CSUMB led state university system with top graduation rate improvements during 10-year initiative

California State University Monterey Bay was the only of the state university system’s 22  campuses to meet all of its goals in a decadelong initiative to improve graduation rates, officials announced this month. 

The CSUMB campus, located about 40 minutes south of Santa Cruz in Marina, serves a total of about 8,200 students, of which about 6% come from Santa Cruz County. 

Andrew Lawson, CSUMB’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, told Lookout recently that the campus improving graduation rates of its students offers multiple benefits: students obtain their degrees and enter the workforce quicker. And by entering the workforce sooner, they reduce their debt, build wealth and begin developing their careers. 

“This really is a generational transformation,” he said. “There’s also an impact to our regional economy — a better-trained local workforce supporting our communities.”

California State University Graduation Initiative 2025 was a 10-year effort to improve graduation rates with a focus on six goals: four-year and six-year graduation rates for first-year students, two-year and four-year graduation rates for transfer students, and eliminating equity gaps for historically underserved students and students with a low socioeconomic status. Each campus set its own goals, but the overall system’s goal was to hit a 70% six-year graduation rate and a 40% graduation rate for four-year freshmen. The system reached nearly 62% and 37%, respectively.

Many of the CSU schools met several of the goals, but CSUMB stood out as the single campus that met all of them. Lawson said he’s not quite sure exactly why CSUMB was the only CSU to achieve all six metrics but said it’s likely a mix of things: its curriculum and programs, the campus’ smaller size, providing greater access to faculty, and the residential campus that can enhance a feeling of belonging. 

“As one of the smaller CSUs, we are able to have a more personal connection with students,” he said. “We’re the most residential campus of all of the CSUs – I think that helps us, because that creates a community here on campus.” 

The university increased its first-time four-year graduation rates by more than 23% during the initiative. For the cohort that started in 2011, 23.1% completed their degrees in four years. For the class that started in 2021, 46.5% graduated in four years. CSUMB also increased its first-time six-year graduation rates by 17%, one of only two campuses to meet the target. Its six-year graduation rate is the highest in the system now at 63%. 

CSUMB also significantly increased its graduation rates for transfer students. The two-year transfer graduation rates nearly doubled from 34.2% to 66.9% while the four-year transfer graduation rates increased from 70.5% to 80% 

As for the university’s equity gaps, CSUMB had zero gaps at the start of the initiative and continues to meet its goal. CSUMB’s student population includes 4% African American students, 47% Latino students and 1% Native American students. About 43% of its students receive Pell Grants, federal financial aid for students with exceptional need.

In 2025, CSUMB’s historically underserved students graduated at 3.7% higher than the overall student population for the six-year graduation rate. The historically underserved students are graduating at 64.1% while the overall rate is 62.5% for its six-year graduation rate – which is the metric Lawson said the system chose to compare.

CSUMB can claim another couple of helpful characteristics. Students are attracted to its marine sciences program, the campus’ largest department and a rare offering among CSUs. In addition, CSUMB is the only campus in the system to maintain a public service requirement to graduate. 

This year, the university also celebrated several national rankings: second place for social mobility from U.S. News & World Report and No. 24 for best value among California public universities by The Wall Street Journal. 

For a closer look at CSUMB’s progress on graduation rates, click here. 

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