California State University, Monterey Bay Kinesiology Online Degree Completion, B.S.

Cal State Monterey Bay's online kinesiology degree is a finishing program, not a first-year-to-graduation major. You bring 60 or more transferable credits and take 50 units at a flat $550 each, which is $27,500, in eight-week courses over about two years. It's the right shape for a community college transfer who wants a public university diploma. It doesn't list any certification prep or programmatic accreditation.

California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) is a public campus in Seaside, California, and a Hispanic-Serving Institution. The Kinesiology Department sits in its College of Health Sciences and Human Services, and the online degree is run through Extended Education.

The page says the program was designed primarily for community college transfer students, working adults and place-bound learners. Your diploma and transcript will say California State University Monterey Bay, not CSUMB Online. Faculty bring backgrounds in exercise science, movement analysis and sport psychology.

Everything is 100% online, in eight-week courses. The tuition page describes a two-year program with six terms. Fifty units over six terms is a little more than eight units a term, so expect about two courses at a time. That pace is why the school classes you as part-time.

The FAQ says there are three entry points a year. The dates page shows one cycle, Fall 2027, with transcripts due February 12, 2027. Join the program's mailing list if you want updates on deadlines and information sessions.

Who It Fits

• Community college transfers. Each student gets a personal admissions counselor and a written roadmap, and advisors review your earlier credits before you enroll. The transfer route is the main door into this program.
• Post-baccalaureate students changing fields. If your first bachelor's isn't in kinesiology and your GPA is at least 2.5, you can earn a second degree in 41 units instead of 50.
• Out-of-state students who want a public price. The rate is $550 per unit for everyone, whether or not you live in California.

Who Should Skip It

• Anyone who hasn't finished anatomy and physiology yet. Admission requires Anatomy with lab and Physiology with lab, or two Anatomy and Physiology courses with labs, each with a C- or better. Take those at a community college first, then apply.
• Students who need to start soon. The only cycle posted is Fall 2027, with applications open from October 1, 2026 and a January 15, 2027 deadline.
• People aiming for exercise physiologist or strength coach credentials. The page lists none. Use our certification-ready online exercise science degrees to compare programs that do.
• Anyone who needs full-time aid. CSUMB treats students in this program as part-time for financial aid.

Degree requirements are a minimum of 120 credits, including at least 60 upper-division credits, California general education and the major. You must complete at least 30 of those credits at CSUMB to meet residency. The tuition page prices 50 units for the online major, and most courses are four units each.

The program page names six skill areas instead of courses: motor learning and behavior, biomechanics and movement analysis, exercise physiology, fitness assessment and exercise prescription, sport and health promotion, and the psychological side of physical activity.

The careers list runs from personal trainer to worksite wellness manager and community recreation manager.

Standout Features

• Flat $550/unit for every student, in or out of state
• Open to post-baccalaureate students seeking an additional bachelor's in a different field (41 units)
• Personal admissions counselor assigned and a clear academic roadmap for transfer students
• Faculty expertise in exercise science, movement analysis and sport psychology

Tuition is $550 per semester unit. Fifty units come to $27,500, and post-baccalaureate students pay $22,550 for 41 units. Three fees sit on top. The application is $70 and non-refundable. The enrollment confirmation fee is $100 and is credited to tuition. The Extended Education student services fee is $39 a term for six terms, or $234.

That puts a first-bachelor's student near $27,804. That's about $450 more than the 50-unit price at California Baptist's online B.S.. CSUMB says all tuition and fees can change.

50 credits at $550 a credit comes to $27,500 in tuition, before fees.

CSUMB is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and the FAQ confirms that covers the online programs. No CAAHEP or CASCE accreditation is listed. CAAHEP is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and CASCE is NSCA's Collegiate Accreditation for Strength and Conditioning Education.

Two rules matter if you want exam credentials. From August 15, 2027, ACSM-EP and ACSM-CEP candidates must graduate from a CAAHEP-accredited program or one that has started the process. From January 1, 2030, U.S. CSCS candidates need a bachelor's from a CASCE-accredited program. This degree isn't on either list we pulled on September 29, 2026. Personal trainer exams don't require a degree.

Where this degree can lead: Exercise Science Jobs.

The full rubric is on the methodology page. A factor marked Peer Median had no published input, so it counts at half weight.

• The unit math leaves a gap. Sixty transferable units plus the 50-unit major is 110, and the degree needs 120 with 60 upper-division credits.
• The prerequisites are heavy. You need 60 transferable credits, 30 of general education, four basic courses at C- or better and two anatomy and physiology courses with labs before you apply.
• Only one application cycle is posted, and the page names skill areas rather than courses, so you can't preview the curriculum before applying.
• CSUMB's federal graduation rate is 59%. That covers the whole university, not this program.

• If I arrive with exactly 60 transferable units, how many more units do I need beyond the 50, and where do I take them?
• The FAQ says three entry points a year, but only Fall 2027 is posted. When are the others?
• Which courses make up the 50 units, and does the major end with a capstone or field experience?
• Do courses meet live at set times, or can I complete them on my own schedule?
• Will part-time status limit the aid I can receive, and who can estimate that before I apply?
• Do online anatomy and physiology labs from a community college satisfy the prerequisite?
• Is the $234 student services fee charged for six terms even if I finish sooner?

Public California State University campus on the Monterey Bay coast that serves more than 6,500 students a year and is recognized for social mobility. The Kinesiology Department sits in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services.

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