 2027; CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at CSUMB average a 3.45 high school GPA, 0.14 higher than at Vanguard University of Southern California (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at Vanguard University of Southern California vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $11,000 lower median loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($14,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($144 vs. $258).
• More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanguard University of Southern California students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 64%).

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