Cal State Monterey Bay vs Saint Martin's: Softball Program Comparison
Two D2 programs. Cal State Monterey Bay runs $22,460 less per year out of state; Cal State Monterey Bay graduates 6 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 are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Cal State Monterey Bay lists $22,460 less per year in tuition and housing than Saint Martin's.
- You would be in-state: Cal State Monterey Bay is $36,773 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Saint Martin's.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Cal State Monterey Bay graduates 6 percentage points more of its students than Saint Martin's.
- You need an evaluation this summer: we track 3 camps at Cal State Monterey Bay against 1 at Saint Martin's.
Lean Saint Martin's if…
- On the figures we hold, Saint Martin's does not lead Cal State Monterey Bay on any measure above. If you are choosing between them, the deciding factors are the ones no table holds: how the staff talks to you, where you would sit on the depth chart, and whether you would want to be there without softball.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price 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 | Saint Martin's |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $7,437 — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition | $44,210 |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $19,317 — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $44,210 |
| Room & board | $16,413 | $13,980 — Saint Martin's leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $23,850 — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $58,190 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $35,730 — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $58,190 |
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 | Saint Martin's |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 63% — Cal State Monterey Bay leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 57% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | — | $62,092/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | — | $22,500 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | — | 36% |
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 | Saint Martin's |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | — | 90% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 6,742 | 1,505 |
| Where it is | Seaside, CA | Lacey, WA |
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 | Saint Martin's |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | CCAA | GNAC |
| Head coach | Emily Montañez | Jim Peterson |
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 | Saint Martin's |
|---|---|---|
| Camps we track | 3 listed (3 with dates) | 1 listed (1 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
- September Prospect Camp09/12/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $165
- November Prospect Camp11/08/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $165
- December Prospect Camp12/05/2026 · 9th Grade - College Sophomore · $165
Saint Martin's
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
- Summer Prospect Camp07/30/2026 · 9th Grade - College Junior · $125
Cal State Monterey Bay vs Saint Martin's: common questions
- Is Cal State Monterey Bay or Saint Martin's cheaper?
- On published price, Cal State Monterey Bay is cheaper — about $35,730 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $58,190 at Saint Martin's. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Cal State Monterey Bay or Saint Martin's?
- Cal State Monterey Bay, at 63% against 57% at Saint Martin's (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Cal State Monterey Bay and Saint Martin's 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 Saint Martin's run softball camps?
- Both do — we track 3 at Cal State Monterey Bay and 1 at Saint Martin's. A program's own camp is usually the fastest way to be evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
- How do I contact the coaches at Cal State Monterey Bay and Saint Martin's?
- 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.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. 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 Saint Martin's accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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