View source for California State University, Monterey Bay

{{Short description|Public university in California, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = California State University,<br />Monterey Bay
 | image                  = CSU Monterey Bay seal.svg
 | image_upright          = .7
 | motto                  = 
 | established            = {{start date and age|1994}}
 | type                   = [[Public university]]
 | endowment              = $43.5 million (2023-24)<ref>As of June 30, 2024. {{Cite web |title=Public NCSE Tables |url=https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2024/Public-NCSE-Tables |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.nacubo.org}}</ref>
 | president              = [[Vanya Quiñones]]
 | faculty                = 489 (Fall 2024)<ref name="otterlabs1">{{cite web|url=https://csumb.edu/iar/common-data-set/|title=Common Data Set 2024-2025, California State University, Monterey Bay}}</ref>
 | students               = 7,713 (Fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment>{{cite web |url=https://csumb.edu/iar/enrollment-fast-facts-most-recent-term/|title=Enrollment Fast Facts for 2024 Fall}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 6,836 (Fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment/>
 | postgrad               = 877 (Fall 2024)<ref name=Enrollment/>
 | city                   =[[Seaside, California|Seaside]]
 | state                  = California
 | country                = United States
|free_label = Other campuses
|free = {{hlist|[[King City, California|King City]]|[[Monterey, California|Monterey]]|[[Paso Robles, California|Paso Robles]]|[[Salinas, California|Salinas]]}}
|free_label2 = Newspaper
|free2 = ''The Lutrinae''
 | campus                 = Midsize suburb<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Monterey&s=all&id=409698|title=IPEDS-California State University, Monterey Bay}}</ref>
|campus_size = {{cvt|1,350|acre}} (5% of the former [[Fort Ord]])<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.calstate.edu/cpdc/Facilities_Planning/2013-14-Five-Yr-CapImprovementPgmBk.pdf|title=The California State University Capital Outlay Program 2013/2014; Five-Year Capital Improvement Program|work=calstate.edu|access-date=July 15, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195906/http://www.calstate.edu/cpdc/Facilities_Planning/2013-14-Five-Yr-CapImprovementPgmBk.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | sporting_affiliations = [[NCAA Division II]] – [[California Collegiate Athletic Association|CCAA]]
 | sports_nickname        = [[Cal State Monterey Bay Otters|Otters]]
 | mascot                 = Monte Rey Otter
 | website                = {{URL|https://csumb.edu/|csumb.edu}}
 | logo                   = Cal state monterey bay logo.png 
 | logo_size              = 250
 | coordinates            = {{coord|36.6534|N|121.7964|W|type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
 | colors                 = Blue, green, and sand<ref>{{cite web|url=https://csumb.edu/communications/brand-visual-identity/color-palette/|title=Color Palette; California State University Monterey Bay|publisher=csumb.edu|access-date=2022-02-15}}</ref><br>{{color box|#002A4E}} {{color box|#446A59}} {{color box|#8B7E56}}
 | parent                 = [[California State University]]
 | accreditation          = [[WASC Senior College and University Commission|WSCUC]]
}}

'''California State University, Monterey Bay''' ('''CSUMB''' or '''Cal State Monterey Bay''') is a [[public university]] located in [[Monterey County, California]], United States. The main campus is situated on the site of the former [[military base]] [[Fort Ord]], spanning the cities of [[Seaside, California|Seaside]] and [[Marina, California|Marina]], approximately one mile inland from [[Monterey Bay]] along the [[Central Coast (California)|Central Coast of California]]. CSUMB also maintains locations in the cities of [[Monterey, California|Monterey]] and [[Salinas, California|Salinas]]. Founded in 1994, CSUMB is part of the [[California State University|California State University system]] and is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the [[WASC Senior College and University Commission]]. The university is designated as a [[Hispanic-Serving Institution]].

==History==
CSUMB was founded in 1994 with a student enrollment of 654 students. Classes began August 28, 1995. The founding president was [[Peter Plympton Smith]]. It was the 22nd campus in the California State University system. The university offers 23 [[bachelor's degrees]], 7 [[master's degrees]], and [[teaching credential]]s.<ref name="about.csumb.edu">{{cite web|url=https://csumb.edu/about |title=About CSUMB |work=csumb.edu|access-date=2017-07-15}}</ref>

As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had 6,276 undergraduate students, 595 graduate students and 186 full-time faculty members.<ref name=Enrollment/><ref name="otterlabs1"/> The university operates on the semester system. The president is Vanya Quiñones, who was appointed in August 2022.<ref name="New President">{{cite web|url=https://csumb.edu/president/office-of-the-president/presidents-bio/|title=Office of the President}}</ref>

CSUMB, in conjunction with [[Hartnell College]], developed CS-in-3, a three-year computer science program funded in part by grants from the Foundation established by [[Matsui Nursery]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://csin3.wordpress.com/ | title=CSin3}}</ref> A donation of 210 acres of prime agricultural land to the Hartnell College Foundation, valued at US$20 million was granted thereafter.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20171102/NEWS/171109957 | title=News and donations| date=2008-07-13}}</ref>

===Presidents===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! | !! | Name !! | Commenced&nbsp;term !! | Ended&nbsp;term
|-
|1. || [[Peter Plympton Smith]] || 1994 || 2005
|-
|2. || Diane Cordero de Noriega ''(Interim)'' || 2005 || 2006
|-
|3. || [[Dianne F. Harrison]] || 2006 || 2012
|-
|4. ||[[Eduardo M. Ochoa]]|| 2012 || 2022
|-
|5. ||[[Vanya Quiñones]]|| 2022 || N/A
|}

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023
|-
! Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web |title=College Scorecard: California State University-Monterey Bay |url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?409698-California-State-University-Monterey-Bay |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|54|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|27|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|6|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] 
|align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| Unknown
| align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:brown}}
|-
| [[Foreign national]]
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|44|%|2||background:blue}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|56|%|2||background:red}}
|}

===Faculty===
In the fall of 2020, of 489 teaching faculty, 246 held doctorates or another terminal degree, and 150 were members of minority groups.<ref name="otterlabs1"/> The faculty includes an [[American Book Award]] winner and six [[Fulbright scholar]]s.

===Students===
As of spring 2020, the student body was 62% female and 38% male. 33% of students enrolled were under 21 years of age, 45% between 21 and 24, 14% between 25 and 30, 8% were 31 or older. The most common majors were [[business administration]] (13%), [[psychology]] (11%), [[computer science]] (9%), [[kinesiology]] (8%), and [[biology]] (8%). 43% of students came from [[Monterey County, California|Monterey]], [[Santa Cruz County, California|Santa Cruz]], and [[San Benito County, California|San Benito]] counties (all California counties) while 53% came from other parts of California, 2% from other U.S. states and 3% from outside the U.S. Nearly one third (32%) of students were low-income and just over half (53%) were first-generation college students. Distributed across class levels, 14% of students are freshmen, 12% sophomores, 27% juniors and 35% seniors; Cal State Monterey Bay has a large proportion of transfer students. Graduate students make up 9%; 2% were seeking credentials and 1% were post-baccalaureate students.<ref name="Enrollment Fast Facts (Headcounts) for 2020 Spring">{{Cite web|url=https://csumb.edu/iar/enrollment-fast-facts-most-recent-term|title=Enrollment Fast Facts (Headcounts) for 2020 Spring|website=www.csumb.edu|access-date=2020-10-25}}</ref>

As of fall 2018 Cal State Monterey Bay has the second largest enrollment percentage of Americans of unknown race or ethnicity in the California State University system.<ref name="Ethnicity Enrollment Profile">{{Cite web|url=https://www.calstate.edu/as/stat_reports/2018-2019/feth02.htm|title=Ethnicity Enrollment Profile|website=www.calstate.edu|access-date=2019-07-09|archive-date=2019-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025201228/https://www.calstate.edu/as/stat_reports/2018-2019/feth02.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Approximately 50% of CSUMB students live on campus.<ref>[https://csumb.edu/rha CSUMB Residential Housing Association]. Retrieved 2017-07-15</ref>

==Academics==
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:center"
|+ Fall freshman profile<ref>{{Cite web |title=Common Data Set {{!}} Institutional Planning & Analysis {{!}} CSUSM |url=https://www.csusm.edu/ipa/campus-data/common-data-set.html |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=www.csusm.edu}}</ref>
|-
! &nbsp; 
! 2024 || 2023!! 2022!! 2021!! 2020!! 2019!! 2018 !! 2017 !! 2016 
|-
! Applicants
| 14,943 || 11,965 || 12,582 || 10,026 || 11,461 || 12,327 || 12,423 || 13,112 || 16,258 
|-
! Admits
| 14,545 || 11,160 || 11,611 || 9,305 || 9,813 || 9,280 || 7,270 || 6,976 || 5,729 
|-
! Acceptance Rate
| 97.3% || 93.3% || 92.3% || 92.8% || 85.6% || 75.3% || 58.5% || 53.2% || 35.2% 
|-
! Enrolled
| 1,419 || 943 || 904 || 779 || 879 ||1,046 || 1,000 ||926 || 802 
|-
! Avg GPA
| 3.33 || 3.45 || 3.47 || 3.45 || 3.41 || 3.42 || 3.39 || 3.41 || 3.33 
|}
[[File:CSUMB TanimuraConstruct.jpg|right|thumb|Library under construction from Divarty St, May&nbsp;2008]]
The seven most popular majors in Fall 2022<ref name=CSUMB>{{cite web |url=https://csumb.edu/iar/enrollment/major-enrollment/ |title=California State University, Monterey Bay Enrollment by Major |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=csumb.edu/iar}}</ref>

* [[Psychology]] at 13%
* [[Business Administration]] at 12%
* [[Computer Science]] at 10%
* [[Marine Science]] at 9%
* [[Biology]] at 7%
* [[Kinesiology]] at 7%
* [[Liberal Studies]] at 7%

===Rankings===
The 2022–2023 [[U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking|U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Colleges West Rankings]] ranks Monterey 4 on top performers on [[social mobility]], 7 on top [[public university|public schools]] and 247 in [[Nursing]] (tie). In 2021 Monterey ranked 17 on best [[undergraduate]] Teaching.<ref name=USNWR>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/csumb-32603/overall-rankings |title=California State University - Monterey Bay Rankings |access-date=2020-12-15 |magazine=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref>

{{Columns-start|num=2}}
{|class="wikitable" style="width: 22em;"
|+2024-2025 USNWR Best Regional Colleges West Rankings<ref name=USNWR/>
|-
| Top Performers on [[Social Mobility]]
| 1
|-
| Top [[Public University|Public Schools]]
| 5
|-
| [[Nursing]]
| 254
|}
{{column}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+2025 USNWR Graduate School Rankings<ref name="USNWR Grad School Rankings">{{cite magazine|title=California State University–Monterey Bay - U.S. News Best Grad School Rankings|magazine=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=December 15, 2020|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/california-state-university-monterey-bay-409698/overall-rankings}}</ref>
|-
! Program
! Ranking
|-
| [[Social Work]] || 142
|}

{{Infobox US university ranking
| USNWR_REG = 14
}}
{{Columns-end}}

===Research===
Under a cooperative agreement with the [[NASA Ames Research Center]], the university performs [[remote sensing]], [[ecosystem model]]ing, and [[geospatial]] research for [[earth system science]] and health.<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/researchpark/partners/academic/ucmb.html University Corporation at Monterey Bay NASA]. nasa.gov (2011-08-29). Retrieved on 2017-07-15.</ref> CSUMB researchers work in 10 areas, including [[coral reef]] monitoring, [[land use]], [[carbon profiling|carbon modeling]] and [[disease transmission]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.montereyherald.com/social-affairs/20120315/csumb-earns-32m-nasa-grant-to-aid-study-of-irrigation-wildfires-crops-floods|title=CSUMB earns $32M NASA grant to aid study of irrigation, wildfires, crops, floods|work=[[The Monterey County Herald]]|last=Salinas|first=Claudia Meléndez|date=March 15, 2012|access-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref>

==Athletics==
{{Main|Cal State Monterey Bay Otters}}

[[File:CSUMB FreemanField.JPG|right|thumb|Freeman Stadium filling up for CSUMB's 2006–2007 Graduation Ceremony.]]

The Cal State–Monterey Bay (CSUMB) athletic teams are called the Otters. The university is a member of the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), primarily competing in the [[California Collegiate Athletic Association]] (CCAA) for most of its sports since the 2004–05 academic year;<ref>[http://www.goccaa.org/index.aspx?path=monterey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307155715/http://www.goccaa.org/index.aspx?path=monterey|date=March 7, 2012}}</ref> while its women's water polo teams compete in the [[Western Water Polo Association]] (WWPA). The Otters previously competed in the [[California Pacific Conference]] (Cal Pac) of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA) from 1996–97 to 2003–04.

CSUMB competes in 14 intercollegiate varsity sports:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otterathletics.com |title=The Official Site of California State University Monterey Bay Otters Athletics |publisher=Otterathletics.com |access-date=2015-10-21}}</ref> Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and water polo.

CSUMB also has a coed sailing team which competes in the fall and spring (although the spring season is more important). The sailing team competes in the [[Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference]] (PCCSC).

===Water polo===
The [[NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship]] of Effective Division I sport is open to members of all three NCAA divisions. Only CSU Monterey Bay and [[California State University, East Bay|CSU East Bay]] from the CCAA participate in the [[Western Water Polo Association]].<ref>{{cite web|work=Western Water Polo Association|url=http://www.thewwpa.com/The_WWPA/The_WWPA.html|title=The WWPA|access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>

===Golf===
The Otters of CSU Monterey Bay earned 1 [[NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships]] in 2011.<ref name="champ">{{cite web|title=Championships Summary|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf|publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]]|access-date=20 May 2018|archive-date=March 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320185655/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Student life==
[[File:CSUMB Fog.JPG|right|thumb|The fog for which Marina is famous can cover the entire campus.]]

===Greek life===
[[Fraternities]] and [[sororities]] in the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) include:
*[[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] African American interest sorority
*[[alpha Kappa Delta Phi]] Asian interest sorority
*[[Alpha Sigma Phi]] fraternity
*[[Gamma Zeta Alpha]] Latino interest fraternity
*[[Delta Sigma Theta]] African American interest sorority
*Delta Omega Rho multicultural sorority
*Epsilon Sigma Rho multicultural fraternity
*Theta Alpha Sigma sorority
*[[Kappa Alpha Psi]] African American interest fraternity
*[[Kappa Delta Chi]] Latina Founded sorority
*[[Kappa Sigma]] fraternity
*[[Lambda Theta Nu]] Latina interest sorority
*[[Lambda Sigma Gamma]] multicultural sorority
*[[Nu Alpha Kappa]] Latino interest fraternity
*[[Sigma Theta Psi]] multicultural sorority
*Sigma Omega Nu Latina interest sorority
*[[Omega Delta Phi]] multicultural fraternity

==Campus==
The university's goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030, with a solar array, installed in 2010, currently meeting 16 percent of the university's needs.<ref>[http://www.princetonreview.com/uploadedFiles/Sitemap/Home_Page/Green_Guide_and_Green_OA/Green_Guide/Guide%20to%20Green%20Colleges.pdf The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges]</ref>

Additionally, the university's Dining Commons were awarded LEED Silver certification in 2011. The Dining Commons were designed to include [[water efficiency]] and natural and energy-efficient lighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbibuilders.com/csu-monterey-bay-dining-commons/ |title=CSU Monterey Bay Dining Commons |publisher=sbibuilders.com |access-date=2014-08-18}}</ref>

===Residence Halls===
[[File:CSU Monterey Bay 2003.jpg|right|thumb|A residence hall in the Quad portion of the campus.]]
CSUMB offers housing in many areas around campus. On the main campus there are eight residence halls each renovated Army barracks. Willet, Cypress, Manzanita, Asilomar, Yarrow, Avocet, Tortuga, and Sanderling Halls surround the main quad on campus. Pinnacles and Vineyard Suites as well as Strawberry Apartments make up North Quad on the north end of campus. North Quad opened after construction finished in December 2005. In fall of 2015, the university opened three new residence halls, called Promontory, all of which offering apartment size dormitories.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/local_news/new-student-housing-at-csumb-replaces-blight-and-makes-a/article_aa7f4254-eece-11e4-9cc0-3b7a63333e32.html|title=New student housing at CSUMB replaces blight, and makes a dent in school's housing shortage|work=[[Monterey County Weekly]]|last=Schmalz|first=David|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref>

===Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library===
The [[Tanimura & Antle]] Family Memorial Library has {{convert|136151|sqft|m2}} of floor space.<ref name=ehdd>{{cite news|url=http://www.ehdd.com/4862|title=Tanimura and Antle Family Memorial Library|work=ehdd.com|access-date=July 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730132052/http://www.ehdd.com/4862|archive-date=July 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is located at Divarty and Fifth streets, and diagonally across from the Chapman Science Center. A roundabout sits between the library and the science building. The Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library is certified LEED Silver and has been cited for a range of sustainable design strategies from daylighting and low-energy use to healthy carpets, water conservation, and high-recycled content materials.<ref name=ehdd />

Aside from being the largest building on the CSUMB campus, it is the greenest in terms of energy usage. Up to 30% less electricity is needed, for example, because of floor-to-ceiling glass walls that let in natural light. Additionally, ventilation techniques operate through the floor instead of the ceiling, allowing cooler air to travel a lesser distance. The light let in from the atrium is indirect rather than direct sunlight.

===Other locations===
CSUMB has other locations within Monterey County, including CSUMB at Ryan Ranch (in [[Monterey, California|Monterey]]), CSUMB at North Salinas, and CSUMB at [[Salinas, California|Salinas]] City Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/2016/02/09/csumb-broadens-reach-salinas/80078930/ |title=CSUMB broadens reach in Salinas |author=Robledo, Roberto M. |website= TheCalifornian.com |access-date= December 12, 2019}}</ref> The [[National Steinbeck Center]] is located at CSUMB at Salinas City Center.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

CSUMB relies on [[Monterey–Salinas Transit]] for transportation among its various locations.

==Notable alumni==

* Cameron DeJong – soccer player for Korsnäs FF in the [[Kolmonen]] (4th division)
* [[Davion Berry]] (born 1991) – basketball player in the [[Bahraini Premier League]]
* Pedro Hernandez – soccer player for [[Chattanooga Red Wolves SC]] in [[USL League One]] (3rd division)
* [[Jared Koenig]] (born 1994) – baseball player for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB)
* [[MC Lars]] – rapper and producer
* [[Walmer Martinez]] – soccer player for [[Monterey Bay FC]] in the [[USL Championship]] (2nd division) and the [[El Salvador national football team]]
* Mitsy Ramirez – soccer player for [[Deportivo Toluca F.C. (women)]] in [[Liga MX Femenil]] (1st division)
* [[Adrian Rebollar]] – soccer player for [[Monterey Bay FC]] in the [[USL Championship]] (2nd division)
* [[Veronica Carmen Ripley]] (born 1990) – American streamer and internet personality
* Julio Varela – soccer player in the [[Major Arena Soccer League]]

==See also==
* {{C|Universities and colleges in Monterey County, California}}
{{clear right}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
* {{oweb}}
* [https://otterathletics.com/ Athletics website]

{{California State University, Monterey Bay}}
{{California State University}}
{{California Collegiate Athletic Association navbox}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:California State University, Monterey Bay| ]]
[[Category:California State University campuses|Monterey Bay]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in California|California State University, Monterey Bay]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Monterey County, California]]
[[Category:Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1994]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in California]]