Otter Promise
The Otter Promise is CSUMB's response to the CSU's Graduation Initiative 2025 and represents our plan to develop an ecosystem of student success. We have set ambitious but achievable targets, in keeping with our commitment to social justice. CSUMB holds student success is never about completion alone, but something more holistic:
Students develop identity as self-directed learners in an interdependent community, cultivating the habits of mind to allow them to succeed in their academic, personal, and civic life, and to develop and achieve their goals here or elsewhere. Graduates are able to apply knowledge, theories, methods, and practices in a chosen field of study to address real-world challenges and opportunities.
You can get the 30,000 foot view by reading about CSUMB's plan to increase student retention and graduation rates in "The Otter Promise"
Read "The Otter Promise: A Student Success Ecosystem"
As new efforts and initiatives are launched, use the links below to learn more and stay informed:
- General Education Reform: Adjustments to the current general education model at CSUMB are underway.
- Re-imagining the First Year: CSUMB is one of 44 institutions of higher learning across the United States seeking to inspire redesigned approaches that work effectively for all members of an increasingly diverse, multicultural, undergraduate student body, eliminating the achievement disparities that have plagued American higher education for generations.
- Sophomore Student Success:
The numbers below are an annual snapshot, but can you access current and detailed retention and graduation information on the IAR website.
Freshman
Target Most Recent Rates 2025 Four-Year Graduation 32.4% 44% Six-Year Graduation 62.9% 63% Transfer
Target Most Recent Rates 2025 Two-Year Graduation 50% 46% Four-Year Graduation 79.7% 80% Achievement Gaps
Most Recent Rates 2025 URM/non-URM (FTF, 6 year) 8.1% 0% Pell-received/no Pell-received (FTF, 6 year) 3.1% 0% We recognize that college affordability is a crisis for many students, as roughly 35% of our students meet the federal definition of low income as outlined by the Department of Education TRIO program.
Have you experienced an unforeseen financial set back? See below for funding options that may help get you over this hurdle so that you can stay in school and keep your studies on track toward graduation.
There may be additional resources available to you! Please contact Financial Aid to inquire further.