Colleges near Monterey, CA?

Hi! As someone who's currently a junior in high school, I've started researching colleges to potentially apply to. Can you recommend any nice colleges near Monterey, CA, focusing mainly on liberal arts or environmental studies?

Hi there! Monterey, CA, and its surrounding areas have several colleges and universities that offer liberal arts and environmental studies programs. Here are a few options for you:

1. California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB): CSUMB is a public university located in Seaside, just a few miles away from Monterey. It offers both liberal arts and environmental science/studies programs. Their Environmental Science program has several concentrations, such as Coastal and Marine Ecosystems and Sustainable Ecosystems.

2. University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC): About 45 minutes north of Monterey, UCSC has strong programs in both liberal arts and environmental studies. Their Environmental Studies department offers a variety of interdisciplinary programs, including the Environmental Studies/Environmental Science combined major that blends social sciences and natural sciences.

3. Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS): MIIS is a graduate school in Monterey that is affiliated with Middlebury College. Although it doesn't offer undergraduate degrees, if you're interested in pursuing a graduate degree later on, this could be a potential option. They specialize in international policy, translation, and environmental policy.

4. Santa Clara University (SCU): Located about an hour and a half away from Monterey, SCU is a private Jesuit university that offers a range of liberal arts programs through its College of Arts and Sciences. They also have an Environmental Studies and Sciences major, which incorporates both natural and social sciences knowledge.

5. San Jose State University (SJSU): Approximately an hour and a half away from Monterey, SJSU is a public university that offers various liberal arts programs as well as an Environmental Studies program, focusing on understanding and addressing environmental issues.

These are just a few examples of colleges in and around the Monterey area that have programs in liberal arts and environmental studies. Be sure to research each school to determine which might be the best fit for you in terms of academic offerings, campus life, and financial aid opportunities. Good luck with your college search!