1. Home
  2. Student Life
  3. Student Housing and Residential Life
  4. Housing Options
  5. Student Housing Comparison Charts

Student Housing Comparison Charts

Student carrying a bag of belongings to move in
Housing Options

Residential Options

Your home at Cal State Monterey Bay is more than a place to sleep — it’s where you build community, find support and make lifelong memories.

We offer a range of housing options designed to support you at every stage of your academic journey, from your first year through graduate study.

Housing by Student Type

First-Year Students

Residence Halls

First-year students live in one of eight residence halls in the heart of campus — just steps from the Main Quad.

Each hall features:

  • Community kitchens
  • Study lounges
  • Social spaces
  • On-site laundry
  • Required meal plan

Living in the residence halls makes it easy to meet other Otters and get connected right away.

Sophomores and Transfer Students

Suites and Apartments

Second-year students, including transfers, can choose from:

  • North Quad Suites (Pinnacle and Vineyard)
  • Gavilan Residence Hall
  • Strawberry Apartments (North Quad)

These options offer more independence while keeping you close to campus life.

Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students

Apartment-Style Living

Upper-division and graduate students can live in:

  • Promontory Apartments
  • East Campus Apartments

These communities offer apartment-style living with full kitchens and greater independence.

Students With Families

East Campus Apartments

Cal State Monterey Bay provides dedicated family housing at East Campus.

Family apartments offer:

  • Two-bedroom units
  • Full kitchens
  • Pet-friendly options (see policy)
  • Close-knit neighborhood setting

Family housing supports student parents and partners in a welcoming community environment.

At-a-Glance

Housing Type First-Year Sophomore Junior Senior Graduate Family
Residence Halls ✓ ✓ — — — —
Pinnacle/Vineyard Suites — ✓ — — — —
Strawberry Apartments — ✓ — — — —
Promontory Apartments — — ✓ ✓ ✓ —
East Campus Apartments Family eligibility only Family eligibility only ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Compare Your Options

Residence Halls vs. North Quad Suites

Feature Residence Halls North Quad Suites (Pinnacle & Vineyard)
Building Style 3 stories 4 stories
Room Occupancy 2-3 students per room 1-2 per bedroom
Bathroom 1 per room 1 per suite
Kitchenette No 1 per suite
Shared Kitchen 1 per building 1 per building
Furnished Yes Yes
Elevator No Yes
Meal Plan Required Yes Yes
Gender-Inclusive Housing Yes (Lavender Living Community) Yes (Lavender Living Community)
Theme Communities Yes Lavender Living only
Walk to Main Quad ~1 minute ~5 minutes
Pets Fish (10-gallon tank) and approved emotional support animals Fish (10-gallon tank) and approved emotional support animals

Cal State Monterey Bay offers three apartment-style communities.

Feature Strawberry Apartments (North Quad) Promontory Apartments East Campus Apartments
Bedroom Styles 2BR/1BA or 4BR/2BA 4BR/4BA 2BR/1BA
Furnished Yes Yes Furnished and unfurnished options
Elevator Yes Yes No
Distance to Main Quad 5-minute walk 5-minute walk 3 miles (8-15 min bus)
Kitchen Full kitchen Full kitchen Full kitchen
Laundry Shared facility In-unit Hookups + shared facility
Meal Plan Required No No No
Pets Fish (10-gallon tank) Fish (10-gallon tank) Yes (see pet policy)

East Campus offers options for both families and individual students.

Feature Family Apartment Individual (Unfurnished) Individual (Furnished)
Unit Style 2BR/1BA 2BR/1BA 2BR/1BA
Furnished No No Yes
Kitchen Full kitchen Full kitchen Full kitchen
Laundry Hookups + shared facility Hookups + shared facility Hookups + shared facility
Pets Yes (see pet policy) Yes (see pet policy) Fish only (10-gallon tank)
Available To Married students, domestic partners or students with dependents Juniors, seniors, graduate students Juniors, seniors, graduate students

First-year and sophomore students are eligible for East Campus family housing only if they are married, have a domestic partner or have dependents.

See Where You’ll Live

Choosing where you’ll live is an important part of your college experience. Our Student Housing 360º Virtual Tours let you explore each community, compare layouts and picture your daily life on campus — so you can make an informed decision from anywhere.