California State University, Monterey Bay

Public university in California, U.S.

California State University,
Monterey Bay

Type| Public university
Established| 1994; 31 years ago (1994)

Parent institution

| California State University
Accreditation| WSCUC
Endowment| $43.5 million (2023-24)[1]
President| Vanya Quiñones

Academic staff

| 489 (Fall 2024)[2]
Students| 7,713 (Fall 2024)[3]
Undergraduates| 6,836 (Fall 2024)[3]
Postgraduates| 877 (Fall 2024)[3]
Location|

Seaside

California

United States

36°39′12″N 121°47′47″W﻿ / ﻿36.6534°N 121.7964°W﻿ / 36.6534; -121.7964
Campus| Midsize suburb[5], 1,350 acres (550 ha) (5% of the former Fort Ord)[4]
Other campuses|

* King City
* Monterey
* Paso Robles
* Salinas

Newspaper| The Lutrinae
Colors| Blue, green, and sand[6]

Nickname| Otters

Sporting affiliations

| NCAA Division II – CCAA
Mascot| Monte Rey Otter
Website| csumb.edu

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 and Marina, approximately one mile inland from Monterey Bay along the Central Coast of California. CSUMB also maintains locations in the cities of Monterey and Salinas. Founded in 1994, CSUMB is part of the California State University system and is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The university is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

## History

[edit]

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 credentials.[7]

As of the fall 2020 semester, the university had 6,276 undergraduate students, 595 graduate students and 186 full-time faculty members.[3][2] The university operates on the semester system. The president is Vanya Quiñones, who was appointed in August 2022.[8]

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.[9] A donation of 210 acres of prime agricultural land to the Hartnell College Foundation, valued at US$20 million was granted thereafter.[10]

### Presidents

[edit]

| Name | Commenced term | Ended 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

[edit]

Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023  Race and ethnicity[11] | Total

|

Hispanic | 54%  |

White | 27%  |

Asian | 6%  |

Two or more races | 5%  |

Black | 3%  |

Unknown  | 3%  |

Foreign national | 2%  |

Economic diversity
Low-income[a] | 44%  |

Affluent[b] | 56%  |

### Faculty

[edit]

In the fall of 2020, of 489 teaching faculty, 246 held doctorates or another terminal degree, and 150 were members of minority groups.[2] The faculty includes an American Book Award winner and six Fulbright scholars.

### Students

[edit]

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, Santa Cruz, and 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.[12]

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.[13] Approximately 50% of CSUMB students live on campus.[14]

## Academics

[edit]

Library under construction from Divarty St, May 2008

The seven most popular majors in Fall 2022[15]

* 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

[edit]

The 2022–2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Colleges West Rankings ranks Monterey 4 on top performers on social mobility, 7 on top public schools and 247 in Nursing (tie). In 2021 Monterey ranked 17 on best undergraduate Teaching.[16]

2024-2025 USNWR Best Regional Colleges West Rankings[16] Top Performers on Social Mobility | 1

|

Top Public Schools | 5
Nursing | 254

2025 USNWR Graduate School Rankings[17] Program  | Ranking

|

Social Work | 142
Academic rankings

Regional
U.S. News & World Report[18]| 14

### Research

[edit]

Under a cooperative agreement with the NASA Ames Research Center, the university performs remote sensing, ecosystem modeling, and geospatial research for earth system science and health.[19] CSUMB researchers work in 10 areas, including coral reef monitoring, land use, carbon modeling and disease transmission.[20]

## Athletics

[edit]

Main article: Cal State Monterey Bay Otters

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 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;[21] 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:[22] 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

[edit]

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 CSU East Bay from the CCAA participate in the Western Water Polo Association.[23]

### Golf

[edit]

The Otters of CSU Monterey Bay earned 1 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships in 2011.[24]

## Student life

[edit]

The fog for which Marina is famous can cover the entire campus.

### Greek life

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[25]

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.[26]

### Residence Halls

[edit]

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.[27]

### Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library

[edit]

The Tanimura & Antle Family Memorial Library has 136,151 square feet (12,648.8 m2) of floor space.[28] 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.[28]

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

[edit]

CSUMB has other locations within Monterey County, including CSUMB at Ryan Ranch (in Monterey), CSUMB at North Salinas, and CSUMB at Salinas City Center.[29] The National Steinbeck Center is located at CSUMB at Salinas City Center.[citation needed]

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

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* Universities and colleges in Monterey County, California

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
2. ^ The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ As of June 30, 2024. "Public NCSE Tables". www.nacubo.org. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
2. ^ a b c "Common Data Set 2024-2025, California State University, Monterey Bay".
3. ^ a b c d "Enrollment Fast Facts for 2024 Fall".
4. ^ "The California State University Capital Outlay Program 2013/2014; Five-Year Capital Improvement Program" (PDF). calstate.edu. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
5. ^ "IPEDS-California State University, Monterey Bay".
6. ^ "Color Palette; California State University Monterey Bay". csumb.edu. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
7. ^ "About CSUMB". csumb.edu. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
8. ^ "Office of the President".
9. ^ "CSin3".
10. ^ "News and donations". July 13, 2008.
11. ^ "College Scorecard: California State University-Monterey Bay". United States Department of Education. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
12. ^ "Enrollment Fast Facts (Headcounts) for 2020 Spring". www.csumb.edu. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
13. ^ "Ethnicity Enrollment Profile". www.calstate.edu. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
14. ^ CSUMB Residential Housing Association. Retrieved 2017-07-15
15. ^ "California State University, Monterey Bay Enrollment by Major". csumb.edu/iar. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
16. ^ a b "California State University - Monterey Bay Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
17. ^ "California State University–Monterey Bay - U.S. News Best Grad School Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
18. ^ "2024-2025 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report. September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
19. ^ University Corporation at Monterey Bay NASA. nasa.gov (2011-08-29). Retrieved on 2017-07-15.
20. ^ Salinas, Claudia Meléndez (March 15, 2012). "CSUMB earns $32M NASA grant to aid study of irrigation, wildfires, crops, floods". The Monterey County Herald. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
21. ^ [1] Archived March 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
22. ^ "The Official Site of California State University Monterey Bay Otters Athletics". Otterathletics.com. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
23. ^ "The WWPA". Western Water Polo Association. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
24. ^ "Championships Summary" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
25. ^ The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges
26. ^ "CSU Monterey Bay Dining Commons". sbibuilders.com. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
27. ^ Schmalz, David (April 30, 2015). "New student housing at CSUMB replaces blight, and makes a dent in school's housing shortage". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
28. ^ a b "Tanimura and Antle Family Memorial Library". ehdd.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2017.
29. ^ Robledo, Roberto M. "CSUMB broadens reach in Salinas". TheCalifornian.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to California State University, Monterey Bay.

* Official website
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California State University, Monterey Bay

Academics|

* National Steinbeck Center

Facilities|

* Cardinale Stadium

Athletics|

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Media|

* KAZU

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California State University

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Governance|

* Board of trustees
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* CENIC
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Research|

| Institutes|

* Agricultural Research (Pomona)
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|

Laboratories|

* Coastal and Marine (San Diego)
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Observatories|

* Mount Laguna Observatory (San Diego)
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* R/V Coral Sea (Humboldt)
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Motto (Latin): Vox Veritas Vita, lit. 'Voice, Truth, Life.'

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Future member|

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Authority control databases

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* ISNI
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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[CENIC]: Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California
*[COAST]: Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology
*[Shiley Haynes]: Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care
*[lit.]: Literal translation