California State University-Monterey Bay — ROI, Cost & Payback
California State University-Monterey Bay charges a net price of $13,663/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $54,652. Graduates earn a median $59,247 ten years after entry, $10,887/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5 years — a 20-year net return of $163,088, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
California State University-Monterey Bay's 5-year payback ranks #424 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 67% of them, and #72 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,663/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $54,652 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $59,247 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $10,887/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $163,088 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on California State University-Monterey Bay's own numbers. Net price $13,663 × 4 years = $54,652 total. Median earnings $59,247 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,887 a year of premium. $54,652 ÷ $10,887 = 5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $163,088. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do California State University-Monterey Bay students graduate with?
A median $12,750 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $59,247 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of California State University-Monterey Bay students graduate?
59% finish their degree — 41% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $54,652 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $92,631 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is California State University-Monterey Bay expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $13,663 net price runs $6,242 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $24,968 less across the full degree.