Cal State Monterey Bay vs Chico State: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs in the CCAA. Cal State Monterey Bay lists $693 less in out-of-state tuition; Chico State graduates 4 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Cal State Monterey Bay if…
- You would be in-state: Cal State Monterey Bay is $693 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Chico State.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Cal State Monterey Bay is $3,802 lower than at Chico State.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 2 camps at Cal State Monterey Bay against none listed at Chico State.
Lean Chico State if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Chico State graduates 4 percentage points more of its students than Cal State Monterey Bay.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Chico State graduates earn about $4,925 more per year a decade after enrolling.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price: tuition from the federal College Scorecard, room and board from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Cal State Monterey Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,779 — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $8,472 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $20,379 — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $21,072 |
| Room & board | $16,413 | $16,020 |
| Est. in-state year, all in | $24,192 | $24,492 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $36,792 | $37,092 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Cal State Monterey Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 59% | 63% — Chico State leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $59,247/yr | $64,172/yr — Chico State leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,750 — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $16,552 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 22% — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 26% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Cal State Monterey Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 97% | 93% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 6,742 | 14,523 |
| Where it is | Seaside, CA | Chico, CA |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Cal State Monterey Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Emily Montañez | Angel Shamblin |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Cal State Monterey Bay | Chico State |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 2 listed (2 with dates) | — |
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division II, so the scholarship rules are identical: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. A program's own camp is where its staff does most of its evaluating — submit the questionnaire first so they know to look for you.
Cal State Monterey Bay
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- December Prospect Camp12/05/2026
- CSUMB Coaches Clinic01/16/2027
Chico State
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Cal State Monterey Bay vs Chico State: common questions
- Is Cal State Monterey Bay or Chico State cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $36,792 a year out of state in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Cal State Monterey Bay or Chico State?
- Chico State, at 63% against 59% at Cal State Monterey Bay (College Scorecard). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Cal State Monterey Bay and Chico State offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division II: 7.2 (equivalency). Full athletic rides are rare at D2. With 7.2 equivalencies spread across a roster, nearly every scholarship is partial — but athletic aid stacks with academic and need-based aid.
- Do Cal State Monterey Bay and Chico State run softball camps?
- We track 2 camps at Cal State Monterey Bay and none currently listed at Chico State. Camp listings change through the year — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
- How do I contact the coaches at Cal State Monterey Bay and Chico State?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Tuition, graduation, earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard (U.S. Dept. of Education, released June 10, 2026). Room and board, enrollment, and graduation rates at two-year colleges from IPEDS (2023-2024). Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Cal State Monterey Bay and Chico State accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
Start free